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2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC

midsize luxury SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 4-door SUV
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
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

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

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Standard 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 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4-door 4wd

The Mercedes-Benz GLC was introduced in the 2016 model year as a replacement for the Mercedes-Benz GLK.

Overall evaluation
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 driver-side 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 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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1722
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Footrest (cm) 10
Left toepan (cm) 7
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Upper dash (cm) 2
Lower instrument panel (cm) 2

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1722
Head
HIC-15 224
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 10
Maximum Nij 0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm) 23
Femur (kN)
Left 1.1
Right 1.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.64
Right 0.41
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 3.0
Right 1.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 86
Right 61

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4-door 4wd

The Mercedes-Benz GLC was introduced in the 2016 model year as a replacement for the Mercedes-Benz GLK. Two passenger-side small overlap frontal tests of a 2018 model GLC were conducted, one by the Institute and the other by Mercedes-Benz. Ratings are based on both tests.

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

Action shot taken during the Institute's passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame and dashboard after the crash test indicates that the passenger's survival space was maintained well (Institute test car shown).

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury (Institute test shown).

The passenger's space was maintained well in both tests, but forces on the right lower leg were just high enough to indicate the possibility of injuries in the Institute's test. In the test conducted by Mercedes-Benz, injury risk to both legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID CEP1712 VTP1702
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 2 2
Footrest (cm) 16 8
Right toepan (cm) 8 3
Center toepan (cm) 4 3
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0 0
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 1 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 2 3
Upper dash (cm) 4 3
Right lower dash (cm) 4 4

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CEP1712 VTP1702
Head
HIC-15 122 53
Peak gs at hard contact no contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 17 11
Maximum Nij 0.20 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 18 19
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1 0.0
Right 1.2 0.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1 1
Right 0 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0 0
Right 0 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.21 0.17
Right 0.81 0.15
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.1 0.2
Right 4.7 0.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 68 41
Right 109 60

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEP1712 VTP1702
Head
HIC-15 105 42
Peak gs at hard contact no contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 7 4
Maximum Nij 0.12 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 21 18
Femur (kN)
Left 0.6 0.6
Right 0.9 1.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2 1
Right 3 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0 0
Right 0 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.18 0.27
Right 0.49 0.26
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.4 0.2
Right 0.7 1.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 23 25
Right 47 53

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4-door 4wd

The Mercedes-Benz GLC was introduced in the 2016 model year as a replacement for the Mercedes-Benz GLK. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mercedes-Benz.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1626
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 1
Left (cm) 1
Center (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Brake pedal (cm) 1
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) -1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -2
Rearward (cm) -7
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1626
Head
HIC-15 131
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 13
Maximum Nij 0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.8
Femur force - right (kN) 0.7
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 2
Maximum tibia index - left 0.17
Maximum tibia index - right 0.27
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.9
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 45
Right 68

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4-door 4wd

The Mercedes-Benz GLC was introduced in the 2016 model year as a replacement for the Mercedes-Benz GLK. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mercedes-Benz.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1625
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -24.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1625
Head HIC-15 133
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 25
Lateral force (kN) 1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 32
Average deflection (mm) 29
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.44
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.53
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.1
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.1
Combined force (kN) 2.2
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.6
L-M moment (Nm) 41
A-P moment (Nm) 46

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1625
Head HIC-15 137
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Compression (kN) 0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 38
Lateral force (kN) 1.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 36
Average deflection (mm) 16
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.39
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.43
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.1
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.9
Combined force (kN) 1.9
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 46
A-P moment (Nm) 50

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight4,026 lbs
Peak force24,311 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio6.04

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)

  • All trims equipped with Exterior Lighting package
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

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

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on the gradual left curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims 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 2020-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 85.0 m None
Straightaway left edge 71.3 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 79.2 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 64.4 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 70.0 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 60.9 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 147.8 m
Straightaway left edge 154.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 91.7 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 91.0 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 74.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 72.2 m

Trim level(s)

  • All trims
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 71.6 m None
Straightaway left edge 49.9 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 49.7 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 46.8 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 43.8 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 44.3 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 149.0 m
Straightaway left edge 124.2 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 65.7 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 63.4 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 50.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 47.5 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function

Package name

  • Optional Driver Assistance Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020-22 models

Superior
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, impact speed was reduced by 22 mph.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2020-22 models equipped with Driver Assistance 2 Package package

Superior
Superior
with optional equipment

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 23 mph.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 22 mph.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 30 mph. A warning was issued 2.1 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimGLC 300
Seat type leatherette

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.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimGLC 300
Seat type leatherette
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
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

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
difficult to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
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
difficult to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 1
Clearance angle (degrees) 55
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 1
Clearance angle (degrees) 49
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

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

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 55
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 53
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation