2023 Mercedes Benz C-Class Bags IIHS Top Safety Pick + Award

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has bagged the 2023 IIHSTop Safety Pick+ award from the US-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This latest accolade comes following the institute instilling stricter requirements for said award category.

The new stricter criteria sees each vehicle including the rest of 48 other models tested requiring improved side impact protection, improved crash-prevention tech, and better illuminating headlights. 

This premium sedan from Germany meets all the requirements for the higher-tier award when equipped with the optional front crash prevention system, which comes with the Driver Assistance package. 

Mercedes Benz C-Class (Image credits to Motor1)

As for the daytime and nighttime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention tests, the 2023 C-Class receives superior ratings when fitted with the optional upgraded front crash system.

On a separate note, if you are planning to go for a C-Class that comes with the standard crash prevention system, this model would be classified as a Top Safety Pick choice, the lower-tier award of the safety institute. 

Although it receives a good rating in the daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluation, it doesn’t perform as well in the nighttime test. According to the IIHS standard, it requires acceptable or good headlights across all trim levels for either the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award, especially for the 2023 model year. 

Furthermore, every vehicle needs to undergo a tougher side collision test with a heavier striking barrier hitting the test vehicle at a higher speed whilst the side impact test requires an acceptable or good rating for the Top Safety Pick award and a good rating for the Top Safety Pick+ award.

Thus, the current C-Class showed good performance in a recent moose test with a speed of 45 miles per hour (73 KM/H) around the cones. The test driver’s report said the car felt very direct and controllable and there was minimal body roll, which made it very predictable in the corners.