The 2021 Mercedes-benz C-class continues the legacy of its predecessors, offering a blend of luxury and performance. But when it comes to safety, how does the 2021 C-Class hold up? As a potential buyer, understanding the safety ratings and crash test performance is crucial. This article delves into the comprehensive safety evaluations of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, providing you with a detailed analysis based on rigorous testing standards.
Understanding the Crashworthiness of the 2021 C-Class
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class, redesigned in 2015, has undergone extensive testing to evaluate its crashworthiness. Let’s examine the results from various frontal and side impact tests.
Small Overlap Frontal Tests
The small overlap front test is particularly challenging, simulating a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts another vehicle or a narrow object. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class performed admirably in these demanding scenarios.
Driver-Side Small Overlap Front Test
The driver-side small overlap test for the 2015-2021 models reveals key insights into driver protection.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | A |
Ratings: G=Good, A=Acceptable, M=Marginal, P=Poor
The C-Class earned a “Good” rating, the highest possible, for structure and safety cage integrity, as well as for all driver injury measures. This indicates robust protection for the driver in this type of severe frontal crash.
Despite overall “Good” ratings, the driver restraints and dummy kinematics were rated “Acceptable”. The test noted that while the dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag, it rolled to the left due to seat belt slack, moving towards a gap between the frontal and side curtain airbags. However, the side curtain airbag still provided adequate forward coverage.
Measurements from the driver-side test further illustrate the C-Class’s structural integrity:
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion (driver side) | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max | 5 |
| Footrest | 10 |
| Left toepan | 5 |
| Brake pedal | 8 |
| Rocker panel lateral average | 2 |
| Steering column | 1 |
| Upper hinge pillar max | 4 |
| Upper dash | 4 |
| Lower instrument panel | 4 |
Intrusion into the occupant compartment was minimal, demonstrating the vehicle’s ability to maintain survival space for the driver.
Injury measures for the driver also remained low:
| Driver injury measures | 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 |
| Left Tibia index | 0.50 |
| Right Tibia index | 0.43 |
These measurements indicate a low risk of significant injuries to the driver’s head, neck, chest, and lower extremities in a driver-side small overlap frontal crash.
Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front Test
Introduced in 2019, the passenger-side small overlap test evaluates protection for the front passenger. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class also achieved a “Good” rating in this assessment.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Passenger injury measures | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
| Driver injury measures | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The 2019-2021 models demonstrated “Good” performance across all categories in the passenger-side small overlap test, including both passenger and driver injury measures and restraints.
Moderate Overlap Frontal Test
The moderate overlap frontal test, another crucial evaluation, simulates a head-on collision between two vehicles of similar weight and size. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class once again received a “Good” rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The C-Class excelled in the moderate overlap test, achieving “Good” ratings in all aspects, signifying excellent protection in a common type of frontal collision.
Measurements show minimal intrusion and low injury measures:
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion (driver side) | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Footrest | 1 |
| Left Footwell | 1 |
| Center Footwell | 1 |
| Right Footwell | 1 |
| Brake pedal | 2 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement (Left/Right) | 0 / 0 |
| Steering column movement (Upward/Rearward) | 3 / -7 |
| A-pillar rearward movement | 0 |
| Driver injury measures | 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/Right (kN) | 1.6 / 1.3 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left/Right | 0.40 / 0.31 |
These results confirm the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class’s ability to effectively protect occupants in a moderate overlap frontal crash.
Side Impact Test
Side impacts are particularly dangerous due to the reduced protection offered by the vehicle structure in these scenarios. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class aced the side impact test as well.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
The C-Class achieved “Good” ratings across the board in the side impact test, for both driver and rear passenger protection, highlighting the effectiveness of its side airbags and structural design.
Roof Strength Test
Roof strength is critical in rollover accidents. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class demonstrated impressive roof strength.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Curb weight (lbs) | 3,522 |
| Peak force (lbs) | 24,642 |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 7.00 |
With a strength-to-weight ratio of 7.00, significantly exceeding the minimum requirement, the 2021 C-Class earns a “Good” rating, indicating excellent protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints and Seats
Whiplash is a common injury in rear-end collisions. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class’s head restraints and seats are designed to mitigate this risk.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
The power leather seats in the tested C-Class received a “Good” rating for both dynamic performance and geometry, indicating effective whiplash protection.
Headlight Performance on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Headlight performance is a critical safety feature often overlooked. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class offers various headlight options, with ratings varying by trim and production date.
LED Projector Headlights (Exterior Lighting Package, built after January 2021)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | G |
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
This top-tier headlight system earns a “Good” rating, providing excellent visibility in both low and high beam settings, with curve-adaptive functionality and high-beam assist.
LED Reflector Headlights (Adaptive High Beam Assist package)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | G |
| Low-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
Another “Good” rated option, these LED reflector headlights with high-beam assist offer solid performance, though without curve-adaptive features.
Standard LED Reflector Headlights (C300 trim)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | A |
| Low-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | No |
The standard LED reflector headlights receive an “Acceptable” rating. While still providing good straightaway visibility, curve visibility is fair, and glare is present.
LED Projector Headlights (Exterior Lighting Package, built before February 2021)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | M |
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
Interestingly, earlier production models with the Exterior Lighting package received a “Marginal” rating due to excessive glare from the low beams, despite good visibility performance. This highlights the importance of production date for headlight performance on the 2021 C-Class.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Pedestrian
Active safety systems are increasingly important in preventing accidents. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class excels in front crash prevention.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention
The 2021 C-Class offers two front crash prevention systems:
- Optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function (Superior): Avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests.
- Standard Active Brake Assist (Superior): Also avoided collisions in both tests.
Both systems earned a “Superior” rating, demonstrating excellent vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention capabilities.
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention (Daytime)
The pedestrian front crash prevention system also comes in two variations:
- Optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function (Superior): Avoided collisions with crossing child and adult dummies at 12 mph and 25 mph. Significantly reduced speed in parallel adult scenarios.
- Standard Active Brake Assist (Basic): Showed speed reduction in crossing child and adult scenarios but failed to slow in parallel adult scenarios. Rated “Basic”.
The optional system provides superior pedestrian detection and crash prevention, while the standard system offers a basic level of protection.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families, child seat safety is paramount. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class offers user-friendly LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Number of rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware | 2 |
| Additional seating positions with tether anchor | 1 |
The LATCH system in the 2021 C-Class is rated “Good”, with two rear seating positions equipped with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor. Lower anchors are easy to access and maneuver around, making child seat installation simpler.
Conclusion: The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class – A Safe and Luxurious Choice
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class demonstrates robust safety performance across a wide range of crash tests and active safety evaluations. With “Good” ratings in all crashworthiness categories and superior front crash prevention systems, the 2021 C-Class provides excellent occupant protection. Headlight ratings vary, so buyers should be aware of the different options and production dates. Overall, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a safe and luxurious vehicle, offering peace of mind for drivers and passengers alike.
