The 2021 Mercedes-benz C-class continues the legacy of its predecessors, offering not only luxury and performance but also exceptional safety. This detailed analysis, based on rigorous testing, delves into the crashworthiness and safety features of the 2021 C-Class, providing car buyers and enthusiasts with a comprehensive understanding of its safety capabilities.
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class, redesigned in 2015, has consistently achieved high safety ratings. This article aggregates data from various safety evaluations to present a holistic view of the 2021 model’s safety performance.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Excellence
In the driver-side small overlap front test, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class demonstrates robust structural integrity and occupant protection. The evaluation criteria and ratings are as follows:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/Thigh | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | A (Acceptable) |
The “Good” rating across the board for structural integrity and driver injury measures highlights the C-Class’s ability to maintain the driver’s survival space effectively during a severe frontal crash. While the driver restraints and dummy kinematics received an “Acceptable” rating due to the dummy’s head movement, overall protection remains high.
Technical measurements from the driver-side test further illustrate the limited occupant compartment intrusion and low injury measures:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 5 |
| Footrest (cm) | 10 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 5 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 8 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 2 |
| Steering column | 1 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 4 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 4 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 4 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 161 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 5 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.20 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 21 |
| Femur – Left (kN) | 1.2 |
| Femur – Right (kN) | 1.3 |
| Knee displacement – Left (mm) | 3 |
| Knee displacement – Right (mm) | 5 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Left (%) | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Right (%) | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.50 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.43 |
| Tibia axial force – Left (kN) | 2.8 |
| Tibia axial force – Right (kN) | 2.4 |
| Foot acceleration – Left (g) | 80 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 73 |
Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Comprehensive Safety
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class also excels in passenger-side small overlap frontal crash testing. The ratings reflect consistent “Good” performance across all evaluation criteria, indicating a high level of safety for front passengers.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures – Hip/Thigh | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | G (Good) |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/Thigh | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
Technical measurements for the passenger side test further validate the excellent safety performance:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 6 |
| Footrest (cm) | 12 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 8 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 5 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 3 |
| Center dash (cm) | 1 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 5 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 4 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 4 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 109 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 12 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.20 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 25 |
| Femur – Left (kN) | 0.2 |
| Femur – Right (kN) | 0.0 |
| Knee displacement – Left (mm) | 0 |
| Knee displacement – Right (mm) | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Left (%) | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Right (%) | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.37 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.60 |
| Tibia axial force – Left (kN) | 1.8 |
| Tibia axial force – Right (kN) | 1.7 |
| Foot acceleration – Left (g) | 51 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 77 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 68 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.6 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 4 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.20 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 20 |
| Femur – Left (kN) | 0.3 |
| Femur – Right (kN) | 0.7 |
| Knee displacement – Left (mm) | 1 |
| Knee displacement – Right (mm) | 1 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Left (%) | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Right (%) | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.24 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.26 |
| Tibia axial force – Left (kN) | 0.6 |
| Tibia axial force – Right (kN) | 2.4 |
| Foot acceleration – Left (g) | 26 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 62 |
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Sustained “Good” Rating
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class maintains a “Good” rating in the moderate overlap front crash test, reflecting consistent performance in frontal impact scenarios.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, Left | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, Right | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
Technical data from the moderate overlap test confirms minimal intrusion and low injury risk:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Footrest (cm) | 1 |
| Left (cm) | 1 |
| Center (cm) | 1 |
| Right (cm) | 1 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 2 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement – Left (cm) | 0 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement – Right (cm) | 0 |
| Steering column movement – Upward (cm) | 3 |
| Steering column movement – Rearward (cm) | -7 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 0 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 148 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | 16 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.1 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 11 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.20 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 22 |
| 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 – Left (g) | 36 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 53 |
Side Impact and Roof Strength: Excellent All-Around Protection
In side impact testing, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class earns a “Good” rating, demonstrating effective protection in side collision scenarios. Similarly, the roof strength test also results in a “Good” rating, indicating robust rollover protection.
Side: original test
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | G (Good) |
| Driver head protection | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger head protection | G (Good) |
Roof strength
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 3,522 lbs |
| Peak force | 24,642 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 7.00 |
Head Restraints and Seats: Whiplash Protection
The head restraints and seats of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class are rated “Good” for dynamic and geometric evaluations, signifying effective whiplash protection in rear-end collisions.
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G (Good) |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G (Good) |
Headlight Performance: Varied but Generally Good
Headlight ratings for the 2021 C-Class vary depending on trim and package. Certain trims with the Exterior Lighting package and built after January 2021 achieve a “Good” rating, while others may have “Acceptable” or “Marginal” ratings. It is important to check specific trim levels for headlight performance.
Trim level(s) – All trims equipped with Exterior Lighting package; built after January 2021
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | G (Good) |
Trim level(s) – C300 trim equipped with Adaptive High Beam Assist package
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | G (Good) |
Trim level(s) – C300 trim
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | A (Acceptable) |
Trim level(s) – All trims equipped with Exterior Lighting package; built before February 2021
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | M (Marginal) |
Front Crash Prevention: Superior Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Pedestrian Systems
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class offers superior front crash prevention systems for both vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian scenarios, especially when equipped with optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function.
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle – Optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
|---|---|
| Forward collision warning | Meets requirements |
| 12 mph test | Collision avoided |
| 25 mph test | Collision avoided |
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day) – optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
|---|---|
| Crossing child (12 mph & 25 mph) | Collision avoided |
| Crossing adult (12 mph & 25 mph) | Collision avoided |
| Parallel adult (25 mph) | Impact speed reduced by 24 mph |
| Parallel adult (37 mph) | Nearly avoided collision |
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH): User-Friendly Design
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class features “Good” rated LATCH child seat anchors, indicating ease of use and secure child seat installation in multiple rear seating positions.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
Conclusion: A Top Safety Pick in the 2021 Luxury Sedan Segment
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class stands out as a top safety performer in the luxury sedan category. With consistently high crash test ratings, advanced front crash prevention technology, and user-friendly child seat anchors, the C-Class provides occupants with exceptional safety and peace of mind. While headlight performance varies by trim, higher trims offer “Good” rated headlights, further enhancing safety. For buyers prioritizing safety in a luxury vehicle, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a compelling choice.
