Top Safety Pick +

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

midsize luxury SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 4-door SUV — 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class shown

Crashworthiness

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

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system	Superior
Optional system	Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Optional system	Superior
Standard system	Basic

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

Standard blind spot detection
Optional lane departure warning
Optional lane departure prevention
Standard rear automatic braking

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 2020-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4-door 4wd

The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class was redesigned for the 2020 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mercedes-Benz.

Evaluation criteria	Rating

Structure and safety cage
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	VTN1910
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	3
Footrest (cm)	15
Left toepan (cm)	15
Brake pedal (cm)	10
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	2
Upper dash (cm)	2
Lower instrument panel (cm)	2

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN1910
Head
HIC-15	235
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm)	5
Maximum Nij	0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm)	28
Femur (kN)
Left	1.9
Right	1.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	3
Right	1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.42
Right	0.42
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	2.8
Right	3.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	133
Right	82

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2020-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4-door 4wd

The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class was redesigned for the 2020 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted 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	VTP1920
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	8
Footrest (cm)	14
Right toepan (cm)	11
Center toepan (cm)	8
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	2
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm)	1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	7
Upper dash (cm)	6
Right lower dash (cm)	6

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1920
Head
HIC-15	202
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.5
Extension bending moment (Nm)	12
Maximum Nij	0.27
Chest maximum compression (mm)	23
Femur (kN)
Left	1.6
Right	1.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	3
Right	5
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.47
Right	0.61
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	4.3
Right	3.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	59
Right	83

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1920
Head
HIC-15	102
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.5
Extension bending moment (Nm)	7
Maximum Nij	0.17
Chest maximum compression (mm)	24
Femur (kN)
Left	0.8
Right	0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	1
Right	1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.26
Right	0.19
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	1.4
Right	1.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	36
Right	36

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2020-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4-door 4wd

The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class was redesigned for the 2020 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted 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	VTF1913
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	1
Left (cm)	1
Center (cm)	2
Right (cm)	1
Brake pedal (cm)	2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	0
Right (cm)	0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	-4
Rearward (cm)	-9
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1913
Head
HIC-15	158
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm)	15
Maximum Nij	0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm)	32
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	0.9
Femur force - right (kN)	0.5
Knee displacement - left (mm)	3
Knee displacement - right (mm)	1
Maximum tibia index - left	0.59
Maximum tibia index - right	0.46
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	2.2
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	2.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	52
Right	45

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2020-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4-door 4wd

The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class was redesigned for the 2020 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mercedes-Benz.

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	VTS1915
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-21.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1915
Head HIC-15	37
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.8
Compression (kN)	0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	25
Lateral force (kN)	0.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	36
Average deflection (mm)	32
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	4.27
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.50
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	1.0
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.8
Combined force (kN)	2.5
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.6
L-M moment (Nm)	72
A-P moment (Nm)	18

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1915
Head HIC-15	74
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.2
Compression (kN)	0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	5
Lateral force (kN)	0.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	11
Average deflection (mm)	9
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	1.10
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.05
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	1.2
Acetabulum force (kN)	0.6
Combined force (kN)	1.8
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.6
L-M moment (Nm)	43
A-P moment (Nm)	20

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2020-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight	4,779 lbs
Peak force	24,944 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	5.22

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry

Technical measurements for this test

Seat type	Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm)	29
Distance below top of head (mm)	-18
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	12.8
Head contact time (ms)	64
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	3
Max neck tension (N)	391

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 Advanced Lighting package
GLE 450 trim equipped with Advanced Lighting package

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 left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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 the gradual left curve.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	GLE 350 trim equipped with Advanced Lighting package GLE 450 trim equipped with Advanced Lighting package
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2020-23 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	85.6 m	None
Straightaway left edge	63.0 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	88.6 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	66.5 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	69.2 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	60.7 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	155.0 m
Straightaway left edge	158.2 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	90.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	98.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	70.6 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	75.5 m

Trim level(s)

GLE 350 trim
GLE 450 trim
GLE 580 trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED 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 good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was fair 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 fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual left curve, fair on both right curves and inadequate on the sharp left curve.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	GLE 350 trim GLE 450 trim GLE 580 trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2020-21 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	79.7 m	None
Straightaway left edge	60.4 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	63.5 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	57.3 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	52.8 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	48.3 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	155.2 m
Straightaway left edge	133.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	75.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	75.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	57.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	53.4 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

Standard Active Brake Assist

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020-23 models

Superior

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 10 mph.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 14 mph.

System details

Optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function

Package name

Optional Driver Assistance

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020-23 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 21 mph.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

Ratings are given for 2 different systems available on this vehicle.

System details

optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to 2020-23 models of the following trim lines: GLE 350 trim equipped with Driver Assistance Package 2 package, GLE 450 trim equipped with Driver Assistance Package 2 package

Superior

with optional equipment

Crossing child

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 14 mph.

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 24 mph.
In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 33 mph. A warning was issued 2.1 seconds before impact.

System details

standard Active Brake Assist

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2020-23 models

Basic

Crossing child

In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 10 mph.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 12 mph.

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 4 mph.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow.

Parallel adult

In the 25 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow.
In the 37 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow. A warning was issued 0 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2020-25 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)	88
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	Yes
Depth	Visible
Force (lbs)	0
Clearance angle (degrees)	83
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)	88
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	Yes
Depth	Visible
Force (lbs)	0
Clearance angle (degrees)	87
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