InSure

As you prepare to buy your next midsize luxury SUV, you may be excited about the innovative features and incredible style of the vehicles that are on the top of your list of contenders.

Some buyers who are looking for a vehicle in this class simply assume that buying a high-end model means that the vehicle has excellent safety ratings and features.

However, when you review the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports for this vehicle class, you will notice that many vehicles had dismal ratings in some categories.

You may have plans to use your new SUV as a commuter vehicle or a family vehicle. Regardless of the plans you have for it, you understandably want to stay as safe as possible while behind the wheel, and you want to ensure that your passengers are safe as well.

When you learn more about the safety ratings for the midsize luxury SUV class, you can more easily select a model that is designed with safety in mind.

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A Look at the Mercedes-Benz Midsize Luxury SUVs against Infinite Models

Safety ratings for three Infiniti vehicles in this class were rated by the IIHS, and these include the QX50, QX60, and QX70.Two Mercedes-Benz SUVs were also rated, and these are the GLE-Class and the GLC.

Altogether, 19 vehicles in this class were rated across three primary categories and eight sub-categories. For most categories, the possible ratings are:

• Good
• Average
• Marginal
• Poor

However, under the Front Crash Prevention category, the vehicles are rated from “basic” to “superior.”

Crashworthiness

The largest safety category analyzed by the IIHS is Crashworthiness, and this category examines how well each vehicle can protect its occupants from accident-related injuries.

The two Mercedes-Benz models and the Infiniti QX60 scored “good” in the five sub-categories, and these include:

• Head Restraints and Seats
• Roof Strength
• Front Moderate Overlap
• Front Side Overlap
• Side

The QX50 was rated “good” in Front Moderate Overlap, Side, and Head Restraints and Seats, but it was not rated in the other two sub-categories.

The QX70 was only rated in Front Moderate Overlap and Head Restraints and Seats, and it had a “good” rating in these two sub-categories.

Crash Avoidance and Mitigation

Crash Avoidance and Mitigation is the next major category that has been analyzed by the IIHS, and it explores a vehicle’s ability to either avoid being in an accident or to reduce the severity of the damage.

The two Mercedes-Benz models and the QX60 had a “superior” grade for the Front Crash Prevention category, and the QX50 and QX70 both received “advanced” marks for this sub-category.

Under the Headlights category, only the GLC had a “good” rating, and the GLE-Class and QX70 had an “average” rating. The QX50 had a “marginal” Headlights grade, and the QX60 received a “poor” mark for Headlights.

LATCH for Child Seat Anchors

In order for your child safety seats to work properly in your SUV, they must be securely latched to the anchors. The LATCH category examines how easy it is for drivers to correctly use the latch mechanism.

In this important safety category, the GLE-Class ranked as “good,” and the GLC ranked as “average.” The QX70 and the QX60 received a “marginal” LATCH score, and the QX50 had a “poor” grade in this area.

2017 Top Safety Pick and/or 2017 Top Safety Pick+

Of the 19 midsize luxury SUV reviewed by the IIHS in 2017, all but six received a mention for Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ honor.

While both honors required a “good” rate in all sub-categories under Crashworthiness and at least an “advanced” grade for Front Crash Prevention, the Top Safety Pick+ honor also requires at least an “average” Headlight rating.

Both of the Mercedes-Benz SUVs that were reviewed under this category received the Top Safety Pick+ honor. The Infiniti QX60 received the Top Safety Pick honor.

The other two Infiniti models reviewed rank rather low or were not rated in many categories, so they fell close to the bottom of the list of vehicles in this class.

Learning about the Safety Level of Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti Models

Most drivers are concerned about safety when selecting a new vehicle, and you should not assume that a vehicle ranks well in this area simply because it is a luxury model.

You can see that the two Mercedes-Benz models ranked well, but only one Infiniti model received high safety grades in most areas. Remember that the ratings can indicate how safe your driving experience may be as well as what your insurance cost may be.

Your auto insurance premium for your new luxury SUV can be affected by safety ratings as well as other factors, such as engine power, the cost of the vehicle, theft data, and more. You understandably want to get a safe car with affordable insurance rates.

Therefore, while you are reviewing safety data on the models that you are serious about buying, consider requesting auto insurance quotes as well. Enter your zip code into our free rate tool below to begin comparing quotes today!

Safety Comparisons

09.12.2017 / car safety features / safety comparison / SUV