Have a look at this thread. Especially my post 38 which lists real on the road crash results for cars made from 1987 to 2005. https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/387439-wtb-daughters-first-car-socal-inland-empire.html

Also read the first post in the thread, our guy had convinced himself that a old $ 4,000 107, 123 or 124 Mercedes is safer / more reliable than most any other brand of car. In the end he got a W201.

Below is where the W201 rates against other cars in terms of a crash.


https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1045298/muarc266.pdf

Some data page 35 45 115 137

I've pulled out USA relevant models and placed MB at the top of each rating group . Looking at the charts, very tiny cars designed in the 80's fare poorly and an older MB does not do as good as some would think.

Page 187 consumer friendly crash worthiness ratings using actual on the road crash data from 87 - 05



S = Small car
LC = Light car
M = Medium car
L = Large car



2 steps better than average


S 99 - 04 VW Golf / Bora

M 98 - 05 VW Passat

M 94 - 02 SAAB new 900 / 9 - 3

L 02 - 05 Toyota Camry

L 84 - 92 Volvo 700 / 900





1 step better than average


M 95 - 00 W202 C class

M 86 - 94 W124 E class

S 98 - 01 Toyota Corolla

M 91 - 02 Honda Accord

L 98 - 02 Toyota Camry

L 00 - 05 Toyota Avalon




Average

M 89 - 93 W201 190

M 96 - 02 W210 E class

L 82 - 92 W126 S class

S 00 - 05 Hyundai Elantra

S 92 - 05 Honda Civic

S 01 - 05 Subaru Impreza

S 02 - 05 Toyota Corolla

LC 00 - 05 Hyundai Accent

LC 00 - 05 Kia Rio

LC 99 - 05 Toyota Echo

L 96 - 98 Ford Taurus



1 step below average

L 83 - 86 Toyota Camry

S 93 - 00 Subaru Impreza