2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

midsize luxury car / 4-door sedan

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
Small overlap front: driver-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system	Superior
Standard system	Not tested

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

Optional blind spot detection
Optional lane departure warning
Optional lane departure prevention

Key

G
Good
A
Acceptable
M
Marginal
P
Poor

Superior
Advanced
Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2015-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4-door

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class was redesigned for the 2015 model year.

Evaluation criteria	Rating

Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but rolled to the left because the seat belt allowed excessive forward excursion of the head and torso. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects.

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well.

The dummy's head contacted the frontal airbag but rolled partway around the left side, allowing the head to move toward the gap in coverage between the frontal and side curtain airbags.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEN1634
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	5
Footrest (cm)	10
Left toepan (cm)	5
Brake pedal (cm)	8
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	4
Upper dash (cm)	4
Lower instrument panel (cm)	4

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEN1634
Head
HIC-15	161
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm)	5
Maximum Nij	0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm)	21
Femur (kN)
Left	1.2
Right	1.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	3
Right	5
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.50
Right	0.43
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	2.8
Right	2.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	80
Right	73

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2015-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4-door 4wd

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class was redesigned for the 2015 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mercedes-Benz.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1415
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	1
Left (cm)	1
Center (cm)	1
Right (cm)	1
Brake pedal (cm)	2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	0
Right (cm)	0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	3
Rearward (cm)	-7
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1415
Head
HIC-15	148
Peak gs at hard contact	16
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm)	11
Maximum Nij	0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm)	22
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	1.6
Femur force - right (kN)	1.3
Knee displacement - left (mm)	1
Knee displacement - right (mm)	2
Maximum tibia index - left	0.40
Maximum tibia index - right	0.31
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	2.3
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	2.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	36
Right	53

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2015-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Mercedes-Benz C 400 4-door 4wd with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class was redesigned for the 2015 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mercedes-Benz.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

Technical measurements for this test

Test ID	VTS1417
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-20.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1417
Head HIC-15	228
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.0
Compression (kN)	0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	40
Lateral force (kN)	1.2
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	35
Average deflection (mm)	32
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	4.56
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.51
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	2.4
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.2
Combined force (kN)	3.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.4
L-M moment (Nm)	36
A-P moment (Nm)	74

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1417
Head HIC-15	225
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.7
Compression (kN)	0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	34
Lateral force (kN)	1.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	22
Average deflection (mm)	18
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	1.94
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.19
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	2.4
Acetabulum force (kN)	2.0
Combined force (kN)	4.2
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.5
L-M moment (Nm)	33
A-P moment (Nm)	51

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2015-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight	3,522 lbs
Peak force	24,642 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	7.00

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry

Technical measurements for this test

Seat type	Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm)	38
Distance below top of head (mm)	-14
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	16.1
Head contact time (ms)	57
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	21
Max neck tension (N)	464

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

C 300 trim equipped with LED Headlamps package

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on the sharp right curve and inadequate on the gradual right and both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	C 300 trim equipped with LED Headlamps package
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2016-18 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	86.0 m	None
Straightaway left edge	37.9 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	50.1 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	38.1 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	45.6 m	None
150m radius left curve, right edge	37.8 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	136.9 m
Straightaway left edge	100.7 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	63.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	57.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	54.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	47.4 m

Trim level(s)

C 300 trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	C 300 trim
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2016-18 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	47.2 m	None
Straightaway left edge	20.2 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	44.2 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	25.9 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	32.2 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	25.0 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	156.0 m
Straightaway left edge	136.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	57.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	54.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	40.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	41.5 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

Ratings are given for 2 different trim variations available on this vehicle.

System details

Optional Pre-Safe Brake with Pedestrian Recognition
Standard Collision Prevention Assist Plus

Package name

Optional Premium 4 Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2017-18 models

Superior

with optional equipment

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

System details

Standard Collision Prevention Assist Plus

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2017-18 models

This system does not meet the requirements for forward collision warning.
Autobrake not tested.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2015-21 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	C 300
Seat type	leather

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	C 300
Seat type	leather

Rating icon	Rating
G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol	Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol	Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol	Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
	No hardware available

Details by seating position

Position	Rating
1
1	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	not too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors
2
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	none available
3
3	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	not too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors

Technical measurements for this test

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	Yes
Depth	Visible
Force (lbs)	3
Clearance angle (degrees)	69
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	Yes
Depth	Visible
Force (lbs)	2
Clearance angle (degrees)	61
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	Yes
Depth	Visible
Force (lbs)	4
Clearance angle (degrees)	56
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	Yes
Depth	Visible
Force (lbs)	5
Clearance angle (degrees)	70
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation