EuroNCAP Crash-Tests 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Gives It Five Stars

The European crash-test jury has deliberated regarding Merc’s current mid-size luxury sedan

The 2016 E-Class not only does it continue the tradition of acquiring the maximum EuroNCAP safety rating but it also improved in almost every aspect.

The European Car Safety Performance Assessment Program EuroNCAP (aka the highest European authority when it comes to car safety) has published the most recent batch of tests, and the 2016 E-Class is one of the subjects.

According to EuroNCAP, the newest E (here, in 220d Avantgarde guise) deserves five stars (out of five), with a 95% adult occupant protection, and 90% child occupant safety. That’s a 9%, respectively 13% progress in these two areas, over the previous generation E-Class.

Pedestrian safety was also improved, from 59% to 77%, mainly thanks to its active bonnet which lifts itself when a collision is detected, hence reducing the impact force the pedestrian is submitted to.

The only area where the Mercedes E-Class didn’t get better over the previous generation is the Safety Assist, where it scored a mere 62% (a 24% decline from the previously tested model).

It’s worth mentioning that a lot of new cars are suffering in this area, as the EuroNCAP requirements have changed (read: become more stringent) recently, asking for as much preventive electronic assistance as possible.

If you want to discover more of the W213 E-Class, here's our test drive with the 220d sedan.