2008 Mercedes-Benz SL Safety Review
Based on analysis of 31 SL reviews and test drives.
Safety - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 Mercedes Benz SL-class comes equipped with a wide array of safety features. The federal government, however, has not yet conducted crash tests on this year's model.
According to Edmunds, "Every modern safety feature is standard on the 2008 Mercedes-Benz SL roadster line, including stability control, side airbags (with both head and torso protection), a driver's knee airbag and pop-up roll bars." That, however, may be all drivers have to ensure them of the SL550's safety -- as Cars.com explains: "Neither the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have crash tested the SL550, and it's unlikely either will in the near future, given that it is a low-volume model."
Accident Avoidance
In addition to electrohydraulic brakes, ABS, Brake Assist, and Mercedes-Benz's Electronic Stability Program, the 2008 SL550 comes equipped with a tire-pressure monitoring system.
Crash Protection
The driver and passenger both have dual-stage front and door-mounted side-impact head and torso air bags. In addition, the driver is provided with a knee bag, and an Occupant Classification System (OCS) automatically senses if a passenger is on board -- automatically turning on passenger air bags and adjusting their inflation rate to his/or weight.
Increased protection is given by the SL550's automatic high-strength steel roll bar, which automatically deploys in 0.3 seconds if vehicle sensors detect an impending rollover. In the event that an accident does occur, the vehicle's Tele Aid System uses GPS and a cellular link to summon emergency assistance.
