1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
large luxury car / 4-door sedan
Moderate overlap front: original test
Rating applies to 1997-2000 models built after January 1997 and before February 2000
Tested vehicle: 1997 Mercedes-Benz E 420 4-door
The Mercedes E class was redesigned for the 1996 model year. All 1997-2000 E class models manufactured after January 1997 but before February 2000 include structural changes to improve protection in frontal crashes. Additional structural changes were made beginning with the 2000 E class models manufactured after January 2000, so the listed ratings do not apply to the latest models (note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door).
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has evaluated the crashworthiness of of a 1997 model E 420 with the first set of structural changes in a 40 mph frontal offset crash test into a deformable barrier.
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Leg/foot, left | |
| Leg/foot, right | |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics Dummy movement wasn't well controlled. During rebound, the dummy's head hit the window sill. There was too much upward movement of the steering wheel. Late in the crash, the driver door opened. This opening didn't significantly affect dummy movement during the test but shouldn't happen because, in some crashes, it could allow partial or complete occupant ejection. |
Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test.
Despite some buckling of the roof rail, the dummy's survival space was maintained well. However, this good performance was marred by the opening of the driver door.
Energy-absorbing padding between the footwell and floor carpet is designed to reduce forces on drivers' legs in serious frontal crashes.
The driver door opened, which could allow occupant ejection in some crashes.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | CF97005 |
|---|---|
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 14 |
| Left (cm) | 19 |
| Center (cm) | 17 |
| Right (cm) | 13 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 15 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 5 |
| Right (cm) | 3 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | 10 |
| Rearward (cm) | 3 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 9 |
Driver injury measures
| Test ID | CF97005 |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 305 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | 29 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 2.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 19 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.37 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 35 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force - left (kN) | 5.5 |
| Femur force - right (kN) | 3.2 |
| Knee displacement - left (mm) | 5 |
| Knee displacement - right (mm) | 2 |
| Maximum tibia index - left | 0.33 |
| Maximum tibia index - right | 0.43 |
| Tibia axial force - left (kN) | 0.6 |
| Tibia axial force - right (kN) | 0.6 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 76 |
| Right | 68 |