Top safety marks for Mercedes-Benz EQS

MERCEDES-BENZ newly launched EQS 450 4Matic battery electric sedan has received a maximum possible five-star rating from ANCAP this week.

Tested against ANCAP’s 2020-2022 assessment criteria, the Mercedes-Benz EQS returned high levels of protection to vehicle occupants and Good collision avoidance capabilities.

Full points were awarded to the model for Adult Occupant Protection in both the side and oblique pole tests. The driver and rear passenger in the full width frontal test also scored full points, making the EQS only the fourth vehicle to achieve this result under ANCAP’s current test protocols.

ANCAP says a high score in this field demonstrates a good combination of vehicle structure and restraint performance.

Maximum points were also awarded for Child Occupant Protection in the frontal offset (MPDB) and side impact tests as well as the restraint installation assessment involving a range of common child restraints.

With these results, the Mercedes-Benz EQS equals the highest score for Child Occupant Protection under ANCAP’s 2020-2022 protocols (93 per cent).

The level of protection the EQS offers other road users also rated well. ANCAP notes that the model is fitted with an autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system capable of responding to pedestrians in forward, turning, and reversing scenarios, as well as cyclists, and says Good overall performance was shown across tests of this system.

Good overall performance was also seen in tests of the AEB car-to-car system, although Adequate scores were achieved in AEB junction scenarios, with the system not performing at lower test vehicle speeds.

Mixed results were also observed of the vehicle’s lane support technologies which offered Good results in lane keep assist scenarios, but Adequate performance in emergency lane keeping scenarios.

Overall, the Mercedes-Benz EQS scored 96 per cent (36.61 points out of a possible 38) in the Adult Occupant Protection category, 93 per cent (46.00 points out of a possible 49) in the Child Occupant Protection category, 76 per cent (41.33 points out of a possible 54) in the Vulnerable Road User Protection category, and 80 per cent (12.93 points out of a possible 16) in the Safety Assist category.

The five-star ANCAP safety rating applies only to the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4Matic with the EQS AMG 53 4Matic+ unrated.