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2016 Mercedes C-Class "Crashed" by IIHS, a Top Safety Pick+ Despite Poor Lights

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has now joined the list of Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles, with the sedan having recently been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class IIHS crash test 6 photos
Photo: YouTube screenshot
2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class IIHS crash test2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class IIHS crash test2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class IIHS crash test2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class IIHS crash test2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class IIHS crash test
The key detail here was the demanding small overlap front crash test, which saw the sedan receiving the "Good" rating, the highest one available. This rating was awarded to the C-Class in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint & seats tests.

Grabbing the "Good" rating in all the tests mentioned above is required for the said accolade and the same can be said about the crash avoidance performance - with the optional mitigating system, the Mercedes was able to avoid collisions in both the low-speed (12 mph) and high-speed (25 mph) tests. For the record, the automaker calls the feature Collision Prevention Assist Plus.

Another important area is the ease of installing child seats, with the Benz also receiving a "Good" rating in this area.

Theres just one issue, but we can't ingore it

However, as highlighted back in March when the IIHS introduced this test, the C-Class was one of the vehicles that received a "Poor" rating, the lowest one offered, in the headlight assessment.

The premium aura of the model makes the result even more disappointing, especially when considering that a non-premium vehicle, namely the Toyota Prius v, was the only car to grab a "Good" rating. Even so, the "Acceptable" category also included non-premium models such as the Honda Accord or the Mazda 6. Since this area of a car's safety is now IIHS-regulated, we hope automakers are already working to improve the lighting performance of their vehicles.

Those of you who missed the report delivered back in Spring should check out the second video below, which describes the headlight testing process. As for the first video we have here, this shows the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class' small overlap ordeal.

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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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