For a balanced, comfortable ride, the AIRMATIC® semi-active suspension employs electronically controlled air springs that adjust to changing driving conditions. Reengineered components offer quicker response with lighter system weight. AIRMATIC's automatic 4-wheel level control helps compensate for additional cargo or passengers. It also lowers the ride height at higher speeds for improved aerodynamics, stability and efficiency.
Rack-and-pinion with electromechanical power assist
40.0 ft, curb to curb
Traction Control & Stability
Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
This safety breakthrough first introduced by Mercedes-Benz continually monitors your driving inputs and the vehicle's motion to help keep it going in your intended direction, especially in corners and during evasive maneuvers. If it detects wheelspin, severe understeer (plowing), or oversteer (fishtailing), ESP® can brake individual wheels and reduce engine power to help bring the vehicle under control.[*4]
Adaptive braking technology integrates a suite of advances. If you lift off the accelerator quickly, Predictive Brake Priming sets the pads closer to the discs for more immediate response when you apply the brakes. In the rain, Automatic Brake Drying periodically applies the brakes just enough to sweep water build-up from the discs. During uphill starts, Hill-Start Assist helps prevent unwanted rollback. And a brake HOLD feature can make long red lights or stopped traffic a little easier.[*10]
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
ABS senses impending wheel lockup under heavy braking and pumps the front brakes individually or the rear brakes together. This intelligent system can pump the brakes as needed up to 30 times per second, to prevent lockup and preserve the driver's steering ability.[*10]
Brake Assist (BAS®)
Brake Assist senses emergency braking via the speed at which the driver presses the brake pedal and immediately applies maximum available power boost. Brake Assist can potentially reduce the overall stopping distance by eliminating the delay caused by a common human tendency not to brake hard enough, soon enough. Letting up on the brake pedal releases Brake Assist.[*10]
The first system of its kind, ATTENTION ASSIST® continuously monitors different parameters of driving behavior, and can automatically alert the driver with both visual and audible warnings if it detects signs of drowsiness on long trips.[*11]
Another Mercedes-Benz safety breakthrough, PRE-SAFE® can detect instability during certain vehicle maneuvers that suggest a collision or rollover is imminent. It can then tighten the seat belts, adjust the occupied front passenger seat, and close the side windows, all in an effort to better prepare the occupants in the moments before a collision. If no accident occurs, you simply readjust your seat, reopen the windows, and continue on your way.[*12]
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS
Radar-based technology alerts you if you're approaching a vehicle ahead, or even some stationary objects, at a speed and distance that suggest a collision is likely. As soon as the driver starts to brake, its Adaptive Brake Assist automatically provides the ideal level of braking, to help prevent a collision or reduce its severity. The system can also provide autonomous braking from speeds up to 65 mph, and can activate the features of PRE-SAFE®.[*6]
Integrated Restraint System
An advanced system of 9 air bags offers 11-way occupant protection. Dual two-stage front air bags, a driver's knee air bag, pelvic/thorax air bags for the driver and front passenger, rear side-impact air bags, and side curtain air bags for both seating rows are all standard.[*5]
Rear seat-belt air bags (optional)
Innovative air bags are discreetly integrated with the outboard rear 3-point seat belts. In a sufficiently severe impact, the seat belt's Emergency Tensioning Device and active buckle help remove slack from the belt. Milliseconds later, the inflation of the air bag expands the surface area of the belt to help distribute the forces of impact over a larger area, potentially reducing injuries.[*13]
Side curtain air bags
In a side impact exceeding a preset threshold, a multi-chamber air bag deploys along the front and rear side windows on the affected side of the vehicle. An integrated rollover sensor automatically deploys the ETDs and, if deemed necessary, the side curtain air bags in the event of a detected rollover.[*5]
Seat belt technology
Arguably our most important passive safety feature, all four outboard 3-point seat belts are equipped with Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs) and belt force limiters. If a collision exceeds a preset threshold, ETDs instantly remove slack from the seat belts. Belt force limiters allow a slight amount of give in the seat belts, to reduce the peak seat-belt forces on the occupant.
Occupant Classification System (OCS)
OCS automatically turns the front passenger's front air bag on or off and adjusts the air bag inflation rate based on the weight category determined by weight sensor readings from the front passenger seat.[*14]
ISOFIX / Universal LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children)
Standardized child-seat attachments are provided at both outboard rear seating positions. Selectable passenger seat-belt retractors help secure child seats.[*5]
Locking & Security
The SmartKey remote control integrates remote door locks and trunk opener, a removable valet key, and a remote panic alarm. You may selectively unlock only the driver's door and fuel filler, or all doors plus the trunk and fuel filler.
Locator lighting uses the car's lights to help illuminate a return path when the car is remote-unlocked in darkness. Unlocking the car also activates the illuminated entry system.
Emergency trunk opener
An emergency release lever is located inside the trunk and illuminated for 60 minutes after the trunk lid is closed.
Night Security Illumination
Night security illumination uses the car's exterior lights to help illuminate a path after parking.
Driver-programmable driveaway locking
Automatically locks the doors when the car reaches 9 mph.
Antitheft alarm with remote panic feature
The standard antitheft alarm system is armed automatically when you lock your Mercedes from the outside. It sounds the horn and flashes the exterior lights if a door, the trunk or the hood is opened without first unlocking the vehicle. You can also sound the alarm by pressing the red "panic" button on your SmartKey remote when you're within range of your vehicle.
Integrated 3-button garage door control
Compatible with HomeLink® components and some other systems.