MBs are absolutely among the safest cars on the road for their time periods. It is not logical to compare a brand new Japanese car to an 80s MB with regard to safety. There simply has been too much progress made in that time for the MB to be competitive with the new designs. With that said, brand-new MBs are, as they have always been, among the safest cars on the road.

I'd much rather be in a new Lexus than in any 1980s Mercedes in the event of any type of accident.