The Mercedes-Benz C-Class, a popular luxury sedan, underwent a redesign in 2015, setting the stage for models like the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300. For prospective buyers and safety-conscious drivers, understanding vehicle safety ratings is paramount. This article delves into the safety performance of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300, drawing on detailed crash test results and safety evaluations. We will explore various safety aspects, from structural integrity to headlight effectiveness and crash prevention technologies, providing a comprehensive overview of how the 2020 C300 fares in keeping occupants safe.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end on the driver side impacts an object. This is a particularly challenging test that evaluates how well the vehicle structure holds up and protects the driver in such a severe crash scenario.
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4-door model was tested, and the rating applies to models from 2015 to 2021. The results for the driver-side small overlap front test are as follows:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Chest | G (Good) |
| Hip/thigh | G (Good) |
| Lower leg/foot | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | A (Acceptable) |
The “Good” rating in the overall evaluation and for structural aspects indicates that the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 is built with a robust safety cage designed to withstand the forces of a small overlap front crash. Driver injury measures were also rated “Good” across all body regions, suggesting a low risk of significant injuries in this type of accident.
The driver restraints and dummy kinematics received an “Acceptable” rating. The test noted that while the dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag, it moved to the left due to the seat belt allowing excessive forward motion of the head and torso. However, the side curtain airbag deployed effectively, providing adequate forward coverage to protect the head from hitting side structures or external objects.
Technical measurements from the driver-side test provide further insights:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| 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 |
These measurements indicate the extent of intrusion into the occupant compartment. Lower numbers generally suggest better structural performance, with minimal intrusion into the driver’s space.
Driver injury measures
| 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 |
These injury measures are within acceptable limits, reinforcing the “Good” ratings for driver injury protection.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
The passenger-side small overlap test mirrors the driver-side test but assesses protection for the front passenger. The 2019 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4-door was tested, and the rating applies to models from 2019 to 2021.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Chest | G (Good) |
| Hip/thigh | G (Good) |
| Lower leg/foot | G (Good) |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Chest | G (Good) |
| Hip/thigh | G (Good) |
| Lower leg/foot | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 achieved a “Good” rating across all categories in the passenger-side small overlap test. This indicates excellent protection for both the driver and front passenger in this type of severe frontal collision.
Technical measurements for the passenger-side test are as follows:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side
| 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 |
Passenger injury measures
| 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 |
Driver injury measures
| 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 |
These measurements are also well within safe margins, confirming the excellent passenger-side protection.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
In the moderate overlap front crash test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a barrier. This test is designed to represent a typical frontal collision scenario. The 2015 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4-door 4wd was tested, and the rating applies to models from 2015 to 2021.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Chest | G (Good) |
| Leg/foot, left | G (Good) |
| Leg/foot, right | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 earned a “Good” rating in all aspects of the moderate overlap front crash test. This signifies robust structural integrity and comprehensive driver protection in a common frontal impact.
Technical measurements for the moderate overlap front test include:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| 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 |
These measurements show minimal intrusion into the footwell and occupant space, indicating good structural performance.
Driver injury measures
| 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 |
The injury measures are low, confirming excellent protection in a moderate overlap frontal crash.
Side Crash Test: Original Test
The side crash test assesses how well a vehicle protects occupants in a side impact collision. The 2015 Mercedes-Benz C 400 4-door 4wd, equipped with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags, was tested. The side ratings apply to 2015-2021 models, including the 2020 C300.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Torso | G (Good) |
| Pelvis/leg | G (Good) |
| Driver head protection | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Torso | G (Good) |
| Pelvis/leg | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger head protection | G (Good) |
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 achieved the highest rating of “Good” across all categories in the side crash test. This demonstrates exceptional side impact protection for both front and rear occupants.
Technical measurements from the side crash test include:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | VTS1417 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -20.5 |
This measurement indicates minimal intrusion into the driver’s side occupant space, showcasing the structural robustness in side impacts.
Driver injury measures
| 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 |
Passenger injury measures
| 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 |
These measurements are within acceptable safety thresholds, reinforcing the “Good” rating for side-impact protection.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test assesses the structural integrity of the roof in rollover accidents. The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4-door was tested, and the rating applies to 2015-2021 models, including the 2020 C300.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G (Good) |
| Curb weight | 3,522 lbs |
| Peak force | 24,642 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 7.00 |
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 achieved a “Good” rating in roof strength. A strength-to-weight ratio of 7.00 is substantial, indicating that the roof can withstand over 7 times the vehicle’s weight, providing excellent protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats
Whiplash protection is crucial in rear-end collisions. The head restraints and seats evaluation assesses the geometry and dynamic performance of these systems. The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 with power leather seats was evaluated.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G (Good) |
| Dynamic rating | G (Good) |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G (Good) |
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 earned a “Good” rating for head restraints and seats, both dynamically and geometrically. This indicates effective whiplash protection in rear impacts.
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 |
These measurements confirm the effective design of the head restraints and seats in minimizing neck injury risk.
Headlights
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime driving safety. The IIHS evaluates headlights based on visibility and glare. Ratings are provided for three headlight variations available on the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300.
Trim level: 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 | G (Good) |
This trim, equipped with the Adaptive High Beam Assist package, achieved a “Good” overall rating for its headlights. While low beams had fair visibility on curves and some glare, high beams offered good visibility on straightaways and gradual curves. The high-beam assist feature compensates for some limitations of the low beams.
Trim level: C300 trim (Standard)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | No |
| Overall rating | A (Acceptable) |
The standard C300 trim headlights received an “Acceptable” overall rating. Similar to the previous trim, low beams had fair visibility on curves and some glare, and high beams performed well on straightaways but were less effective on sharper curves.
Trim level: 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 | A (Acceptable) |
The C300 with the Exterior Lighting package also received an “Acceptable” overall headlight rating. Despite being equipped with LED projector headlights and curve-adaptive features, low beams had fair visibility on gradual left curves and some glare issues. High beams performed well on curves.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems help avoid or mitigate collisions with other vehicles. The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 offers two front crash prevention system options.
System: Optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
This optional system achieved a “Superior” rating. It meets forward collision warning requirements and successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests.
System: Standard Active Brake Assist
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
The standard Active Brake Assist system also earned a “Superior” rating. Like the optional system, it meets forward collision warning standards and avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests. This means that even the standard 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 comes equipped with highly effective vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian (Day)
Pedestrian detection systems are crucial for urban driving safety. The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 offers two pedestrian front crash prevention systems.
System: Optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
The optional system achieved a “Superior” rating in pedestrian front crash prevention (daytime). It avoided collisions with a crossing child and crossing adult in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests. In the parallel adult scenario, it significantly reduced impact speed.
System: Standard Active Brake Assist
| Overall evaluation | Basic |
The standard Active Brake Assist system received a “Basic” rating for pedestrian front crash prevention (daytime). While it avoided collision with a crossing adult at 12 mph, it only reduced impact speed in other scenarios, indicating a less robust performance compared to the optional system.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchors, or LATCH system, make installing child seats easier and safer. The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 was evaluated for LATCH system usability.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G (Good) |
| Vehicle trim | C 300 |
| Seat type | leather |
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 has a “Good” rating for its LATCH system. It features two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor. The LATCH anchors are noted as easy to find and use.
Details by seating position
| Position | Rating |
|---|---|
| 1 | Good |
| Tether anchor | Easy-to-find location, no confusing hardware |
| Lower anchors | Not too deep, not too much force needed, easy to maneuver |
| 2 | Not Rated (Tether anchor only) |
| Tether anchor | Easy-to-find location, no confusing hardware |
| Lower anchors | None available |
| 3 | Good |
| Tether anchor | Easy-to-find location, no confusing hardware |
| Lower anchors | Not too deep, not too much force needed, easy to maneuver |
The technical measurements further detail the accessibility and force required for the LATCH anchors at different seating positions.
Conclusion
Overall, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 demonstrates strong safety performance across various crash tests and safety evaluations. It achieved “Good” ratings in most crashworthiness categories, including small overlap front (passenger side), moderate overlap front, side crash, and roof strength tests. While the driver-side small overlap front test resulted in an “Acceptable” rating for driver restraints, the injury measures remained “Good”. The C300 also excels in front crash prevention (vehicle-to-vehicle) with a “Superior” rating for both standard and optional systems. Headlight ratings vary by trim, with the Adaptive High Beam Assist package achieving a “Good” rating, while other trims are rated “Acceptable”. The LATCH system is rated “Good”, making it convenient for families with young children. For buyers prioritizing safety in a luxury sedan, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 is a compelling choice, offering robust protection and advanced safety features.
