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2009 Mercedes-Benz E Class Safety Review

April 16, 2009

SAFETY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

standard is PreSafe, which anticipates an imminent crash and automatically takes measures to better secure occupants
Edmunds

Good," frontal offset; "acceptable," side impact; "good," rear crash protection
IIHS

Four stars, front impact protection; five stars, side impact protection; four stars, rollover resistance
NHTSA

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class leaves very little to want in terms of safety features or capabilities.

In tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class rates "good" for frontal offset, "acceptable" for side impact, and "good" for rear crash protection. In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class fares well. The Mercedes-Benz 2009 E-Class sedan receives four stars for front impact protection, five stars for side impact protection, and four stars for rollover resistance.

Unique safety features of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class include "an adaptive brake light that flashes when the car is under rapid or panic braking,” notes Cars.com. That's a safety feature meant for people following behind the Mercedes-Benz. They conclude, "If all else fails and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class does crash, the standard Tele-Aid—which is similar to GM's OnStar—will contact authorities and send them to your location."

Edmunds explains that avoiding accidents is partly the result of being able to see well from the driver's seat. "Long a Mercedes feature, the power drop-down of the rear headrests made parallel parking less of a hassle, although it would be nice if Mercedes included parking assist as standard equipment. (It's optional.)"

"All 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class models come with stability control, antilock brakes, front and rear side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and the TeleAid emergency system," according to Edmunds.

Also standard is what Mercedes-Benz 2009 reviews call PRE-SAFE. Cars.com explains: "If the radar sensor predicts an impending collision, Pre-Safe cinches the front seat belt pretensioners and can even change the position of the front passenger seat for optimal protection by the restraints." Furthermore, "In a serious skid, the [Mercedes-Benz E-Class' PRE-SAFE] system closes the moonroof and any open windows, a step to prevent occupant ejection, which can occur in a collision or, especially, a rollover."

Conclusion

A full complement of standard safety features and high marks in crash tests make the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class one of the safest luxury sedans available.

SAFETY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:standard is PreSafe, which anticipates an imminent crash and automatically takes measures to better secure occupantsEdmundsGood," frontal offset; "acceptable," side impact; "good," rear crash protectionIIHSFour stars, front impact protection; five stars, side impact protection; four stars, rollover resistanceNHTSA The 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class leaves very little to want in terms of safety features or capabilities. In tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class rates "good" for frontal offset, "acceptable" for side impact, and "good" for rear crash protection. In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class fares well. The Mercedes-Benz 2009 E-Class sedan receives four stars for front impact protection, five stars for side impact protection, and four stars for rollover resistance. Unique safety features of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class include "an adaptive brake light that flashes when the car is under rapid or panic braking,” notes Cars.com. That's a safety feature meant for people following behind the Mercedes-Benz. They conclude, "If all else fails and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class does crash, the standard Tele-Aid—which is similar to GM's OnStar—will contact authorities and send them to your location." Edmunds explains that avoiding accidents is partly the result of being able to see well from the driver's seat. "Long a Mercedes feature, the power drop-down of the rear headrests made parallel parking less of a hassle, although it would be nice if Mercedes included parking assist as standard equipment. (It's optional.)" "All 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class models come with stability control, antilock brakes, front and rear side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and the TeleAid emergency system," according to Edmunds. Also standard is what Mercedes-Benz 2009 reviews call PRE-SAFE. Cars.com explains: "If the radar sensor predicts an impending collision, Pre-Safe cinches the front seat belt pretensioners and can even change the position of the front passenger seat for optimal protection by the restraints." Furthermore, "In a serious skid, the [Mercedes-Benz E-Class' PRE-SAFE] system closes the moonroof and any open windows, a step to prevent occupant ejection, which can occur in a collision or, especially, a rollover." ConclusionA full complement of standard safety features and high marks in crash tests make the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class one of the safest luxury sedans available. 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS STYLING | [7 out of 10] Car and Driver: "after five years on the market, [it] is showing some gray around the temples" Kelley Blue Book: "a tasteful mix of leather and wood" Cars.com: "the E-Class is due for an update, and it shows inside" In the last year ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The BMW 5-Series is the traditional archrival to the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and it tends to have a businesslike approach to driving that's usually more involving (and fun) for the driver—ditto for the underrated Infiniti M, perhaps the sleeper of this group. The Lexus LS is by design the most conservative and least performance oriented. This big sedan delivers detached and serene luxury that some drivers will enjoy. Several years ago, the Cadillac STS would not have made it into any type of comparison to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, but the car has improved so dramatically in performance and build quality that it now presents itself as a credible alternative to the Benz, especially if your pro-American sentiments are running high. The Audi A6 and more performance-oriented A6 4.2 are nimble mid-size sedans that provide less room but much more contemporary style than the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. As welcoming as the Benz is, Audi still leads in interior design. Either way you go, when you're spending upward of $50,000 on a car, you'll get something good when you pick from this group.

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See the Mercedes-Benz E Class in Other Years:

2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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