The 2020 Mercedes-benz C300 stands as a testament to luxury and safety in the compact executive car segment. For prospective buyers and current owners alike, understanding the vehicle’s safety ratings is crucial. This article delves into the comprehensive safety performance of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300, drawing upon rigorous testing and evaluations. As automotive repair experts at mercedesxentry.store, we understand the importance of vehicle safety and aim to provide you with a detailed analysis of the 2020 C300’s crashworthiness and safety features.
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’s side, impacts an object. This is a particularly challenging test, designed to assess how well the car’s structure holds up in an offset frontal crash.
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4-door model, representative of the 2015-21 C-Class generation which includes the 2020 model, underwent this test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower leg/foot | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Acceptable (A) |
The C300 earned a “Good” rating overall in the driver-side small overlap front test, indicating robust structural integrity and occupant protection. The structure and safety cage held up well, and injury measures for the head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot were all rated “Good”.
However, the driver restraints and dummy kinematics received an “Acceptable” rating. The test results indicated that while the dummy’s head did contact the frontal airbag, it rolled to the left due to excessive forward movement allowed by the seat belt. Despite this, the side curtain airbag deployed effectively, providing sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from side structure and external objects.
The post-crash analysis of the dummy’s position relative to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel showed that the driver’s survival space was well-maintained. This is a critical factor in occupant safety, indicating that the structural design of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 effectively protects the driver’s space during a severe frontal collision.
Despite the generally good performance, the head movement observation highlights an area for potential improvement. The dummy’s head rolled partially to the left, moving towards a gap in coverage between the frontal and side curtain airbags. This suggests a minor vulnerability in head protection during this specific type of crash scenario.
Technical measurements from the test further support the “Good” rating for structural performance and driver injury measures. Intrusion into the occupant compartment was minimal, and measured injury metrics for the head, neck, chest, femur, and tibia were all within acceptable limits, indicating a low risk of significant injuries in this type of crash.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
The passenger-side small overlap frontal test mirrors the driver-side test but assesses protection for the front passenger. This test is crucial as passenger-side protection can sometimes differ from driver-side protection.
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4-door model, also representative of the 2020 model, was evaluated for passenger-side small overlap protection, with ratings applying to 2019-21 models.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower leg/foot | Good (G) |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower leg/foot | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 achieved a “Good” overall rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test. Both passenger and driver injury measures, as well as passenger restraints and dummy kinematics, all received “Good” ratings. This demonstrates consistent and comprehensive frontal crash protection for both front occupants. The structure and safety cage also maintained their integrity effectively.
Technical measurements for the passenger-side test confirmed low occupant compartment intrusion and minimal injury risk, reinforcing the “Good” ratings across all measured categories for both passenger and driver.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test
The moderate overlap front crash test involves a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacting a barrier. This test represents a significant portion of real-world frontal collisions.
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4-door 4wd model, again relevant to the 2020 model year’s design, underwent the original moderate overlap front test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Leg/foot, left | Good (G) |
| Leg/foot, right | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 earned a “Good” rating in the moderate overlap front crash test. All evaluation criteria, including structure and safety cage, driver injury measures for head/neck, chest, and legs/feet, as well as driver restraints and dummy kinematics, were rated “Good”. This indicates excellent protection in a more common type of frontal crash.
Technical measurements showed minimal footwell intrusion and instrument panel movement, further supporting the structural integrity and “Good” rating. Driver injury measures were also low across the board, indicating a low risk of significant injuries in a moderate overlap frontal crash.
Side Impact Crash Test
Side impact crashes are particularly dangerous due to the reduced crumple zone compared to frontal impacts. The side crash test evaluates how well a vehicle protects occupants in a side 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 (features consistent with the 2020 C300), was used for the side impact test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis/leg | Good (G) |
| Driver head protection | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis/leg | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good (G) |
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 achieved a “Good” overall rating in the side impact test. All driver and rear passenger injury measures, as well as head protection for both, were rated “Good”. This demonstrates excellent side impact protection for all occupants, thanks to robust structural design and effective airbag deployment.
Technical measurements confirmed minimal B-pillar intrusion into the occupant space and low injury measures for both driver and passenger dummies, reinforcing the “Good” rating and highlighting the effectiveness of the side impact protection system in the 2020 C300.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test measures the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. A strong roof is crucial for protecting occupants in such accidents.
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4-door model was tested for roof strength.
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
|---|---|
| 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. With a strength-to-weight ratio of 7.00, the roof demonstrated significant resistance, exceeding safety standards and indicating robust rollover protection for occupants.
Head Restraints & Seats
Head restraints and seats play a crucial role in preventing whiplash and other neck injuries in rear-end collisions. The evaluation assesses both the dynamic performance of the head restraints and the seat geometry.
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 with power leather seats was evaluated.
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | Good (G) |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | Good (G) |
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 received a “Good” overall rating for head restraints & seats. Both the dynamic rating and seat/head restraint geometry were rated “Good,” indicating effective whiplash protection and comfortable, safe seat design. Technical measurements further confirmed the good performance of the head restraint system.
Headlights
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime visibility and accident prevention. The IIHS evaluates headlights based on illumination distance and glare. The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 has been tested with different headlight variations.
Trim level: C300 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 | Good (G) |
The C300 trim equipped with the Adaptive High Beam Assist package received a “Good” overall rating for headlights. Both low and high beams provided good visibility on straightaways, with fair to good visibility on curves. The high-beam assist feature compensates for some limitations of the low beams, enhancing overall nighttime driving safety.
Trim level: C300 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 | Acceptable (A) |
The standard C300 trim headlights received an “Acceptable” overall rating. While low and high beams offered good visibility on straightaways and fair visibility on curves, the lack of curve-adaptive features or high-beam assist resulted in a lower rating compared to the trim with the Adaptive High Beam Assist package.
Trim level: C300 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 | Acceptable (A) |
The C300 trim with the Exterior Lighting package, featuring LED projector headlights and curve-adaptive functionality, also received an “Acceptable” overall rating. While offering good visibility on straightaways and curves, and including high-beam assist, the rating was not “Good,” possibly due to glare or other specific performance metrics.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems are designed to mitigate or prevent collisions with other vehicles. The IIHS tests vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention in two scenarios: 12 mph and 25 mph.
System: 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 |
With the optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 achieved a “Superior” rating in vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. The system successfully avoided collisions in both the 12 mph and 25 mph tests, and also meets forward collision warning requirements.
System: Standard Active Brake Assist
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
|---|---|
| Forward Collision Warning | Meets requirements |
| 12 mph test | Collision Avoided |
| 25 mph test | Collision Avoided |
The standard Active Brake Assist system also earned a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. Like the optional system, it avoided collisions in both test speeds and meets forward collision warning criteria, demonstrating excellent standard front crash prevention capabilities in the 2020 C300.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian (Day)
Pedestrian front crash prevention systems are designed to detect and react to pedestrians in the vehicle’s path. The IIHS tests pedestrian front crash prevention during daylight conditions.
System: Optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
|---|---|
| Crossing child (12 mph) | Collision Avoided |
| Crossing child (25 mph) | Collision Avoided |
| Crossing adult (12 mph) | Collision Avoided |
| Crossing adult (25 mph) | Collision Avoided |
| Parallel adult (25 mph) | Speed reduced by 24 mph |
| Parallel adult (37 mph) | Near collision avoidance |
The optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function system received a “Superior” rating for pedestrian front crash prevention. It avoided collisions in crossing child and adult scenarios at both 12 mph and 25 mph. In the parallel adult scenario, it significantly reduced speed at 25 mph and nearly avoided a collision at 37 mph, demonstrating highly effective pedestrian detection and collision mitigation.
System: Standard Active Brake Assist
| Overall evaluation | Basic |
|---|---|
| Crossing child (12 mph) | Speed reduced by 8 mph |
| Crossing child (25 mph) | Speed reduced by 16 mph |
| Crossing adult (12 mph) | Collision Avoided |
| Crossing adult (25 mph) | Speed reduced by 18 mph |
| Parallel adult (25 mph) | Failed to slow |
| Parallel adult (37 mph) | Failed to slow |
The standard Active Brake Assist system received a “Basic” rating for pedestrian front crash prevention. While it avoided collisions with crossing adults at 12 mph and reduced speed in other scenarios, its performance was less comprehensive than the optional system, particularly in parallel adult scenarios where it failed to slow down.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchors, or LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), are evaluated for their ease of use and effectiveness in securing child seats.
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
|---|---|
| Vehicle trim | C 300 |
| Seat type | leather |
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 received a “Good” rating for child seat anchors (LATCH). It has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor. The LATCH hardware is easy to locate and use, providing secure and convenient child seat installation.
Conclusion
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 demonstrates strong safety performance across a range of crash tests and evaluations. It consistently achieves “Good” ratings in key areas like small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact, and roof strength. While some headlight variations and pedestrian front crash prevention systems receive lower “Acceptable” or “Basic” ratings, the overall safety profile of the 2020 C300 is commendable.
As experts at mercedesxentry.store, we recognize the dedication Mercedes-Benz has put into the safety engineering of the C-Class. This detailed safety analysis provides valuable information for owners and prospective buyers of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300, reinforcing its position as a safe and luxurious vehicle choice. Understanding these safety ratings can empower informed decisions, whether you are considering purchasing a 2020 C300 or maintaining your current vehicle.
