The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has long been synonymous with luxury and performance, but how does the 2020 Mercedes C-Class fare when it comes to safety? For prospective owners in the English-speaking market, understanding the safety ratings is paramount. This comprehensive guide delves into the crash test performance and safety features of the 2020 Mercedes C-Class, drawing upon data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to provide you with a detailed overview.
Decoding the Small Overlap Front: Driver-Side Impact
The small overlap front crash test is designed to simulate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or a fixed object like a tree or pole. Let’s examine how the 2020 Mercedes C-Class performed in the driver-side small overlap test, based on tests conducted on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C 300, which falls within the 2015-21 model rating applicability.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | A |
The 2020 Mercedes C-Class achieved a “Good” rating in the critical areas of structure and safety cage integrity, as well as for driver injury measures across head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot. This indicates a robust design that effectively protects the driver in this challenging crash scenario. However, the rating for driver restraints and dummy kinematics was “Acceptable”.
2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class small overlap frontal crash test driver side action shot showcasing vehicle structural integrity.
During the test, the dummy’s head made contact with the frontal airbag but exhibited leftward roll due to excessive forward movement allowed by the seat belt. While the side curtain airbag deployed effectively, providing ample forward coverage, this head movement resulted in the “Acceptable” rating in this specific subcategory.
Post-crash dummy position in the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class driver side small overlap test, illustrating maintained survival space.
Despite the head movement observation, the structural integrity of the occupant compartment remained intact. Post-test analysis revealed that the driver’s survival space was well-maintained, minimizing the risk of significant injuries.
Airbag deployment dynamics during the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class small overlap test and observation of dummy head movement towards airbag coverage gap.
Footwell integrity in the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class driver side after small overlap crash, indicating low risk of leg and foot injuries.
Technical measurements from the driver-side small overlap test further support these findings. Intrusion into the lower occupant compartment was minimal, with measurements like lower hinge pillar max intrusion at 5cm and footrest intrusion at 10cm. Upper occupant compartment intrusion was also limited, with steering column movement at just 1cm.
Driver injury measures were also encouraging. The Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) was a low 161, and chest compression was measured at 21mm. Femur and tibia forces were well within acceptable limits, indicating a low risk of significant leg injuries.
Passenger-Side Small Overlap Frontal Test: A Comprehensive Look
The passenger-side small overlap frontal test assesses the safety performance for the front passenger in a similar collision scenario. Ratings for the passenger side of the 2020 Mercedes C-Class are applicable to 2019-21 models and are based on tests conducted by Mercedes-Benz and evaluated by the IIHS.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
In contrast to the driver-side test, the 2020 Mercedes C-Class achieved a “Good” rating across the board in the passenger-side small overlap test. This includes “Good” ratings for overall evaluation, structure and safety cage, passenger injury measures, passenger restraints, driver injury measures, and driver restraints. This indicates excellent protection for both the driver and front passenger in a small overlap frontal crash.
Technical measurements from the passenger-side test reinforce the “Good” ratings. Occupant compartment intrusion was again minimal, and injury measures for both passenger and driver dummies were low across all categories.
Moderate Overlap Front: Original Test Performance
The moderate overlap front test involves 40% of the vehicle’s front width striking a deformable barrier. This test represents a significant portion of real-world frontal crashes. The 2020 Mercedes C-Class, based on 2015-21 models, again demonstrated top-tier performance.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The 2020 Mercedes C-Class secured “Good” ratings in every category of the moderate overlap front test. This comprehensive “Good” performance underscores the vehicle’s ability to protect occupants in a common type of frontal collision.
Technical measurements showed minimal footwell intrusion and instrument panel movement. Driver injury measures were also exceptionally low, further confirming the excellent safety performance in this test.
Side Impact: Original Test Evaluation
Side impacts are another serious crash scenario. The side impact test evaluates how well a vehicle protects occupants in a T-bone type collision. The 2020 Mercedes C-Class, assessed using a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C 400 with standard airbags, once again earned the highest rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
The 2020 Mercedes C-Class achieved “Good” ratings across all metrics in the side impact test, for both driver and rear passenger injury measures, and structural performance. This demonstrates robust side impact protection for all occupants.
Technical measurements indicated minimal B-pillar intrusion and low injury measures for both front and rear dummies, highlighting the effectiveness of the side airbags and structural design.
Roof Strength: Ensuring Occupant Space
Roof strength is critical in rollover accidents. The roof strength test measures how much force a vehicle’s roof can withstand before collapsing.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 3,522 lbs |
| Peak force | 24,642 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 7.00 |
The 2020 Mercedes C-Class received a “Good” rating for roof strength, with an impressive strength-to-weight ratio of 7.00. This indicates that the roof is more than capable of withstanding forces significantly greater than the vehicle’s weight, providing crucial protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats: Whiplash Protection
Head restraints and seats play a vital role in preventing whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
The 2020 Mercedes C-Class earned “Good” ratings for both dynamic performance and seat/head restraint geometry. This signifies that the seats and head restraints are well-designed to minimize the risk of whiplash injuries in rear impacts.
Headlights: Visibility and Safety
Headlight performance is a crucial aspect of nighttime safety. The IIHS evaluates headlights based on visibility and glare. The 2020 Mercedes C-Class has been tested with three different headlight variations, yielding different ratings.
Trim level: C300 with Adaptive High Beam Assist package
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | G |
This trim level, equipped with LED reflector headlights and Adaptive High Beam Assist, achieved a “Good” overall rating. While low beams were rated as fair on curves and exhibited some glare, the high beam assist feature compensates for some of these limitations, resulting in the “Good” rating.
Trim level: C300 (Standard)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | A |
The standard C300 trim, also equipped with LED reflector headlights but without Adaptive High Beam Assist, received an “Acceptable” overall rating. While low beam visibility was good on straightaways, performance on curves was fair, and some glare was observed.
Trim level: C300 with Exterior Lighting package
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | A |
The C300 trim with the Exterior Lighting package, featuring LED projector headlights, curve-adaptive functionality, and high-beam assist, also earned an “Acceptable” rating. Low beams provided good visibility on straightaways and most curves, but glare was noted.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Pedestrian
Front crash prevention systems are increasingly important in mitigating accidents. The 2020 Mercedes C-Class offers two front crash prevention systems.
Optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
The optional Active Brake Assist system achieved a “Superior” rating. It successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph vehicle-to-vehicle tests and meets forward collision warning requirements.
Standard Active Brake Assist
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
The standard Active Brake Assist system also earned a “Superior” rating, demonstrating that even without the optional package, the 2020 Mercedes C-Class provides excellent front crash prevention capabilities. This system also avoided collisions in both vehicle-to-vehicle test speeds and meets forward collision warning criteria.
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention (Day)
The 2020 Mercedes C-Class pedestrian front crash prevention is also evaluated under two system variations.
Optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
The optional system again achieved a “Superior” rating in pedestrian (day) tests. It avoided collisions with a crossing child and adult at both 12 mph and 25 mph. It also significantly reduced speed in the parallel adult scenario.
Standard Active Brake Assist
| Overall evaluation | Basic |
The standard Active Brake Assist system received a “Basic” rating for pedestrian (day) prevention. While it reduced impact speed in crossing child and adult scenarios, it failed to slow down in the parallel adult test.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families, child seat anchor accessibility is crucial.
| Overall evaluation | G |
The 2020 Mercedes C-Class received a “Good” rating for child seat anchors (LATCH). It features two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor. The LATCH system components are generally easy to locate and use.
Conclusion: 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class – A Safe Choice
Overall, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class demonstrates strong safety performance across a range of IIHS crash tests. It consistently achieves “Good” ratings in key areas like structural integrity, occupant protection in frontal and side impacts, roof strength, and head restraints. While headlight ratings vary by trim level and the driver-side small overlap test had an “Acceptable” rating in one subcategory, the 2020 Mercedes C-Class remains a safe and reliable luxury vehicle choice, offering advanced safety features and robust crash protection for peace of mind. For those prioritizing safety, the 2020 Mercedes C-Class is a compelling option in the luxury sedan market.
