2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
midsize luxury SUV / 4-door SUV
Moderate overlap front: original test
Rating applies to 1999-2005 models built after March 1999
Tested vehicle: 1999 Mercedes-Benz ML 320 4-door 4wd
The Mercedes M class was introduced in the 1998 model year. All M class models manufactured after March 1999 include structural changes to improve occupant protection in frontal crashes (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 a 1999 ML 320 with the structural changes in a 40 mph frontal offset crash test into a deformable barrier.
A redesigned M class has been introduced for the 2006 model year.
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Leg/foot, left | |
| Leg/foot, right | |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics |
Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test.
The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates the driver's survival space was maintained well.
The passenger airbag didn't deploy because a sensor detected that the right front seat wasn't occupied. This airbag also doesn't deploy if a specially designed child seat is used.
Intrusion into the driver footwell area was minimal.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | CF99012 |
|---|---|
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 12 |
| Left (cm) | 11 |
| Center (cm) | 6 |
| Right (cm) | 6 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 8 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 2 |
| Right (cm) | 1 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | 3 |
| Rearward (cm) | 1 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 2 |
Driver injury measures
| Test ID | CF99012 |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 308 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | 66 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 2.4 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 34 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.42 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 42 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force - left (kN) | 3.5 |
| Femur force - right (kN) | 1.8 |
| Knee displacement - left (mm) | 7 |
| Knee displacement - right (mm) | 8 |
| Maximum tibia index - left | 0.48 |
| Maximum tibia index - right | 0.40 |
| Tibia axial force - left (kN) | 2.7 |
| Tibia axial force - right (kN) | 1.5 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 69 |
| Right | 62 |