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2008 Mercedes-Benz S Class Safety Review

August 19, 2008

SAFETY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

No rating
IIHS

No rating
NHTSA

curtain side airbags
ConsumerGuide

Pre-Safe Brake system
Cars.com

TheCarConnection.com finds that reviewers are impressed with the safety features of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet tested this S-Class sedan for crashworthiness; the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has also skipped over the S-Class to date.

Still, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has many standard safety features, including side curtain airbags, front and rear side airbags, an anti-lock braking system, and traction control, reports ConsumerGuide.

The Pre-Safe system is Mercedes’ way of mitigating an impending accident. As Cars.com explains it, "by monitoring the braking, steering and stability systems, Pre-Safe can ready occupants for a collision by tightening the seat belts, adjusting the position of the front passenger seat and available power rear seats, and closing the windows." An even more advanced version of Pre-Safe requires the optional Distronic Plus adaptive cruise control, which brakes and accelerates the Mercedes-Benz 2008 as needed to avoid accidents.

An additional optional safety feature on the 2008 Mercedes-Benz is Night View Assist, which can see "almost 500 feet ahead of the car and display the view in the instrument panel," according to Cars.com. This creates more visibility for the Mercedes-Benz 2008 than most vehicles enjoy, allowing drivers to see what awaits them in the dark.

Conclusion

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sports the latest safety features, but has undergone no independently measured crash tests.

SAFETY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:No ratingIIHSNo ratingNHTSAcurtain side airbagsConsumerGuidePre-Safe Brake systemCars.com TheCarConnection.com finds that reviewers are impressed with the safety features of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet tested this S-Class sedan for crashworthiness; the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has also skipped over the S-Class to date. Still, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has many standard safety features, including side curtain airbags, front and rear side airbags, an anti-lock braking system, and traction control, reports ConsumerGuide. The Pre-Safe system is Mercedes’ way of mitigating an impending accident. As Cars.com explains it, "by monitoring the braking, steering and stability systems, Pre-Safe can ready occupants for a collision by tightening the seat belts, adjusting the position of the front passenger seat and available power rear seats, and closing the windows." An even more advanced version of Pre-Safe requires the optional Distronic Plus adaptive cruise control, which brakes and accelerates the Mercedes-Benz 2008 as needed to avoid accidents. An additional optional safety feature on the 2008 Mercedes-Benz is Night View Assist, which can see "almost 500 feet ahead of the car and display the view in the instrument panel," according to Cars.com. This creates more visibility for the Mercedes-Benz 2008 than most vehicles enjoy, allowing drivers to see what awaits them in the dark. ConclusionThe 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sports the latest safety features, but has undergone no independently measured crash tests.  2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS STYLING | [8 out of 10] Edmunds: "synonymous with state-of-the-art luxury" ConsumerGuide: "defines luxury motoring" Motor Trend: "Continues to set the standard" Kelley Blue Book: "polished, sleek shape" Given its hefty price tag, one expects a head turner, ...

Read More of this Review:

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

Other Choices:

Each of these other models are offered in two different wheelbases (and lengths), but the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is only sold in its long-wheelbase form in the United States. The S-Class has typically been a prestige vehicle, carrying executives and captains of industry in style and comfort, but the S63 and S65 AMG models appeal to those craving acceleration that's on par with exotics, along with a sportscar feel, in the S-Class's spacious package. Audi has the S8, but it's not nearly as powerful or as exclusive as the AMGs, while BMW has the Alpina B7, an elite version with a 500-horsepower supercharged V-8. There's also the 400-horsepower Jaguar XJR that, along with the cheaper XJ, is faster than the numbers might indicate due to its lightweight aluminum body. The XJ also stands out for its distinctly British style that steers away from the crowd. There are powerful 12-cylinder models of the A8 (A8 6.0 L) and 7-Series (760iL) to match the S600; all three have smooth, silent, and immensely torquey engines, but they're gas guzzlers, each and every one. For the green crowd who must have the best, instead of a V-12, Lexus is offering a hybrid V-8 powertrain on its top-of-the-line LS 600h L model, which gets a highest-in-class rating of 20 mpg city, 22 mpg highway.

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See the Mercedes-Benz S Class in Other Years:

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

Comments (1 total)

  1. By Rafael #1, Posted: 9/5/2008

    url

    Marcos Pontes.

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