The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class marked a significant year for this luxury sedan, continuing its legacy of blending performance with sophisticated features. For prospective buyers and automotive enthusiasts alike, safety remains a paramount concern. This article delves into the comprehensive safety evaluations conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, providing a detailed analysis of its crashworthiness and safety features.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Evaluation
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 utility pole. In this demanding test, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4-door model showcased robust structural integrity, earning a “Good” rating for structure and safety cage. This “Good” rating signifies that the occupant compartment held up well during the impact, maintaining survival space for the driver.
The evaluation extends to driver injury measures, assessing potential harm to critical body regions. The C-Class achieved “Good” ratings across the board for head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot protection. These “Good” ratings indicate a low risk of significant injuries to these areas in a real-world small overlap crash.
However, the driver restraints and dummy kinematics received an “Acceptable” rating. The IIHS noted that while the dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag, it rolled to the left. This leftward movement occurred because the seat belt allowed excessive forward excursion of the head and torso. Despite this, the side curtain airbag deployed effectively, offering sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structures and external objects.
Technical measurements from the small overlap test provide further insights. Intrusion into the lower occupant compartment was minimal, with maximum measurements ranging from 5 cm at the lower hinge pillar and left toepan to 10 cm at the footrest. Upper occupant compartment intrusion was even less, with a maximum of 4 cm at the upper hinge pillar, upper dash, and lower instrument panel, and only 1 cm at the steering column.
Driver injury measures were also encouraging. The Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) was measured at 161, and there was no hard contact to the head. Neck tension was 1.0 kN, and the maximum Nij (neck injury criterion) was 0.20. Chest maximum compression was 21 mm. Femur forces were low, at 1.2 kN for the left and 1.3 kN for the right femur. Tibia index and axial forces were also within safe limits, indicating a low risk of lower leg injuries.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Evaluation
In the moderate overlap front test, which simulates a head-on collision between two vehicles of similar weight, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class again demonstrated excellent performance. The overall evaluation for this test is “Good,” mirroring the top rating achieved in the small overlap test for structural integrity.
The C-Class earned “Good” ratings across all driver injury measures in the moderate overlap test, including head/neck, chest, and leg/foot (both left and right). This clean sweep of “Good” ratings underlines the car’s ability to protect occupants in a significant frontal collision. Driver restraints and dummy kinematics also received a “Good” rating, indicating optimal airbag and seatbelt performance in this type of crash.
Technical measurements from the moderate overlap test reveal minimal occupant compartment intrusion. Footwell intrusion measurements were consistently low, at 1 cm across footrest, left, center, and right footwell areas. Brake pedal intrusion was slightly higher at 2 cm, but still within a safe range. Instrument panel and steering column movement were also minimal, further demonstrating the structural robustness of the C-Class.
Driver injury measures in the moderate overlap test were also low. The HIC-15 for the head was 148, with a peak acceleration at hard contact of 16g. Neck tension was 1.1 kN, and the maximum Nij was 0.20, similar to the small overlap test results. Chest maximum compression was slightly higher at 22 mm, but still indicative of good chest protection. Femur forces and tibia indices were low, reinforcing the “Good” rating for leg and foot protection.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Evaluation
The side impact test assesses the protection offered to occupants in a T-bone style collision. The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, equipped with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags, achieved an overall “Good” rating in the side impact test.
The C-Class earned “Good” ratings for all driver injury measures (head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg) and driver head protection. Rear passenger injury measures also received “Good” ratings across the board (head/neck, torso, pelvis/leg, and head protection). These “Good” ratings for both front and rear occupants highlight the effectiveness of the side airbag system and the structural design in side-impact scenarios.
Technical measurements for the side impact test show minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment. The B-pillar to the longitudinal centerline of the driver’s seat measurement was -20.5 cm, with the negative value indicating that the crush stopped short of the seat centerline, preserving occupant space.
Driver and passenger injury measures were well within acceptable limits. Head HIC-15 measurements were 228 for the driver and 225 for the passenger. Neck, shoulder, torso, and pelvis injury measures were all low, affirming the “Good” ratings across all body regions.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test evaluates the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover accident. The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4-door achieved a “Good” overall evaluation in this test. With a curb weight of 3,522 lbs and a peak force of 24,642 lbs, the C-Class demonstrated a strength-to-weight ratio of 7.00. This high ratio signifies that the roof can withstand over seven times the vehicle’s weight before significant crushing, contributing to occupant protection in rollover events.
Head Restraints & Seats Evaluation
Whiplash protection in rear-end collisions is crucial, and the head restraints and seats of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class were rigorously tested. Equipped with power leather seats, the C-Class achieved an overall “Good” rating, encompassing both dynamic rating and seat/head restraint geometry.
Technical measurements confirm the “Good” rating. The backset (distance behind the head) was measured at 38 mm, and the distance below the top of the head was -14 mm, indicating good head restraint positioning. The seat design parameters passed the test criteria, with a maximum T1 acceleration of 16.1g and a head contact time of 57 ms. Neck forces were also low, with a maximum neck shear force of 21 N and a maximum neck tension of 464 N, demonstrating effective whiplash protection.
Headlight Performance: A Mixed Bag
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime visibility and accident prevention. The IIHS evaluated three different headlight variations available on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and unfortunately, all received a “Poor” overall rating.
For the C 300 trim equipped with the Lighting package, featuring LED projector low and high beams and curve-adaptive functionality with high-beam assist, the overall rating was “Poor.” Low beam visibility was inadequate on both straightaways and curves, and high beam visibility was only fair to good on straightaways, and fair to inadequate on curves. Glare was also an issue with the low beams.
The C 300 trim equipped with the Premium 2 package, which includes LED projector low beams and LED reflector high beams without curve-adaptive or high-beam assist, also received a “Poor” rating. Low beam visibility was fair to inadequate, and high beam visibility was fair to inadequate as well. Glare was not a problem with these headlights, but illumination distance was lacking.
Even the base C 300 trim with halogen reflector headlights for both low and high beams received a “Poor” rating. Visibility was inadequate with low beams and fair to inadequate with high beams.
These “Poor” headlight ratings indicate a significant area for improvement in the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, as inadequate headlight performance can compromise nighttime driving safety.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems are increasingly important in mitigating or preventing frontal collisions. The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class offers two front crash prevention system variations.
With the optional Pre-Safe Brake system, part of the Driver Assistance Package, the C-Class achieved a “Superior” rating. This system meets forward collision warning requirements and successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph IIHS tests.
With the standard Collision Prevention Assist Plus system, the C-Class earned an “Advanced” rating. While this system also avoided a collision in the 12 mph test, it only reduced the impact speed by 14 mph in the 25 mph test and does not meet forward collision warning requirements.
These ratings highlight the effectiveness of both systems in preventing or mitigating frontal crashes, with the optional Pre-Safe Brake offering superior performance.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families, child seat safety is paramount. The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class received a “Good” rating for its LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system, making it easier to install child safety seats correctly.
The C-Class has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional seating position with only a tether anchor. The lower anchors were found to be easy to locate, not too deep in the seat, and requiring reasonable force to attach to. The tether anchors were also easy to find and not confused with other hardware.
Conclusion: A Strong Safety Performer with Headlight Concerns
Overall, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class demonstrates robust safety performance in most IIHS crash tests, earning “Good” ratings in key areas like structural integrity, side impact protection, roof strength, and head restraints. However, the “Acceptable” rating for driver restraints in the small overlap front test and the “Poor” rating for headlight performance across all variations are points to consider.
Despite these areas for potential improvement, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class remains a safe and well-protected luxury sedan. Its “Superior” and “Advanced” front crash prevention systems, along with its “Good” rated LATCH system, further enhance its safety credentials. For those prioritizing safety in their vehicle choice, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class presents a compelling option, especially when equipped with the optional Pre-Safe Brake system. However, potential buyers should be aware of the headlight performance limitations and consider them in their purchasing decision, particularly if frequent nighttime driving is anticipated.
