Audi leads tougher IIHS crash tests as Mercedes-Benz E-Class falls short

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The U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has published new crash-test results conducted under tougher protocols. Audi came out ahead among premium brands, while the Mercedes-Benz E-Class missed out on any top accolades.

Top Safety Pick+ went to three Audi models: the Q5, Q5 Sportback and A6 Sportback e-tron. That brings Audi’s tally to seven vehicles with this award—more than any other luxury manufacturer. All three posted Good ratings in the key evaluations, including small- and moderate-overlap frontal impacts as well as the updated side crash. They also met the requirements for headlight performance and pedestrian crash-prevention systems. The consistency across such different body styles suggests the brand has tuned its safety package to the stricter IIHS playbook.

IIHS also placed particular emphasis on a new test of rear-occupant protection in a 64 km/h frontal collision. In this assessment, Audi again earned high marks, confirming the effectiveness of its seatbelts and restraint systems—an area that increasingly separates leaders from the field.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class, by contrast, did not pass the updated moderate-overlap test. Although the body structure was deemed strong, experts recorded the rear passenger’s belt shifting into the abdominal area, raising the risk of injury. As a result, the model received neither Top Safety Pick+ nor Top Safety Pick. It underlines how even a robust shell can be undermined if restraint performance falls short.

IIHS notes that safety requirements will continue to tighten. From 2026, additional checks of electronic driver-assistance systems are planned, which will become an important factor in rating 2026 models.