The Mercedes-Benz Gle 2019, a luxury SUV admired for its performance and features, also holds a strong reputation for safety. This article delves into the side impact safety of the 2019 Benz GLE, referencing rigorous testing and its resulting “Good” rating, the highest possible, ensuring peace of mind for drivers and passengers.
The safety evaluation is based on tests conducted by independent agencies on models that correspond to the GLE’s design and structural characteristics. It’s important to note that while the GLE nameplate began in 2016, the safety ratings apply to the 2016-2019 models, which are fundamentally redesigned versions of the earlier Mercedes-Benz M-Class. The data presented here is derived from tests performed on a 2014 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Bluetec, a vehicle structurally similar to the GLE and relevant for assessing side-impact protection.
Understanding the Side Impact Test and “Good” Rating for Benz GLE 2019
The side impact test simulates a collision where a vehicle is struck on the side by another vehicle or object. This is a critical area of safety assessment, as side impacts can pose significant risks to occupants. The “Good” rating signifies that the vehicle provides a high level of protection in such a crash scenario.
The evaluation encompasses several key aspects, including:
- Overall Evaluation: This is the summary rating, and the Benz GLE achieves the highest mark: “Good.”
- Structure and Safety Cage: A “Good” rating here indicates that the structural integrity of the GLE’s safety cage is maintained during a side impact, minimizing intrusion into the occupant compartment.
- Driver and Rear Passenger Injury Measures: These assessments evaluate the risk of injury to critical body regions. For the Benz GLE, “Good” ratings are consistently achieved across all measured areas for both the driver and rear passenger, including:
- Head/Neck: Indicating low risk of injury to the head and neck.
- Torso: Signifying effective protection of the chest and abdomen.
- Pelvis/Leg: Demonstrating good protection for the pelvis and legs.
- Driver and Rear Passenger Head Protection: Crucially, “Good” ratings are also awarded for head protection for both front and rear occupants. This is largely due to the standard side curtain airbags which deploy in side-impact collisions to cushion the head and prevent contact with hard surfaces.
Technical Insights from Side Impact Testing
To provide a more detailed understanding, technical measurements from the side impact tests are crucial. These measurements quantify the performance of the vehicle in protecting occupants.
Occupant Compartment Intrusion:
Measurements of intrusion into the driver’s side of the occupant compartment are vital in assessing structural performance. Negative values indicate how much the deformation stopped short of the driver’s seat centerline. In tests (identified as VTS1115 and VTS1313), the B-pillar intrusion relative to the driver’s seat centerline was measured at -20.0 cm and -19.0 cm respectively. These negative numbers suggest minimal intrusion into the space surrounding the driver, contributing to the “Good” rating for structural integrity.
Driver and Passenger Injury Measures – Detailed Data:
The tests also involve measuring forces and deflections on crash test dummies representing both the driver and rear passenger. Lower numbers generally indicate better performance and lower risk of injury.
For the driver, key measurements include:
- Head HIC-15: Head Injury Criterion (lower is better). Measurements were 64 and 52 in the two tests.
- Neck Tension and Compression: Forces on the neck (lower is better).
- Shoulder Deflection and Force: Measures of shoulder movement and forces.
- Torso Deflection: Maximum and average deflection of the torso, along with viscous criterion, indicating chest compression.
- Pelvis Forces: Forces on the iliac and acetabulum areas of the pelvis.
- Femur Forces and Moments: Forces and moments on the left femur.
Similarly, for the rear passenger, measurements are taken for:
- Head HIC-15
- Neck Tension and Compression
- Shoulder Deflection and Force
- Torso Deflection
- Pelvis Forces
- Femur Forces and Moments
Across these detailed measurements, the Benz GLE demonstrates consistently favorable results, underpinning the “Good” ratings in injury measures for both driver and rear passenger.
Conclusion: Benz GLE 2019 – A Safe Choice in Side Impacts
The Mercedes-Benz GLE 2019 stands out not only for its luxury and driving experience but also for its robust safety performance, particularly in side impact scenarios. The “Good” rating, backed by detailed technical evaluations, confirms that the GLE 2019 is engineered to provide excellent protection for occupants in side collisions. This commitment to safety makes the Benz GLE 2019 a confident choice for those prioritizing vehicle safety alongside luxury and performance.
