Only 1 Mercedes-Benz Makes Car and Driver’s Safest Cars of 2022 List
Safety technology has come a lot way in recent years, especially in cars from luxury automakers. These vehicles often have the brightest headlights and plenty of advanced features to help you avoid car accidents. The only catch is that some brands, like Mercedes-Benz, reserve those features for higher trims or optional packages.
While that may be true for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class model, that extra tech creates the safest driving experience. Let’s go over how to spec your car if you want a Top Safety Pick+ winner.
Get a 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class with these options
According to Car and Driver, the E-Class sedan’s standard forward-collision warning system received a Basic rating from the IIHS. While it can successfully protect you from crashing into another vehicle, it failed the crossing child test. It also couldn’t bring the car to a complete stop during the parallel adult crossing simulation.
The available Driver Assistance package adds junction turning to the forward collision warning system, which allowed it to earn a Superior score. This model spec has no problems avoiding a collision in any simulated pedestrian crossing or vehicle-to-vehicle impact scenario.
The Driver Assistance package also has adaptive cruise control and an advanced lane-keeping system with blind-spot intervention. This feature prevents the vehicle from merging if it detects an oncoming car in one of the driver’s blind spots. All E-Class models include standard blind-spot monitors and driver attentiveness warning.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class also has standard LED reflector headlights, which are merely Average in the IIHS’s expert opinion. While no glare was detected from either the low or high beams, test drivers couldn’t see clearly around some curves. The optional LED projector headlights with adaptive turning, available by purchasing the Exterior Lighting package, fix that problem.
Other standout qualities of the E-Class
The IIHS also gave the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Good scores in the LATCH test and every crashworthiness simulation. Each E-Class is also equipped with the automaker’s Pre-Safe system. Pre-Safe automatically rolls up the car’s windows when a rear-end collision is imminent and tightens every rider’s seatbelt. Pre-Safe Sound generates pink noises when you hit an obstacle, which reportedly protects passengers’ eardrums during a crash.
The Premium package has a handful of extra driver’s aids, including parallel parking assist and a 360-degree camera system. Most of the E-Class’s best convenience features, such as massaging seats and a Burmester audio system, also cost extra.
The E-Class is currently available in four body styles, though the IIHS only tested the four-door sedan this year. It can also be had as a convertible, wagon, or coupe. The E 350 sedan has a standard 255-hp turbo-four engine, while the upgraded E 450 has a 362-hp six-cylinder with mild-hybrid technology.
The AMG E 53 model also has a mild-hybrid engine, plus a sportier suspension and braking system. Additionally, the twin-turbo 603-hp V8 setup is only available for the sedan and wagon body styles of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class AMG E 63 S.
Will the 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class win the IIHS’s favor again?
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class didn’t gain or lose any safety equipment this year, so it should keep its Top Safety Pick+ status. However, the future of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class remains unclear. This model will be the first six-gen E-Class, updated with the automaker’s latest artificial intelligence software.
Car and Driver tells us that the new E-Class will also have a fresh interior with updated ambient lighting and an available Hyperscreen upgrade. Each infotainment screen can automatically adjust its lighting for glare reduction, but that’s the only new safety enhancement that’s been revealed. Before the reservation period starts, we’ll likely get a sneak peek of the redesigned E-Class later this year.
