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2014 M-Class W166 Wins IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Award

The third generation of the Mercedes-Benz M-Class is the first ever three-pointed star model to get the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award after it managed a good performance in a number of crash tests, including the recently-introduced and dreaded by many small front overlap.
Mercedes-Benz M-Class W166 Small Overlap Crash Test 5 photos
Photo: IIHS
Mercedes-Benz M-Class W166 Crash Tested by IIHSMercedes-Benz M-Class W166 Crash Tested by IIHSMercedes-Benz M-Class W166 Crash Tested by IIHSMercedes-Benz M-Class W166 Crash Tested by IIHS
Since the front overlap crash test was introduced by the Institute back in 2012, models developed and built until and including the 2013 model year couldn't have possibly been made to meet the criteria required.

The test requires that only 25% of a vehicle's front end is hitting a five-foot-tall rigid barrier at 40 mph (64 km/h). Apparently this should show what happens to a car when it hits another vehicle or a tree or utility pole with one of its front corners.

According to the IIHS, Mercedes-Benz reinforced the ML's doors sills to improve the occupant protection in the aforementioned test on models built after August 2013.

After earning a good performance in the small overal front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and seat/head restraint evaluations, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz M-Class received the coveted IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. We're waiting for similar results from all the other 2014 and 2015 MY Mercedes-Benz models when they'll be tested.

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About the author: Alex Oagana
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Alex handled his first real steering wheel at the age of five (on a field) and started practicing "Scandinavian Flicks" at 14 (on non-public gravel roads). Following his time at the University of Journalism, he landed his first real job at the local franchise of Top Gear magazine a few years before Mircea (Panait). Not long after, Alex entered the New Media realm with the autoevolution.com project.
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