2026 Mercedes-Benz C Class Safety Rating
Midsize luxury cars Β· Current IIHS listing Β· IIHS source checked 2026-09-16
The 2026 Mercedes-Benz C Class scores 93.3/100, ranking #2 of 5 current midsize luxury cars and #42 of 136 vehicles overall with complete IIHS records. It holds the IIHS Top Safety Pick award in the 2026 award cycle.
Results below Good: Headlights rated Acceptable. Rear-passenger restraints in the updated moderate-overlap test: Good; rear-passenger head protection: Good.
Which build and equipment does this score describe?
Latest applicable build; standard AEB and lowest current-trim headlight rating. Headlights use the lowest rating among applicable current trims; this is a conservative equipment baseline, not a claim that every trim has identical results. Confirm the production date and equipment of the car you are buying.
Headlights: baseline Acceptable; best reported Good
- Good β (1) Trim level(s): Premium trim, Exclusive trim
- Acceptable β (2) Trim level(s): Premium trim equipped with Digital Light package, Exclusive trim equipped with Digital Light package, Pinnacle trim
Pedestrian crash prevention: baseline Acceptable; best reported Good
- Acceptable β standard Active Brake Assist. Rating applies to all 2024-26 models
- Good β optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function; equipped with Driver Assistance package. Rating applies to all 2024-26 models
Optional-system results are shown separately. Combining the best rating from different packages does not establish that one purchasable configuration earns them all. Check IIHS equipment details.
IIHS crash-test results
Detailed results by test (53 entries)
IIHS publishes these under the test they belong to, so the same label can appear more than once. Rear restraints and kinematics, rear head protection, structure and safety cage, and front restraints are the four that count toward the score (25%).
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2022-26 models
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2022-26 models
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Rating applies to 2024-26 models
Side: updated test
Rating applies to 2022-26 models
Headlights
Β· (1) Trim level(s): Premium trim, Exclusive trim
Headlights
Β· (2) Trim level(s): Premium trim equipped with Digital Light package, Exclusive trim equipped with Digital Light package, Pinnacle trim
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Rating applies to all 2024-26 models Β· standard Active Brake Assist
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Rating applies to all 2024-26 models Β· optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function; equipped with Driver Assistance package
Seat belt reminders
Rating applies to 2023-26 models
Child seat anchors
Rating applies to 2022-26 models
Opens on iihs.org in a new tab
How the score is built
IIHS crash-test videos
These videos are embedded on IIHSβs ratings page for this model. The tested vehicle may be an earlier model year or a related version whose results IIHS applies to this vehicle. Check the test description and source for the exact coverage.
Load a player to watch on this page, or use the YouTube link. Video footage helps explain the test; the published injury measurements and ratings are the basis for comparison.
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Tested vehicle: 2024 Mercedes-Benz C300 4-door
Rating applies to 2024-26 models
Real-world context
| Measure | Result | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Class driver death rate | 23 per million registered vehicle-years | Midsize luxury cars as a class, adjusted for driver age and sex (Farmer, 2023); all vehicles average 38. Class context only. |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD (2017-20) driver death rate | 9 (95% CI 0β21) | Earlier model years of this nameplate; class average for that study 24.8. Reflects who bought and drove those cars as well as the car. |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 2WD (2017-20) driver death rate | 28 (95% CI 5β51) | Earlier model years of this nameplate; class average for that study 24.8. Reflects who bought and drove those cars as well as the car. |
Compared with other midsize luxury cars
Closest-scoring current midsize luxury cars with complete IIHS records, plus the class leader. See every midsize luxury car ranked β
| Vehicle | Class rank | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Starts at | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Audi A5 | #1 of 5 | TSP+ | $50,200 | 94.7 | |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz C Class (this page) | #2 of 5 | TSP | $49,650 | 93.3 | |
| 2026 Tesla Model 3 | #3 of 5 | β | $36,990 | 91.7 | |
| 2026 BMW 3 Series | #4 of 5 | β | $47,500 | 84.2 | |
| 2026 Audi A3 | #5 of 5 | β | $40,100 | 79.7 |
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz C Class
| Model year | Status | IIHS award | Primary tests reported | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Mercedes-Benz C Class | Archived | TSP+ | 4/4 | 93.3 |
Each model year keeps its own record. Ratings from one year are never copied to another unless IIHS states the test applies.
Our analysis
The 2026 Mercedes-Benz C Class belongs to the Midsize luxury cars class. This class has a below-average driver death rate compared with the national average of 38 deaths per million registered vehicle-years. The class figure is adjusted for driver age and sex, which removes a large part of the selection effect in raw death rates. It is still a class average, not a measurement of this model.
The Mercedes-Benz C Class earned Top Safety Pick in the 2026 award cycle. The difference from Top Safety Pick+ is usually the updated moderate-overlap result or a headlight or pedestrian-braking threshold; the linked IIHS report shows which.
Across the 6 IIHS rating categories reported, the Mercedes-Benz C Class earned 5 Good ratings. One result sits below Good; the verdict at the top of the page names it.
This analysis is produced independently; we have no affiliation with Mercedes-Benz or any manufacturer. Read the full methodology or learn more about us.
Safety recalls for the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C Class
We do not have a verified NHTSA recall lookup for this model and year. An unmatched or unavailable lookup is not evidence of a clean recall record.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A recall applies to a range of build dates, not necessarily every car of this model year, so confirm against your own VIN. Recalls do not affect the safety score on this page.
Use this score on your own site
Writing about the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C Class? Paste this badge into a post or forum reply. It updates on its own whenever IIHS publishes new results for this model.
Free to use with the link left intact. The badge is a plain image and an ordinary link, with no tracking script.
Questions about the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C Class
Is the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C Class a safe car?
The 2026 Mercedes-Benz C Class scores 93.3/100 in our published formula and ranks #2 of 5 current midsize luxury cars with complete IIHS records. It holds the IIHS Top Safety Pick award.
What is the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C Class IIHS rating?
IIHS reports: small overlap front = Good; moderate overlap front: updated test = Good; side: updated test = Good; headlights = Acceptable; seat belt reminders = Good; latch ease of use = Good.
Is the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C Class an IIHS Top Safety Pick?
Yes. The 2026 Mercedes-Benz C Class is a IIHS Top Safety Pick for the 2026 award cycle.
How does the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C Class compare with other midsize luxury cars?
The class leader is the 2026 Audi A5 at 94.7/100. The comparison table on this page lists the closest-scoring current midsize luxury cars with complete records.
Continue comparing
Shopping for a family? Compare three-row vehicles and rear-seat evidence. Buying used? See real driver death rates by model.