Front impact
The passenger compartment remained stable during the impact. The dummy results showed that the front seat passengers' knees and femurs were well protected and Mercedes were able to show that the car would provide similar protection to occupants of different sizes and to those sat in different seating positions.

Side impact
The car scored maximum points for its performance in the side impact and pole tests.

Child-protection
A system is available as an option on the C-Class which automatically recognises when a child restraint is fitted to the front passenger seat and disables the airbag. The system was not fitted to to the test vehicle. Without it, a rearward facing child restraint should not be used in the front passenger seat as the airbag cannot be manually disabled. The label warning of the dangers of doing to so was not permanently attached. The presence of ISOFIX anchorages was not clearly marked.

Pedestrian protection
The bumper scored maximum points for its protection of pedestrians' legs. However, the bonnet was rated as predominantly poor for the protection offered to pedestrians' legs by its front edge and to adults' heads by the bonnet surface.