Top Safety Pick +

2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

midsize luxury car / 4-door sedan

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention

2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4-door sedan — 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class shown

Crashworthiness

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

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system	Superior
Standard system	Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Optional system	Superior
Standard system	Basic

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

Standard blind spot detection
Optional lane departure warning
Optional lane departure prevention
Optional rear automatic braking

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

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2019-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4-door

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

Passenger-side small 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
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1824
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	6
Footrest (cm)	12
Right toepan (cm)	8
Center toepan (cm)	5
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	3
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm)	1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	5
Upper dash (cm)	4
Right lower dash (cm)	4

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1824
Head
HIC-15	109
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm)	12
Maximum Nij	0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm)	25
Femur (kN)
Left	0.2
Right	0.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.37
Right	0.60
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	1.8
Right	1.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	51
Right	77

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1824
Head
HIC-15	68
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.6
Extension bending moment (Nm)	4
Maximum Nij	0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm)	20
Femur (kN)
Left	0.3
Right	0.7
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	1
Right	1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.24
Right	0.26
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	0.6
Right	2.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	26
Right	62

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 3 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

C300 trim equipped with Adaptive High Beam Assist package

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

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

The low beams created some glare.

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

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	C300 trim equipped with Adaptive High Beam Assist package
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2019-21 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	102.1 m	8.4%
Straightaway left edge	65.0 m	8.4%
250m radius right curve, right edge	57.8 m	None
250m radius left curve, right edge	64.9 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	46.5 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	52.4 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	179.1 m
Straightaway left edge	167.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	69.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	75.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	51.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	57.6 m

Trim level(s)

C300 trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
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 good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair in all 4 tests.

The low beams created some glare.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	C300 trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2019-21 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	102.1 m	8.4%
Straightaway left edge	65.0 m	8.4%
250m radius right curve, right edge	57.8 m	None
250m radius left curve, right edge	64.9 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	46.5 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	52.4 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	179.1 m
Straightaway left edge	167.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	69.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	75.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	51.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	57.6 m

Trim level(s)

C300 trim equipped with Exterior Lighting package

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

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

The low beams created some glare.

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 good in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	C300 trim equipped with Exterior Lighting package
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2019-20 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	108.6 m	33.4%
Straightaway left edge	62.2 m	33.4%
250m radius right curve, right edge	77.9 m	19.4%
250m radius left curve, left edge	58.8 m	32.3%
150m radius right curve, right edge	66.4 m	0.8%
150m radius left curve, left edge	57.6 m	23.0%

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	146.2 m
Straightaway left edge	130.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	86.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	89.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	71.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	67.4 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 Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function

Package name

Optional Driver Assistance Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2019-21 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 Active Brake Assist

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2019-21 models

Superior

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.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

Ratings are given for 2 different systems available on this vehicle.

System details

optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2019-21 models equipped with Driver Assistance package

Superior

with optional equipment

Crossing child

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 24 mph.
In the 37 mph test, this vehicle nearly avoided a collision. A warning was issued 2 seconds before impact.

System details

standard Active Brake Assist

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2019-21 models

Basic

Crossing child

In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 8 mph.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 16 mph.

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 18 mph.

Parallel adult

In the 25 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow.
In the 37 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow. A warning was issued 0.4 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian 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