2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

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

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system	Superior
Standard system	Not tested

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use

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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating

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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

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.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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 weight	4,722 lbs
Peak force	31,545 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	6.68

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 4 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

GLE 350 trim equipped with Premium 2 package; built after March 2018
GLE 350 trim equipped with Premium 3 package; built after March 2018

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

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 good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

The low beams created some glare.

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

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

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	GLE 350 trim equipped with Premium 2 package GLE 350 trim equipped with Premium 3 package
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2018-19 models built after March 2018

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	126.8 m	None
Straightaway left edge	53.8 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	83.4 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	58.8 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	70.0 m	28.4%
150m radius left curve, left edge	54.6 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	182.2 m
Straightaway left edge	149.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	85.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	81.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	71.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	68.6 m

Trim level(s)

GLE 350 trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux 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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Trim level(s)

GLE 350 trim equipped with Premium II package; built before December 2017
GLE 350 trim equipped with Premium III package; built before December 2017

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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 built before December 2017

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 equipped with Premium II package; built after November 2017 and before April 2018
GLE 350 trim equipped with Premium III package; built after November 2017 and before April 2018

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

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

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 in all 4 tests.

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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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 2018 models built after November 2017 and before April 2018

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	110.4 m	None
Straightaway left edge	57.5 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	65.3 m	9.3%
250m radius left curve, left edge	56.5 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	54.5 m	79.0%
150m radius left curve, left edge	55.4 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	165.8 m
Straightaway left edge	105.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	72.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	69.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	60.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	58.2 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 Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function

Package name

Optional Premium 3 Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2017-19 models

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 Active Brake Assist

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2017-19 models

This system does not meet the requirements for forward collision warning.
Autobrake not tested.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-19 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	GLE 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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	GLE 350
Seat type	leather

Rating icon	Rating
G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	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

Position	Rating
1
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
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	none available
3
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

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

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

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

2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

midsize luxury SUV / 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Seat belts & child restraints

Other available safety features

Small overlap front: driver-side

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Moderate overlap front: original test

Side: original test

Roof strength

Head restraints & seats

Headlights

Trim level(s)

Trim level(s)

Trim level(s)

Trim level(s)

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

Package name

Overall evaluation

System details

Overall evaluation

Child seat anchors