Mercedes-Benz B-Class achieves highest ever ANCAP safety score | CarAdvice

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Mercedes-Benz B-Class achieves highest ever ANCAP safety score

By Tim Beissmann
FIND DEALS

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class has achieved the highest crash test score ever recorded by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

The B-Class, which was crash tested by European affiliate Euro NCAP last year, earned a total score of 36.78 out of 37 when assessed according to ANCAP’s criteria in the latest round of testing, easily earning it the maximum five-star safety rating.

The result sees the new Mercedes B-Class overtake the Toyota Aurion, which held the record for just one month after scoring 36.59 points in a local crash test in April.

ANCAP chair Lauchlan McIntosh praised the B-Class for its long list of safety assist technologies (SATs), which includes a radar-based collision warning system and brake assist as standard, and lane keeping assist and blind spot assist as options.

The B-Class – which starts at $38,950 before on-road costs – also boasts nine airbags and can be ordered with adaptive cruise control and bi-xenon headlamps to further enhance its safety credentials.

Also awarded a five-star rating was the Mercedes-Benz Valente, an eight-seat van positioned between the Vito and Viano.

The Valente follows in the footsteps of the Viano, which was the first van to be awarded five stars by ANCAP.

  • Sebastian, Style Messiah

    Good work MB! I like the concept of the B class, a compact family car. I also think that Fords Grand C Max is excellent… A shame it’s not sold here.

    My qualms in relation to this car is the exterior styling and MBs policy of not being able to extend the factory warranty… 3 years is it.

    If I had to choose I’d pick the Ford over this due to its more attractive looks, price, 7 seat flexibility and the ability to extend the factory warranty. I’m at a loss why Ford product planners don’t realise they have a winner in the Grand C Max, the perfect alternative to the big Territory.

  • Gerhrad Schrieber

    Up Yours Volvo!!!! Let’s see Volvo beat this top record but they won’t even come close. The Swedes are so full of it bragging and boasting about having the safest cars. The ball is now firmly in Volvo’s court and its safe to say the Mercedes Benz new A-Class will again trump others in its field with a full 37 points in sight. This result will be greatly welcomed by all dealerships around Australia and just goes to show the cars such as this B-Class are the result of supreme engineering and craftsmanship. Mercedes Benz will always be heads and shoulders above its nearest competitors (well we dont consider some brands to be competitors) for a long time to come.

    • Sebastian, Style Messiah

      Impressive engineering does not always translate to reliable cars or low cost of ownership. German engineers are good, but like to over complicate things… The Japanese and Koreans on the other hand achieve goals more elegantly. My point is that clever engineers focussed on engineering for engineerings sake not customer outcomes is not a positive.

      • F1MotoGP

         Impressive engineering translate to safe car. Article talks about safety not about running cost. I can not see anything here or with German car over complicated.

        • Sebastian, Style Messiah

          Yes, impressive safety and well deserved kudos to MB for that. However, safety is one of many attributes I would judge a car on and based on my experience with German cars the Asians do reliability and onership costs better in my experience.

          • Sam

            You’re such a bore & so predictable Sebastian. Most of your posts are the same old ‘beat up the Germans’ drivel.
            It’s a pity your beloved asian cars have to borrow so much german tech even to be saleable.

    • Steve_42

      @ Gerhard, Don’t know why you’re trolling Volvo, but if you care to take a look at the offical Euro NCAP site for “Best in Class Cars for 2011″, the Volvo V60 takes the award for “Best Large Family Car” over EVERY other car in its class rated that year…..

      Check out the link for yourself, http://www.euroncap.com/bestinclasscars2011.aspx

      Oh yeah, the Merc B Class is also there for the “Small MPV” category, congrats to it. See, you can like cars for their achievements and not have to deride others with incorrect information…..

  • ABCDEFG

    If there was a head on crash between this 5-star cockcroach and a 1-star Kenworth truck with no air bags and no crumple zones, I’d rather be in the Kenworth truck. ‘Nuff said. 

    • JD

      you do understand basic physics in not having at least crumple zones? ….. didnt think so. 

    • Legnab

      Your bong water is off , why dont you try it in your RAV4V6 up against the MERCEDES , i know who will come off worse .

    • Guest

      So you are going to drive a dirty great big Kenworth around everywhere?
      Yes the Kenworth will probably crush the Mercedes but comparing apples with apples the Mercedes is a very good car that is the size of what most people drive. This will even out do the LandCruiser for safety I reckon.

  • Schn

    Of course having good safety crash ratings is important. What’s most important is that drivers are safe, that’s something that I think we all need to work on, safe driving.   

  • Fenian

    to be honest crash TESTING is not the same a what they call ‘real-life-safety’. I’d bet my Volvo against any German tin can, any day. Volvo even has a crash team that attends real-life crashes to gather data – not just a bunch of engineers with a crash simulation computer. They’ve been doing this for over 25 years. Let’s see of the new A-Class beats the new V40. That will prove the point…

    • John

      You do realise Mercedes does the exact same thing as Volvo in regards to real world crash data? Mercedes has been just as important as Volvo in regards to the development of vehicle safety.

    • Sam

      Mercedes do the same Fenian & have been for 30-40 yrs.
      They also offer their many safety inventions free for the rest of the world to use(including Volvo)…even though they were invented/developed at considerable cost.

    • Stan_dman

      I crashed my volvo 11 yrs ago ( written off/ 2 fatalities) but didnt see your volvo crash team anywhere. Maybe you’re confused with crash team racing.
      I’ve read somewhere that mercedes do visit crash sites involving their cars but only if there’s been a fatality.