DISTRONIC PLUS helps the driver automatically maintain a specified distance from the vehicle ahead and helps minimise the risk of rear-end collisions by identifying potentially dangerous situations and reacting accordingly. As the sensors can operate between 0.2 and 200 metres the system is also helpful in city traffic or stop-and-go traffic. It can brake the vehicle to a standstill if necessary and also accelerate it again, if confirmed by the driver.

In stop-and-go traffic, DISTRONIC PLUS applies the brakes automatically – if necessary, until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. Automatic braking is applied with a deceleration of up to 4 m/s²When the traffic situation improves, DISTRONIC PLUS automatically accelerates back up to the preset speed if the driver presses briefly on the accelerator or flicks the cruise control lever.

If DISTRONIC PLUS identifies that heavy braking is required, an intermittent warning tone is sounded and a warning symbol lights up on the instrument panel. This alerts the driver to pay close attention and apply the brakes if necessary. To move off again after coming to a complete stop, the driver only needs to pull the cruise control lever or tap the accelerator.

In critical braking situations, specific criteria such as brake pressure and road speed are used to activate the adaptive brake lights if necessary. When activated, the brake lights flash to give drivers behind even better warning of the risk of a rear-end collision.

Studies have shown that drivers’ brake-activation response times are shortened by up to 0.2 seconds when emergency braking is indicated by a flashing red warning signal instead of conventional brake lights. At a speed of 80 km/h, this reduction in response time corresponds to a reduction in stopping distance of approximately 4.40 metres. The brake lights flash with a frequency of approx. 3 Hertz (with bulbs) or approx. 5 Hertz (with LEDs). Tests have shown this frequency to be particularly effective.

As soon as the vehicle is moving at less than 10 km/h or has come to a stop, or Brake Assist is no longer active and vehicle deceleration falls below 6.5 m/s² for 150 milliseconds, the brake lights light continuously again.

The adaptive brake light comes on when:

Active Parking Assist makes a major contribution to safe and comfortable driving. It helps drivers find a suitable parking space for parallel parking and helps them to park by active steering intervention. The integrated PARKTRONIC can warn drivers if there are hidden obstacles in front of or behind the car. Active Parking Assist uses two ultrasonic sensors in the front bumper to identify suitable parking spaces when the vehicle is travelling at up to 36 km/h.

The automatic parking space search function is indicated by a "P" symbol in the instrument cluster. If Active Parking Assist has found a parking space, an arrow appears next to the "P". By default, Active Parking Assist searches for parking spaces on the right-hand side of the road. If the indicator on the driver's side is active, parking spaces on the left-hand side are also detected

The driver starts the parking manoeuvring process by stopping ahead of the indicated parking space, selecting reverse and confirming the prompt which appears in the instrument cluster. Active Parking Assist then takes over the steering at up to 10 km/h. The driver only has to operate the clutch (in vehicles with manual transmission) and the accelerator and brake. The parking manoeuvre is completed in a maximum of 5 moves. The final parking move is indicated by the message "Parking Assist complete" in the display. This message is accompanied by an acoustic signal.

The ATTENTION ASSIST function is particularly helpful on long journeys and when driving at night; the system warns the driver if it detects signs of failing attention and increasing weariness. This driving assistance system can warn the driver when it identifies typical signs of fatigue, which in turn improves handling safety.

ATTENTION ASSIST continuously analyses driving behaviour and steering movements. If the system detects certain steering patterns that frequently accompany drowsiness, it warns the driver visually by displaying the "coffee cup" symbol in the instrument cluster at the same time as emitting audible signals. ATTENTION ASSIST can be activated and deactivated in the main menu of the instrument cluster under "Assistance systems". When switched on, it is active at speeds between 80 and 180 km/h.

Brake Assist can detect emergency braking situations based on the speed with which the brake pedal is depressed and assists the driver by increasing the brake pressure. The system interprets a certain speed at which the brake pedal is depressed as an emergency situation, and automatically builds up maximum braking power within fractions of a second.

Brake Assist is integrated into the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) and uses its technology to adjust the braking pressure, thereby eliminating the need for additional components. A sensor permanently monitors the speed at which the brake pedal is depressed and transmits this data to the electronic control unit.

If an unusually high pedal speed is registered, the system concludes that there is an emergency braking situation. The system then helps the driver to perform an emergency stop by automatically increasing brake pressure in the wheel brake cylinders. ABS continues to precisely meter the braking power up to the slip threshold, which ensures that steering control is maintained. Once the driver releases the brake pedal, automatic brake boosting ceases immediately.

In critical situations, the Electronic Stability Program ESP® can help to stabilise the vehicle by applying a braking force to individual wheels and by adjusting engine performance.

If the ESP® system detects a critical situation, it applies the brakes systematically to one or more wheels according to the situation. Should the system consider it necessary, it will also make an automatic adjustment to engine torque. In this way ESP® helps the driver to stabilise the vehicle within the laws of physics – particularly when cornering and during sudden evasive manoeuvres.

-The headlamp assist system reduces the strain on the driver by automatically switching on low-beam headlamps, tail lamps and number plate illumination when it gets dark outside. The assistance system performs this task even when it's raining or snowing via a signal from the rain sensor.

The Headlamp Assist system uses a light sensor to measure the light level of the surroundings. If light levels fall below a certain level, low-beam headlamps are switched on. If the light intensity of the surroundings rises again, the low-beam headlamps are switched off again. The system ensures the necessary level of illumination for the vehicle at all times, contributes towards handling safety – in particular under rapidly changing light conditions (e.g. driving into a tunnel or multi-storey car park) – and enhances the driver's comfort.

The Intelligent Light System – as an active component of the safety concept – ensures the best possible visibility in all weather conditions and the most diverse traffic situations. With oncoming traffic, illuminated road users, on bends, in fog or on free stretches of road, the system adapts to the situation and adjusts the characteristics of the light individually to that situation.

Too small of a gap between vehicles is the main cause of severe accidents. The newly developed radar-based collision warning system COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST can improve safety and ride comfort by warning drivers when the gap to preceding vehicles is too small and can support the driver's braking when it detects danger.

The system can detect gaps that are too small between the vehicle and objects in front driving at speeds of over 30 km/h. If the system detects the danger of a rear-end collision and a possible impact, the driver can be warned visually and audibly.

If the system detects a danger and the driver brakes at the same time, the adaptive Brake Assist can intervene: it provides the driver with the exact degree of braking power needed to ideally avoid an imminent collision. The COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST is an innovative component of the Integral Safety concept from Mercedes-Benz.

The tyre pressure loss warning system helps to prevent accidents by alerting the driver to a dangerous drop in tyre pressure. The system monitors the rotational speed of individual wheels and can identify significant pressure losses according to speed changes. The warning is displayed in the instrument cluster.

Lane Keeping Assist can warn the driver if the vehicle begins to unintentionally leave the lane the system has registered. A series of three vibrations of the steering wheel, imperceptible to the other vehicle occupants, serves as the warning signal. The system can likewise recognise manoeuvres during which drivers leave their lane intentionally - when cutting a corner, for example - and in that case will not issue a warning.

The Blind Spot Assist system can detect other vehicles in the poorly visible area directly next to and behind the vehicle using two radar sensors. If a vehicle is detected in the blind spot, a red triangle appears in the exterior mirror. Should the driver nevertheless activate the turn indicator despite this visual warning an audible warning is also triggered. The system is active from speeds of 30 to 250 kilometres per hour. At speeds below 30 kilometres per hour a yellow triangle indicates that the system is inactive.

The anti-lock braking system (ABS) can enhance driving safety, especially in critical braking situations. . When braking, ABS can prevent the individual wheels from locking by modulating the braking pressure of the individual wheels.

This ensures that the vehicle remains directionally stable and can be steered while maintaining maximum braking power.
In other words: ABS allows the driver to brake and steer simultaneously – allowing precise evasive manoeuvring – in order to avoid an accident.

Acceleration skid control (ASR) ensures that the wheels do not spin when accelerating. Especially when moving off on snow, ice and loose chippings, the acceleration skid control prevents individual wheels from spinning and thus protects the vehicle from drifting out to the side.

The system uses speed sensors to monitor the slip characteristics of the wheels. If the system senses a wheel is starting to spin, the acceleration skid control corrects the wheel speed by braking and intervening in the engine management system, thus reducing the wheel slip and wheel spin.

When the PRE-SAFE® system detects the typical risks of an accident, it can activate preventive safety systems depending on the driving situation and vehicle equipment. These can help to reduce the risk of injury to the vehicle occupants.

The PRE-SAFE® system is able to recognise an impending accident because it represents a synergy of active and passive safety features unique to this vehicle class:it systematically accesses the sensors of existing systems such as ESP® or BAS their sensors are able to detect typical critical driving situations and provide the appropriate information to the PRE-SAFE® system, thereby enhancing the standard safety systems.

Examples include the securing of the driver and front passenger in their seats at an early stage by electric belt tensioners to prevent undesirable body movements; or the almost complete closure of the side windows and sliding sunroof to protect occupants from any objects entering the vehicle.

The driver and front passenger airbags help to protect the upper torso and head in a collision – as well as providing additional stability for the entire body. They can also mitigate the severity of injuries sustained in an accident. If the crash sensors detect a collision from a specific direction and it exceeds a given impact severity, the airbags are deployed.

The gas generators of both airbags work in two stages. Both stages are activated depending, amongst other factors, on the braking force registered. Depending on the predicted severity of the impact, the first stage of the gas generator is initially activated and the airbag only partially filled. If a higher severity of impact is predicted, the second stage of the gas generator is activated after a slight delay and the airbag is completely filled.

The automatic child seat recognition system detects child seats with a transponder from the Mercedes-Benz accessories range and automatically deactivates the front passenger airbag.

An aerial integrated in the front-passenger seat sends signals. Transponders in the special child seat models from the Mercedes-Benz accessories range detect these signals and send a feedback signal. Based on this feedback signal, the automatic child seat recognition system deactivates the front-passenger airbag, regardless of whether the child seat is installed facing the front or rear. An indicator lamp lights up to confirm that the airbag has been deactivated. The belt tensioner and the other airbags on the front-passenger side – such as sidebags (combined thorax-/pelvisbags) or a windowbag – remain active in order to protect the child. The front-passenger airbag is reactivated automatically after the child seat has been removed.

The ISOFIX child-seat anchorage system is a quick, convenient, vehicle-independent system conforming to ISO standards. It allows quick and easy child seat attachment in the rear. Its fixed anchorage points ensure a high degree of protection in the event of an accident.

A special ISOFIX child seat engages in the attachment points housed in the lower area of the backrest. This creates a rigid connection with the vehicle structure, meaning that seat movements caused by slack or incorrectly fitted seat belts can be avoided. TopTether is an additional safeguard that is attached at a point behind the rear head restraints. It further reduces the risk of the child seat tilting forwards in the event of a crash.

The kneebag on the driver’s side helps to protect the legs during impact and also stabilises the entire body. It can thus help mitigate the severity of injuries sustained in an accident. If the crash sensors detect an accident from a certain direction and that exceeds a given severity, the kneebag is deployed.

The sidebags fitted as standard for the driver and front passenger (combined thorax/pelvisbags) provide protection to the thorax and pelvis area in the event of a side impact, and also afford additional stability to the entire body. This makes them able to reduce the severity of injuries in an accident.

The sidebags in the rear are stored behind the wheel arch lining. When they are deployed during a side collision they provide potential protection for the chest area of the rear-seat passengers.

They are triggered when the central control unit and the side satellite sensors register acceleration or deceleration forces acting on the vehicle in excess of a certain threshold. The sidebags deploy at chest height between the vehicle side and the occupant.

In the event of a side impact whose intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold, the windowbag deploys to cover the side windows and reduce the risk of a collision between the passenger’s head and the side of the vehicle or of objects intruding into the vehicle interior. The windowbag is triggered simultaneously with the sidebags (combined thorax/pelvis bags) and always on the side of the vehicle involved in the side impact.

When deployed, the windowbag spreads across the side windows between the A-pillar and C-pillar. The windowbag covers a large part of the surface area at the side.

The windowbag offers the following advantages: