IIHS Rates 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Below Expectations

The IIHS reported mixed safety results for the 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, citing weak rear passenger protection. Read the details of the safety tests.

The safety reputation of Mercedes-Benz has once again drawn attention, but this time for an unexpected reason. The 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class received mixed results in the latest IIHS crash tests, standing out in a segment where strong safety performance is typically taken for granted.

The key concern raised by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety was not related to the vehicle’s overall structure, but to its performance in the updated Moderate Overlap Front test. In this revised evaluation, the E-Class earned an overall Marginal rating, despite receiving a Good score for its structural integrity and safety cage.

The decisive issue involved rear passenger protection. According to IIHS findings, the rear seat lap belt moved from the pelvis to the abdomen of the test dummy during the crash, increasing the risk of internal injuries. The institute also reported a moderate risk of head and neck injury for the rear passenger, which ultimately lowered the vehicle’s overall score in the updated protocol.

In other areas, the E-Class performed more convincingly. It achieved a Good rating in the Small Overlap Front test and delivered acceptable to good results in side-impact evaluations. Crash prevention systems presented a mixed picture as well: standard driver assistance features were rated Acceptable, while optional systems achieved a higher Good score.

The broader context of the results is equally important. The updated IIHS Moderate Overlap test places greater emphasis on second-row occupant safety, an area that has historically received less attention. Under this stricter methodology, differences between vehicles have become more apparent, and this is where the 2026 E-Class fell short.

As a result, the model did not qualify for IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards, while several similarly priced competitors met the higher standards. For a brand long associated with leadership in automotive safety, the outcome highlights an area where further improvements may be expected, particularly in rear passenger protection.