Mercedes-Benz GLC 2017: Unpacking the Safety Ratings for Peace of Mind

The Mercedes-Benz GLC, since its introduction in 2016 as the successor to the GLK, has become a popular choice in the luxury compact SUV segment. For prospective buyers and current owners of the Mercedes-Benz GLC 2017, understanding its safety performance is paramount. This article delves into a comprehensive breakdown of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC crash test ratings, providing detailed insights into how this vehicle fares in various safety evaluations conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Driver-Side Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Analyzing the GLC 2017’s Performance

The small overlap frontal test is designed to simulate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or a stationary object like a tree or utility pole. This test is particularly challenging for vehicles due to the concentrated impact force on a small area of the car’s structure.

In the driver-side small overlap front test, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 2017 received a Good overall rating from IIHS, the highest possible. Let’s break down the specifics:

Evaluation Criteria Rating
Structure and Safety Cage Good
Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Good
Chest Good
Hip/Thigh Good
Lower Leg/Foot Good
Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics Acceptable

The structure and safety cage of the Mercedes-Benz GLC 2017 held up exceptionally well in this demanding test, earning a “Good” rating. All driver injury measures – head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot – were also rated as “Good,” indicating a low risk of significant injuries in a real-world crash of this type.

However, the “Driver restraints and dummy kinematics” were rated as “Acceptable.” The IIHS noted that while the dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag, it subsequently rolled to the left. This movement occurred because the seat belt allowed excessive forward excursion of the head and torso, causing the head to move towards a gap in coverage between the frontal and side curtain airbags. Despite this, the side curtain airbag did deploy and provided sufficient forward coverage.

Technical measurements from the driver-side small overlap test provide further detail:

Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side)

Evaluation Criteria Measurement (cm)
Lower Hinge Pillar Max 1
Footrest 10
Left Toepan 7
Brake Pedal 3
Rocker Panel Lateral Average 1
Steering Column 0
Upper Hinge Pillar Max 1
Upper Dash 2
Lower Instrument Panel 2

Driver Injury Measures

Evaluation Criteria Measurement
Head
HIC-15 224
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension Bending Moment (Nm) 10
Maximum Nij 0.22
Chest
Maximum Compression (mm) 23
Femur (kN)
Left 1.1
Right 1.0
Knee Displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 3
Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum Tibia Index
Left 0.64
Right 0.41
Tibia Axial Force (kN)
Left 3.0
Right 1.8
Foot Acceleration (g)
Left 86
Right 61

These measurements confirm the “Good” ratings for injury measures, indicating low forces and intrusions into the occupant compartment during the crash.

Passenger-Side Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test: A Comprehensive Evaluation

The passenger-side small overlap test is the counterpart to the driver-side test, assessing safety performance for the front passenger. For the Mercedes-Benz GLC 2017, IIHS evaluated a 2018 model and incorporated data from a Mercedes-Benz conducted test for a comprehensive rating. The Mercedes-Benz GLC achieved a Good rating in this test as well.

Evaluation Criteria Rating
Overall Evaluation Good
Structure and Safety Cage Good
Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Good
Chest Good
Hip/Thigh Good
Lower Leg/Foot Good
Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics Good
Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Good
Chest Good
Hip/Thigh Good
Lower Leg/Foot Good
Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics Good

In contrast to the “Acceptable” rating for driver restraints in the driver-side test, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 2017 received “Good” ratings across the board in the passenger-side test, including both passenger and driver injury measures and restraints.

Technical measurements for the passenger-side small overlap test, incorporating both IIHS (CEP1712) and Mercedes-Benz (VTP1702) tests, are as follows:

Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Passenger Side)

Evaluation Criteria Measurement (cm) – Test ID: CEP1712 Measurement (cm) – Test ID: VTP1702
Lower Hinge Pillar Max 2 2
Footrest 16 8
Right Toepan 8 3
Center Toepan 4 3
Rocker Panel Lateral Average 0 0
Center Dash 1 1
Upper Hinge Pillar Max 2 3
Upper Dash 4 3
Right Lower Dash 4 4

Passenger Injury Measures

Evaluation Criteria Measurement – Test ID: CEP1712 Measurement – Test ID: VTP1702
Head
HIC-15 122 53
Peak gs at hard contact no contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7 0.9
Extension Bending Moment (Nm) 17 11
Maximum Nij 0.20 0.20
Chest
Maximum Compression (mm) 18 19
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1 0.0
Right 1.2 0.0
Knee Displacement (mm)
Left 1 1
Right 0 1
Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk (%)
Left 0 0
Right 0 0
Maximum Tibia Index
Left 0.21 0.17
Right 0.81 0.15
Tibia Axial Force (kN)
Left 1.1 0.2
Right 4.7 0.5
Foot Acceleration (g)
Left 68 41
Right 109 60

Driver Injury Measures (Passenger-Side Test)

Evaluation Criteria Measurement – Test ID: CEP1712 Measurement – Test ID: VTP1702
Head
HIC-15 105 42
Peak gs at hard contact no contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7 0.8
Extension Bending Moment (Nm) 7 4
Maximum Nij 0.12 0.20
Chest
Maximum Compression (mm) 21 18
Femur (kN)
Left 0.6 0.6
Right 0.9 1.1
Knee Displacement (mm)
Left 2 1
Right 3 3
Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk (%)
Left 0 0
Right 0 0
Maximum Tibia Index
Left 0.18 0.27
Right 0.49 0.26
Tibia Axial Force (kN)
Left 0.4 0.2
Right 0.7 1.5
Foot Acceleration (g)
Left 23 25
Right 47 53

These detailed measurements further support the “Good” ratings, showcasing effective occupant protection in passenger-side small overlap crashes.

Moderate Overlap Frontal Test: Solid Performance for the GLC 2017

In the moderate overlap frontal test, which simulates a head-on collision between two vehicles of similar weight, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 2017 again demonstrated excellent safety performance, earning a Good rating. This rating is based on a test conducted by Mercedes-Benz and assessed by the IIHS.

Evaluation Criteria Rating
Overall Evaluation Good
Structure and Safety Cage Good
Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Good
Chest Good
Leg/Foot, Left Good
Leg/Foot, Right Good
Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics Good

Technical measurements from the moderate overlap frontal test are as follows:

Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side)

Evaluation Criteria Measurement (cm)
Footrest 1
Left Footwell Intrusion 1
Center Footwell Intrusion 0
Right Footwell Intrusion 0
Brake Pedal Intrusion 1
Instrument Panel Rearward Movement (Left) 0
Instrument Panel Rearward Movement (Right) -1
Steering Column Upward Movement -2
Steering Column Rearward Movement -7
A-Pillar Rearward Movement 0

Driver Injury Measures

Evaluation Criteria Measurement
Head
HIC-15 131
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension Bending Moment (Nm) 13
Maximum Nij 0.21
Chest
Maximum Compression (mm) 25
Legs
Femur Force – Left (kN) 0.8
Femur Force – Right (kN) 0.7
Knee Displacement – Left (mm) 1
Knee Displacement – Right (mm) 2
Maximum Tibia Index – Left 0.17
Maximum Tibia Index – Right 0.27
Tibia Axial Force – Left (kN) 1.9
Tibia Axial Force – Right (kN) 2.8
Foot Acceleration (g)
Left 45
Right 68

These measurements confirm the minimal intrusion into the occupant space and low injury measures, contributing to the “Good” overall rating.

Side Impact Test: Excellent Side Crash Protection

The side impact test assesses how well a vehicle protects occupants in a side collision. The Mercedes-Benz GLC 2017 again achieved a Good rating in the original side test, indicating robust side crash protection.

Evaluation Criteria Rating
Overall Evaluation Good
Structure and Safety Cage Good
Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Good
Torso Good
Pelvis/Leg Good
Driver Head Protection Good
Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Good
Torso Good
Pelvis/Leg Good
Rear Passenger Head Protection Good

Technical measurements for the side impact test are provided below:

Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side)

Evaluation Criteria Measurement (cm)
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat -24.0

Driver Injury Measures

Evaluation Criteria Measurement
Head HIC-15 133
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral Deflection (mm) 25
Lateral Force (kN) 1.0
Torso
Maximum Deflection (mm) 32
Average Deflection (mm) 29
Maximum Deflection Rate (m/s) 3.44
Maximum Viscous Criterion (m/s) 0.53
Pelvis
Iliac Force (kN) 1.1
Acetabulum Force (kN) 1.1
Combined Force (kN) 2.2
Left Femur
L-M Force (kN) 0.6
L-M Moment (Nm) 41
A-P Moment (Nm) 46

Passenger Injury Measures

Evaluation Criteria Measurement
Head HIC-15 137
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Compression (kN) 0.6
Shoulder
Lateral Deflection (mm) 38
Lateral Force (kN) 1.1
Torso
Maximum Deflection (mm) 36
Average Deflection (mm) 16
Maximum Deflection Rate (m/s) 3.39
Maximum Viscous Criterion (m/s) 0.43
Pelvis
Iliac Force (kN) 0.1
Acetabulum Force (kN) 1.9
Combined Force (kN) 1.9
Left Femur
L-M Force (kN) 0.4
L-M Moment (Nm) 46
A-P Moment (Nm) 50

The negative intrusion measurement indicates that the crush stopped short of the driver’s seat centerline, highlighting the structural integrity. Low injury measurements across driver and rear passenger further support the “Good” rating.

Roof Strength Test: Robust Rollover Protection

The roof strength test measures a vehicle’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. The Mercedes-Benz GLC 2017 achieved a Good rating in this test, demonstrating a strong roof structure.

Overall Evaluation Rating
Overall Evaluation Good
Curb Weight 4,026 lbs
Peak Force 24,311 lbs
Strength-to-Weight Ratio 6.04

A strength-to-weight ratio of 6.04 significantly exceeds the IIHS requirement for a “Good” rating, indicating excellent roof crush resistance.

Head Restraints & Seats: Good Whiplash Protection

Whiplash is a common injury in rear-end collisions. The Mercedes-Benz GLC 2017‘s head restraints and seats were evaluated as Good for dynamic rating and seat/head restraint geometry, suggesting effective whiplash protection in rear impacts.

Overall Evaluation Rating
Overall Evaluation Good
Dynamic Rating Good
Seat/Head Restraint Geometry Good

Technical measurements for head restraints and seats are:

Evaluation Criteria Measurement
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 indicate effective head restraint positioning and low neck forces during simulated rear-impact scenarios.

Headlight Ratings: Varied Performance Depending on Trim

Headlight performance is crucial for nighttime safety. The Mercedes-Benz GLC 2017 headlight ratings vary depending on the trim level and headlight type.

1. GLC 300 with Premium 3 Package (LED Projector, Curve-Adaptive, High-Beam Assist)

Overall Rating Rating
Overall Rating Good

These top-tier headlights earned a “Good” rating due to excellent visibility on straightaways and curves, with high-beam assist compensating for some low-beam limitations on curves.

2. GLC 300 with Premium 1 & LED Headlamps/Taillamps or Premium 2 & LED Headlamps/Taillamps (LED Projector Low-Beam, LED Reflector High-Beam)

Overall Rating Rating
Overall Rating Acceptable

These LED headlights received an “Acceptable” rating, offering good to fair visibility in various conditions but with some glare.

3. GLC 300 Standard Trim (Halogen Reflector)

Overall Rating Rating
Overall Rating Marginal

The standard halogen headlights were rated “Marginal,” with fair to inadequate visibility in many scenarios and some glare.

Front Crash Prevention: Superior Vehicle-to-Vehicle Performance

The Mercedes-Benz GLC 2017 offers optional and standard front crash prevention systems.

1. Optional Pre-Safe Brake with Pedestrian Recognition (Premium 3 Package)

Overall Evaluation Rating
Overall Evaluation Superior

This optional system, part of the Premium 3 Package, earned a “Superior” rating. It meets forward collision warning requirements and avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph vehicle-to-vehicle tests.

2. Standard Collision Prevention Assist Plus

Overall Evaluation Rating
Overall Evaluation Superior

The standard system also achieved a “Superior” rating, avoiding collisions in both test speeds, although it does not meet forward collision warning requirements.

Child Seat Anchors (LATCH): Acceptable Ease of Use

For families, child seat anchor ease of use is important. The Mercedes-Benz GLC 2017 LATCH system received an “Acceptable” rating.

Overall Evaluation Rating
Overall Evaluation Acceptable

While the GLC has LATCH hardware in multiple rear seating positions and tether anchors in additional positions, it was rated “Acceptable” due to factors like anchor depth and maneuverability around anchors.

Conclusion: The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC – A Safe and Secure Choice

Overall, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 2017 demonstrates strong safety performance across a range of IIHS crash tests. It earned Good ratings in most crashworthiness evaluations, with Superior ratings for front crash prevention systems and Good ratings for head restraints & seats and roof strength. While the driver-side small overlap test revealed an “Acceptable” rating for restraints and the base headlights were rated “Marginal,” the GLC 2017 provides a high level of safety for occupants, making it a secure choice in the luxury SUV market. Potential buyers should consider trim levels, especially headlight options, to maximize safety features.

Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *