Euro NCAP has released a new batch of safety ratings (see the others here), including for the Mercedes-Benz X-Class double-cab bakkie.
The X-Class managed to score a full five stars – interestingly, one more than the Nissan Navara on which it is based, thanks likely to its extra airbags (it boasts a total of seven), automatic emergency braking city function and lane assist system – including an impressive 90% for adult occupant protection.
The model assessed was a left-hand-drive X250d Power derivative, which also scored 87% for child occupant safety (the highest ever from a bakkie), 80% for pedestrian protection and 77% for its safety assistance features (again, the best ever return in the pick-up category).
Euro NCAP reported that the passenger compartment of the X-Class “remained stable” in the frontal offset test, with dummy readings showing “good protection” of the knees and femurs of the driver and passenger.
In the full-width rigid barrier test, protection of the driver and rear passenger was “good or adequate” for all critical parts of the body. In the side barrier impact, protection of all critical body areas was “good”. In the more severe side pole test, protection of the chest was “adequate” and that of other parts of the body was rated as “good”.
Interestingly, the safety authority reported that a “geometric assessment of the rear seats indicated poor whiplash protection”.
In terms of child occupant protection, in the frontal offset test, protection of the chest of the six-year-old dummy was rated as “marginal”, based on chest decelerations. Otherwise, protection of this dummy and the 10-year-old dummy was “good or adequate”.
Watch the crash-test footage below…
