In the crash test organized by BQI, a similar institution in China to the one that operates Euro NCAP in Europe, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class obtained contradictory results. Some of the tests carried out by the Chinese institution differ from those of the European ones.
Mercedes-Maybach S 480 4MATIC Crash Safety Test
The crash test of the Mercedes-Maybach S 480 (probably the equivalent of the S 580 in Europe) consisted of three tests:
– 35 mph (56 kph) 30% overlap crash test against a truck
– 40 mph (65 kph) 40% frontal offset crash test against a deformable barrier
– 50 mph (80 kph) 70% rear-end crash test
The test was conducted by the Beijing Institute of Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Institute (BQI). The tire pressure and low-voltage electrical system were checked before the test. The battery charge level was kept at 50% +/- 5% and the gas tank was emptied and filled with water to avoid the risk of fire.
The first crash test against a truck uses the IIHS semi-trailer underride crash standard whose rear guard has the same ground clearance, strength, and height as a normal truck, and two dummies were mounted in the test car. This test is very severe because the car basically goes under the truck and hits the trailer with the pillars and not the deformable structure below. Therefore, in this type of test, passenger cars are disadvantaged compared to SUVs because of the lower deformable structure.
The low voltage system and hazard lights functioned correctly after impact, the e-call system activated but failed to communicate with the emergency services, and the doors opened and closed effortlessly. The front pillars did not withstand the impact, the center pillar remained intact while the rear pillar and rear were not affected by the impact. The body structure and safety cell received a moderate rating and all airbags functioned properly. As expected, the front and side airbags on the side of the impact opened, not the right side.
But the right front passenger’s head struck the front pillar and the neck injuries were fatal. That’s why the rating for neck and head protection was poor. In contrast, the driver was very well protected by the airbag and seatbelt system with only minor chest injuries. Rating: Acceptable.
Final first test rating: Moderate
The second test, the 40% frontal offset crash test against a deformable barrier at a speed of 40 mph (65 kph), is similar to the one carried out by Euro NCAP in Europe. But the Chinese carry out this test with the maximum load: driver in front, two dummies in the back, and, if there are models with three rows of seats, two dummies in the third row.
This time, the eCall system was able to contact the emergency services and the low voltage system worked as in the first test. The doors opened and closed without any problems so the extraction of the dummies went normally.
Rating: Very good
The body deformed evenly and the front pillars deformed very slightly but the door frames remained intact so the doors opened without any problems. Rating: Very good.
The airbags and seatbelt system functioned normally but the front passenger airbag did not deploy because there was no one there. The driver suffered only minor chest and one leg injury. Rating: acceptable.
The same situation was recorded for the dummies in the back seat who suffered only minor chest and leg injuries.
Final second test rating: Very good
In the last test, a 1.4-ton vehicle hit the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class from behind at a speed of 50 mph (80 kph). The dummy distribution was kept: one driver and two dummies in the rear seat. After the test, the tank had no leaks, and energy absorption was considered good. Again, the doors opened without any problems.
Final third test rating: Very good
The conclusion was that the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class was rated Very Good. In contrast to Euro NCAP, the Chinese institute averages the ratings from the three tests. So, with two Very Good and one Moderate, the final rating was Very Good. In Europe, Euro NCAP has a different rating system, which is not based on the average of the marks. If a car gets one star in one of the tests and five stars in the others, then the final rating is one star, representing the worst result in one of the tests.
