ULTIMATE ANTI CRASH - Fifth Gear

Tiff is testing out the latest anti-crash AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) systems in the Mercedes S Class, the Volvo V40 and the VW up!

[GHOSTJERKER]

Insurance companies should give a discount proportionate to the percentage of rear end accidents under 55mph for drivers of this Volvo... Great tech!!!

[jaikee]

Ok, let this German explain. Everyone knows Mercedes hate VW. The fake car in front looked like a VW Touran. The error was that the Mercedes didn't accelerate.

[mcstyle]

Volvo is always known for making safety car in the world. So I'm not suprise about this.

I'm surprised Mercedes is a failure in that test.

[aldwinvillar]

Lets not forget that volvo invented the 3 point seat belt that we all use today.

[MaZEEZaM]

This is a fantastic advert for Volvo but a surprising shocker for the Merc. I had expected the Merc to be equal the Volvo if not leading but obviously far from it.

[samin]

Poor Mercedes, it weighs like 5000lbs and has an older system, and was nearly a decade old at that point. I'm sure the new S class would fare better.

[TheBigDanois]

Bottom line: Keep your f*cking eyes on the road. How about this: A sensor in the car seat which  assrapes you when you're distracted. Too harsh???? Helll I saw someone texting on a motorbike last summer.)

[EpicPaperclip]

what happens when the car behind you doesnt have this?

[VestedUTuber]

The ultimate anti-crash is being a good driver. No amount of gadgets and features will replace that.

[koolyman]

1:21 I love how Tiff gives it a shove and says "Are you sure?" to make sure he's not being bullshitted

[BANNERTM]

221 S class already is 8 years old, try with new 222 and all will be ok 

[varunbhattacharyya]

Volvo is the champion when it comes to safety

[Ohjipd]

All of these systems are impressive!  This iteration of the Mercedes autonomous braking system, however, wasn't designed to prevent collisions without any driver input.  The system was designed to warn the driver of a possible imminent crash, and when the driver applies braking power, the system calculates if the braking power is sufficient and then augments that input if it determines the braking force is not great enough.  In the owner's manual, Mercedes specifically states that it will only automatically apply braking power without driver input if it determines a collision is unavoidable and then the braking input is only designed to reduce the force of the collision, not prevent it.  I am not a Mercedes engineer, but these systems do have false positives at times, and Mercedes was possibly concerned about the system initiating a panic stop in a false-positive situation.  Applying 100% of the braking power to prevent a frontal collision also increases the likelihood of a rear-end collision from the car behind, so I would say the Mercedes system is not better or worse, it just adopts a different philosophy of trying to minimize injury in possible collisions.  

[micosan]

Try that on an icy road and see what happens! :)

[jundialhaqiqa]

I'm not surprised that Volvo prevailed in this test, for Volvo has always been a safety pioneer.

[Megadriver]

The Mercedes system is good. The car does indeed slow down and regulate the speed if you turn on the cruise control.
When you are doing the throttle and brakes, the S-class doesn't apply full braking force. It applies 40%. That is more than enough to alert you, so you do the rest.

The Volvo  (as usually) just slams on the brakes hard. And that could lead to another accident. Cause your Volvo brakes hard, but the car behind you, might not. So you could get rear-ended cause of your system. The Mercedes applies the brakes (not fully) and flashes the taillights.

[Maccan]

That volvo city safety has saved my ass 2 times. Really amazing system. It even applies the hazards for you if you have come to a full stop!

[nabz]

I suppose that the system only works when it is switched on. I remember when they showed an S-Class on Top Gear, the S-class hit an object with great force, because they forgot to switch anti-crash system on. The front of the car was completely smashed to pieces.

[ericiscoolllll]

and then you get rear ended from braking so

Well, the reviewers should read the manuals first. Mercedes will let you to do whatever you want until 0.6 sec before the collision is unavoidable, then apply the brakes to minimize the impact. If you just touch the brake pedal it will apply all force available to brake before you hit the car at front with minimal distance, to give the driver behind you enough time to stop as well, not to mention the flashing brake lights to get the attention of the driver behind and stop before he hits you and push you to the car at front as well....so you end you end up with same damage anyway. Anyway, I drive one of these, and it always give me warning before the sharp 90 degrees turn where the static road sign is installed, but as i accelerate and then I do sharp turn it wont interfere the driving. I wonder if the others can do the same without interfering my driving and perhaps brake before I have the chance to turn. Anyway, read the manual before you review. The demo video of S class AMG engineer demonstrating this feature is also somewhere here on you-tube.