Ouch!!! 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class only rated "Acceptable" in Side Impact Test by the IIHS

"The Mercedes E class was re-engineered for the 2007 model year with an emphasis on improving occupant protection in side impact crashes."
-For a large, expensive Mercedes, this is somewhat un-acceptable. It placed much lower than the A6, GS, M35/45, ES350, and TL. The base Chevrolet Malibu, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, VW Rabbit, Subaru Impreza and Honda Civic did BETTER. It was on-par with the Chevrolet Cobalt.
Pretty embarassing for Mercedes. And they actually tried to improve side-impact performance for 2007...
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smshnick - 11/1/2006 9:11:40 PM

+1 Boost

I like the levelor blinds. I didn't know that was an option.

mstangpny07 - 11/1/2006 9:40:04 PM

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I hope you're kidding

smshnick - 11/2/2006 11:25:52 AM

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yes, i was.

markusck - 11/2/2006 1:58:11 PM

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best comment yet..blinds..brilliant

MercBasher - 11/1/2006 9:12:47 PM

0 Boost

Look business is simple. There is a finite supply of engineering resources. If you choose to: introduce too many:
(i.) Introduce too many new models
(ii.) Too many body style/engine configurations for each model line
(iii.) Dramatically enhance reliability through redesign and reengineering

then there will be unintended consequences . . . in this case a less than impressive safety performance!

mstangpny07 - 11/1/2006 9:39:44 PM

+3 Boost

true, but it should have gotten a Good for side anyways.

Carboy - 11/1/2006 9:41:00 PM

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OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EvoAudi - 11/1/2006 10:07:19 PM

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but then again most impacts are side or corner

vcowman - 11/1/2006 10:15:06 PM

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isnt safety why people like merc so much?

smshnick - 11/2/2006 11:26:56 AM

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No, people use safety as an excuse to pay too much for a car with a star on the hood.

Autoegr525 - 11/2/2006 2:13:57 AM

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The point of buying a Mercedes is that, while the competition may be cheaper, look better, offer more features, and drive nicer, the Benz always offers more luxury, safety, longevity, prestige, and in the long run, value. If Benz starts to compromise on any of these qualities, the brand name will no longer be worth the premium...we all expect more, and Benz should deliver more

smshnick - 11/2/2006 11:28:13 AM

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You're completely wrong about value and luxury. If you get better quality leather in a lower priced Audi, then I think you get better value and luxury in an Audi.

markusck - 11/2/2006 1:48:05 PM

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Value and Luxury are impossible to quantify when it comes to cars for the people on this type of site...we all justify our brand loyalty based on any snippet of news we find and wave it about as proof of value and luxury..the quality of the leather in comparison to similar cars is hardly going to be a make or break type decision regarding value or luxury..one of many..and thats why it comes down to marketing, brand loyalty, perception. Thats why there are so many fanboys on the site..its what we do.

bimmernut - 11/5/2006 11:16:14 PM

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You gave MB way too many prime categories. I'll giv eyou prestige and usually safety, but that's about all Mercedes has.

Luxury = lexus/audi/BMW 7 series
Longevity - Lexus
Value - let's all face it, the only car that really gives value is acura, considering all our most beloved automakers aren't exactly "affordable" to most people

prodrivep2 - 11/2/2006 7:20:30 AM

+2 Boost

check it out for your self,but isnt merc and bmw way down the list for front and side impact Volvo and Subaru almost always being number one on the list for front and side impact.i believe that if one has the safest car its how to avoid and accident that counts,hello AWD,the ability to avoid and have the safety aspect.

Subaru For Life.

BMW_DRVR - 11/2/2006 1:34:09 PM

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Merc. sucks get over it ppl

JUGNU - 11/2/2006 3:31:12 PM

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That's dissapointing.Safety is one of MB's strong point.

JUGNU

sold2early - 11/2/2006 4:24:09 PM

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But these are in the shop for warranty repairs so often that your chances of being in an accident in one is greatly reduced.

More likely, you'll be in a C- or M-class loaner at the time of the accident, so they should append the crash results of those models to the E-class report.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 11/2/2006 9:06:19 PM

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^^^^^^^^ LMAO ^^^^^^^^

GOOD ONE

2JZSoarer - 11/2/2006 11:32:25 PM

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Death trap E-class!!

Sedulous - 11/3/2006 12:07:42 AM

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Wait...

If you go to the MB USA site and click the "redesigned 2007 E-class" button on the bottom left, it links to the E-class page. The page says the NHTSA gave the E-class a 5-star side and rollover rating.

mstangpny07 - 11/3/2006 8:05:43 AM

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This isnt the NHTSA. Its the IIHS.
The IIHS is much stricter in its testing policies, it uses a SUV-size barrier @ a faster speed, and it uses head trauma scores in the final score.

BMW530i - 11/3/2006 1:18:03 PM

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I wonder what they used to ram the E-Class? An M1 Abrams? :p

Bill - 11/4/2006 6:21:45 AM

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How can this be if the prefacelift model did so well?

gsbb - 11/30/2006 9:57:51 PM

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The previous e-class was never tested for side impact from IIHS

TheGenius - 11/5/2006 10:48:26 AM

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Goldsmith, don't be so fast with the Lexus claim..did you look at the website?

Only the IS made it through, the GS had a marginal rear rating, and all SUVs were poor. See links below

GS
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/summary.aspx?class=10

SUVs
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/summary.aspx?class=50

The first car and still the only Luxury car maker to sweep in every class was Audi!!

What I find interesting is that Volvo that built its reputation on safety does not even make the best picks list.

gsbb - 11/30/2006 9:56:59 PM

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Has anyone heard any response from Mercedes regarding the result?
Obviously this is pretty devastating for Mercedes' reputation, but I am pretty sure that they will not do any upgrades until the next generation of E-class.
It is pretty clear that VW/Audi now builds the saftest German cars.

jt716 - 12/30/2006 11:41:02 PM

+1 Boost

Volvo is the way to go then lol. Nah man this is just not acceptable. They shld have checked this in their redesign. We expected more Mercedes!