Safety

As it should be, the M-Class is full of standard safety features like an electronic stability system, antilock brakes, traction control, side curtain airbags, and side-impact airbags for the front and rear seats.

The M-Class has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award, which is the institute's top safety designation earned by high marks in frontal-, side- and rear-impact crash tests. To date, the only other luxury SUVs in this class to earn that designation are the Acura MDX and Volvo XC90.

    See also:

    GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
    The GAWR is the maximum permissible axle weight. The actual load on an axle must never exceed the gross axle weight rating. The gross axle weight rating can be found on the vehicle identificat ...

    Parking brake
    WARNING Engaging the parking brake while the vehicle is in motion can cause the rear wheels to lock up. You could lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident. In addition, the vehicle& ...

    Bottle holder
    WARNING Do not transport heavy, sharp-edged, or fragile bottles in the bottle holder. In the event of an accident, the bottle holder cannot secure a bottle sufficiently. You and/ or vehicl ...