Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

midsize luxury SUV / 4-door SUV

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system
Superior
Standard system
Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2016-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 4-door 4wd

The Mercedes-Benz M-Class was redesigned for the 2012 model year and renamed the GLE-Class beginning with the 2016 model year.

Beginning with 2014 models built after August 2013, reinforcements were added to the door sills to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.) The tested 2014 model M-Class was built after the door sills were strengthened.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained reasonably well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

Intrusion of the footrest and instrument panel was sufficient to contribute to a moderate risk of injury to the left lower leg, even though the knee airbag inflated.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1333
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 10
Footrest (cm) 18
Left toepan (cm) 15
Brake pedal (cm) 17
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 4
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 4
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Upper dash (cm) 9
Lower instrument panel (cm) 9

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1333
Head
HIC-15 182
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 6
Maximum Nij 0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Femur (kN)
Left 1.5
Right 1.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.89
Right 0.71
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 3.9
Right 3.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 103
Right 86

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2016-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 4-door 4wd

The Mercedes-Benz M-Class was redesigned for the 2012 model year and renamed the GLE-Class beginning with the 2016 model year.

Beginning with 2014 models built after August 2013, reinforcements were added to the door sills to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted on a 2018 model GLE-Class by Mercedes-Benz.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1815
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 21
Footrest (cm) 22
Right toepan (cm) 10
Center toepan (cm) 16
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 5
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 7
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 11
Upper dash (cm) 11
Right lower dash (cm) 15

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1815
Head
HIC-15 166
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 8
Maximum Nij 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 18
Femur (kN)
Left 1.0
Right 5.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 5
Right 6
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.41
Right 0.50
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 2.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 59
Right 67

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1815
Head
HIC-15 65
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 5
Maximum Nij 0.10
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.23
Right 0.23
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 1.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 36
Right 39

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2016-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 550 4-door 4wd

The Mercedes-Benz M-Class was redesigned for the 2012 model year and renamed the GLE-Class beginning with the 2016 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted on a 2012 model M-Class by Mercedes-Benz.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1106
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3
Left (cm) 4
Center (cm) 6
Right (cm) 7
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1
Right (cm) 2
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -3
Rearward (cm) -3
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1106
Head
HIC-15 233
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 5
Maximum Nij 0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm) 34
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.5
Femur force - right (kN) 1.2
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.42
Maximum tibia index - right 0.44
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.7
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 3.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 57
Right 117

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2016-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Bluetec 4-door 4wd with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Mercedes-Benz M-Class was redesigned for the 2012 model year and renamed the GLE-Class beginning with 2016 models.

Beginning with 2014 models, side torso airbags became optional for rear seat occupants (they were standard in 2012-13 models). Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on two tests conducted by Mercedes-Benz.

The first test was conducted on a 2012 model ML 550 V8 (including the standard rear side torso airbags) and the second test on a 2014 model ML 350 Bluetec diesel V6 without the optional rear side torso airbags. The ratings for these vehicles are combined because the presence or lack of rear side torso airbags made little difference for rear occupant protection in the tests. (Rear occupants still receive the benefit of the standard side curtain airbags.) This is because for a large vehicle with a long wheelbase (115 inches in this case), the intruding barrier impacts the vehicle relatively far from the rear seat.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1115 VTS1313
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -20.0 -19.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1115 VTS1313
Head HIC-15 64 52
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.3 -0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 26 28
Lateral force (kN) 1.2 1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 31 27
Average deflection (mm) 28 25
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.47 2.70
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.32 0.33
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.2 0.7
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.7 1.4
Combined force (kN) 2.9 2.1
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.8 1.0
L-M moment (Nm) 16 20
A-P moment (Nm) 125 139

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1115 VTS1313
Head HIC-15 81 104
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.3 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 5 11
Lateral force (kN) 0.4 0.7
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 28 29
Average deflection (mm) 20 20
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.61 3.23
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.26 0.38
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.2 0.3
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.7 0.9
Combined force (kN) 0.9 1.2
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4 0.3
L-M moment (Nm) 31 15
A-P moment (Nm) 59 45

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2016-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight4,722 lbs
Peak force31,545 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio6.68

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat AHR

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seat AHR
Geometry
Backset (mm) 21
Distance below top of head (mm) -1
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 9.8
Head contact time (ms) 53
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 378

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • GLE 350 trim equipped with Premium II package
  • GLE 350 trim equipped with Premium III package
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on the sharp left and both right curves and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual right curve and inadequate on the sharp right and both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • GLE 350 trim equipped with Premium II package
  • GLE 350 trim equipped with Premium III package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-18 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 104.8 m None
Straightaway left edge 50.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 63.0 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 50.2 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 52.2 m 4.8%
150m radius left curve, left edge 49.3 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 164.2 m
Straightaway left edge 104.7 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 67.3 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 62.2 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 54.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 53.9 m

Trim level(s)

  • GLE 350 trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen projector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • GLE 350 trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-19 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 74.7 m None
Straightaway left edge 43.6 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 45.8 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 41.8 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 39.7 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 37.3 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 161.7 m
Straightaway left edge 111.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 63.3 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 56.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 50.8 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 46.3 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

Ratings are given for 2 different trim variations available on this vehicle.

System details

  • Optional Pre-Safe Brake
  • Standard Collision Prevention Assist Plus

Package name

  • Optional Driver Assistance Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2016 models

Superior
Superior
with optional equipment
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 24 mph.

System details

  • Standard Collision Prevention Assist Plus

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2016 models

Advanced
Advanced
  • This system does not meet the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 12 mph.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-19 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimGLE 350
Seat type leather

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimGLE 350
Seat type leather
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 68
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 68
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 67
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 70
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation