Mercedes sets new Assisted Driving standard

The Mercedes-EQ EQE achieved the highest ever score in Assisted Driving Gradings in the latest round of Euro NCAP testing.

The Gradings measure not just the safety systems in place, but the clarity of the marketing around them.

The EQE’s overall Assisted Driving rating of ‘very good’ was the best ever achieved, with an Assistance Competence score of 85%. The model also became the first to achieve a perfect Safety Back-Up result of 100%.

Matthew Avery, Chief Research Strategy Officer, Thatcham Research, said, “Mercedes is a brand that appears to be getting Assisted Driving right. Driver expectations are managed successfully thanks to appropriate naming conventions and marketing that clearly positions system function as ‘assisted’.

“The driver is encouraged to understand that it’s a team effort involving cooperative driving between motorist and machine, as opposed to becoming convinced that they can check-out completely.”

The Mercedes-EQ EQE was one of seven vehicles that went through rigorous impact protection and crash avoidance testing and a separate Assisted Driving Grading.

The Atto 3 from Chinese manufacturer BYD received a five-star rating, as did the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, BMW X1, SEAT Ibiza and VW Golf, while the Citroën C5 X and Mobilize Limo were given four-star ratings.