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Mercedes C class

2005 models

SIDE IMPACT TEST

OVERALL EVALUATION: Acceptable

	Injury measures			Head protection	Structure/safety cage
	Head/neck	Torso	Pelvis/leg	Head protection	Structure/safety cage
Driver
Rear passenger

Important: Side impact crash test ratings can be compared across vehicle type and weight categories.

Good Good Acceptable Marginal Poor Poor

Test details:

The Mercedes C class was redesigned for the 2001 model year. Modifications were made to the front seats and side airbags beginning with 2005 models to improve occupant protection in side-impact crashes. Beginning with 2006 models, the side airbags designed to protect rear passengers' torsos became optional (standard in 2005 models).

Injury measures:

Driver — Measures taken from the dummy indicate that rib fractures and/or internal organ injuries would be possible in a crash of this severity. The risk of significant injuries to other body regions is low.

Rear passenger — Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

Head protection:

Driver — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side curtain airbag that deployed from the roof and a side airbag that deployed from the door.

Rear passenger — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side curtain airbag that deployed from the roof and a side airbag that deployed from the door.

Watch crash test footage for this vehicle on YouTube Tested model year and trim level only; see "Tested vehicle specifications" below

Left to right:

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.
View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side curtain airbag and damage to the occupant compartment.
Action shot taken during the side impact crash test showing the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.
Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy's head was protected by the side curtain airbag. Also shown is the door-mounted torso airbag, standard on the tested 2005 model, but optional beginning in 2006.

Additional features:

Side airbags: front and rear head curtain airbags and front and rear door-mounted torso airbags (rear torso airbags standard in 2005 models, optional in 2006-07 models)
Automatically adjusting head restraints in front seats designed to move up or down as seats are adjusted forward or rearward
Electronic stability control
Antilock brakes
Driver programmable headlights can serve as daytime running lights

Tested vehicle specifications:

2005 Mercedes C 240 4-door
Class: Midsize luxury/near luxury car
Weight: 3,347 lbs.
Side airbags: standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front and rear door-mounted torso airbags
Wheelbase: 107 in.
Length: 178 in.
Width: 68 in.
Engine: 2.6 L V6
EPA ratings: 19 mpg city | 24 mpg highway

See all test results for Mercedes C class

Last updated: April 23, 2008