A steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising an outer casing unit which can be connected directly or indirectly to the body of a motor vehicle and in which there is retained so as to be able to be displaced in the longitudinal direction a casing pipe, in which a steering spindle is rotatably supported about the longitudinal axis thereof located in the longitudinal direction, and a clamping device which can be moved into a fixing position, in which it secures the casing unit relative to the casing pipe, and a release position, in which it releases a displacement of the casing pipe relative to the casing unit at least in the longitudinal direction, wherein the clamping device has an engagement element which is supported on the casing pipe and which extends in the longitudinal direction and which has an upper side which is located parallel with the longitudinal axis and lateral edge sides and a locking element which is supported in the longitudinal direction on the casing unit and which can be moved by the clamping device in order to adjust the fixing position in the normal direction of the upper side against the engagement element, wherein complementary positive-locking elements (63, 73) which are constructed on the locking element and the engagement element can be brought into engagement with each other in order to produce a positive-locking connection which is effective in the longitudinal direction and wherein an energy absorption device is arranged between the casing pipe and the engagement element, wherein lateral positive-locking elements are constructed at least on one of the edge sides of the engagement element, characterized in that the locking element has at least one side arm which engages around an edge side in the fixing position and which has positive-locking elements which correspond to the lateral positive-locking elements of the edge side. an outer casing unit which can be connected directly or indirectly to the body of a motor vehicle and in which there is retained so as to be able to be displaced in the longitudinal direction a casing pipe, in which a steering spindle is rotatably supported about the longitudinal axis thereof located in the longitudinal direction, and a clamping device which can be moved into a fixing position, in which it secures the casing unit relative to the casing pipe, and a release position, in which it releases a displacement of the casing pipe relative to the casing unit at least in the longitudinal direction, wherein the clamping device has an engagement element which is supported on the casing pipe and which extends in the longitudinal direction and which has an upper side which is located parallel with the longitudinal axis and lateral edge sides and a locking element which is supported in the longitudinal direction on the casing unit and which can be moved by the clamping device in order to adjust the fixing position in the normal direction of the upper side against the engagement element, wherein complementary positive-locking elements (63, 73) which are constructed on the locking element and the engagement element can be brought into engagement with each other in order to produce a positive-locking connection which is effective in the longitudinal direction and wherein an energy absorption device is arranged between the casing pipe and the engagement element, wherein lateral positive-locking elements are constructed at least on one of the edge sides of the engagement element, characterized in that the locking element has at least one side arm which engages around an edge side in the fixing position and which has positive-locking elements which correspond to the lateral positive-locking elements of the edge side.