New Mercedes-Benz C-Class earns five-star ANCAP rating

The new-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class has, unsurprisingly, been awarded the maximum five-star crash rating from Australian safety tester ANCAP.

Both variants of the ‘W206’ series C-Class on sale – the C200 and C300 petrol four-cylinder sedans – received full marks, based on tests conducted by sister organisation Euro NCAP.

The C-Class is the first Mercedes-Benz model to be tested against ANCAP’s latest and most stringent 2020-2022 protocols.

The sub-scores are 91 per cent for adult occupants, 90 per cent for child occupants, 80 per cent for vulnerable road users, and 84 per cent for safety assist.

Full points were scored for both the driver and rear passenger (female dummies) in the full-width frontal test – making the C-Class the only vehicle to achieve this full score against 2020-2022 criteria.

“Good levels of performance” were recorded in all autonomous emergency braking (AEB) car-to-car test scenarios, including the ability of the C-Class to avoid or mitigate a collision when turning across the path of an oncoming vehicle.

“Adequate performance” was shown in tests of its pedestrian-detecting AEB system

“Today’s results demonstrate that models across a range of market segments, brands and powertrains can continue to achieve the highest levels of safety for Australian and New Zealand consumers,” said ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg.

Standard C200 safety equipment includes:

• 10 airbags including a centre-front airbag
• AEB with pedestrian/cyclist detection
• Surround-view camera
• Front and rear parking sensors (and Active Parking Assist)
• Adaptive cruise control
• Driver attention monitoring
• Lane-keep assist (steering assist)
• Blind-spot monitoring w/ Exit Warning function
• Active bonnet
• Speed Limit assist

The Driving Assistance Package Plus standard on the C300 adds:

• AEB junction assist
• Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
• Blind-spot assist
• Lane-change assist
• Lane-following assist
• Evasive steering assist
• Side-impact anticipation and protection system
• Traffic sign assist

MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz C-Class