Accidents happen! Even in the E-Class, but if the worst should occur occupant safety measures come into play, providing protection for both the occupants and other road users. Protection comes in the form of a high-strength safety passenger cell, standard-fit adaptive front airbags which are deployed in two stages in accordance with the severity of the impact. Furthermore, sidebags in the front seat backrests and window-bags are also on board. The driver’s knee-bag further reduces the driver’s risk in an accident.

Further protection is offered by NECK-PRO crash-responsive head restraints for the driver and front passenger: in the event of a rear-end collision above a certain severity, pre-loaded springs push the head restraints by around 56 millimetres forwards and 23 millimetres upwards at lightning speed to support the heads of the front occupants at an earlier stage. This can reduce the risk of whiplash injuries considerably.

The standard active bonnet is a safety feature for the protection for other road users and helps reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians and cyclists. In the event of a collision the rear section of the active bonnet rises up by five centimetres using spring force. This can produce additional deformation space to absorb the impact helping prevent serious injury.