Mercedes-Benz C-Class earns highest Euro NCAP rating for driver assistance systems

STUTTGART: The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has received a "very good" rating in the latest Euro NCAP assessment for driver assistance systems, securing 182 points to place first among five tested vehicles.

It showed high performance in two categories: assistance competence, achieving 85%, and safety backup, scoring 97%.

Notably, the Active Emergency Stop Assist feature, which allows the vehicle to change lanes and halt safely if the driver is incapacitated, contributed significantly to the C-Class’s high marks.

According to Mercedes-Benz Group AG chief technology officer Markus Schäfer, safety remains a priority for Mercedes-Benz, with the company focused on minimising accidents in real-life driving conditions.

He said it was important for Mercedes-Benz’s driver assistance and safety advancements to undergo independent verification, such as Euro NCAP's recognition.

The C-Class’s success follows strong Euro NCAP performances by other Mercedes-Benz models, including the EQE Sedan, EQE SUV, and E-Class, which also received high scores in the driver assistance category. The EQE Sedan notably achieved an unprecedented 100% in safety backup in 2022.

Since 2020, Euro NCAP has implemented an "Assisted Driving Grading" system to assess advanced driver assistance systems separately from standard crash-test ratings.

These evaluations focus on a vehicle's ability to assist the driver and provide safety backup. In 2024, Euro NCAP updated its grading criteria to include collision prevention involving motorcycles and bicycles, increasing the stringency of the assessment.

Vehicles are rated on a four-stage scale, with "very good" as the highest distinction.

The C-Class, equipped with the optional Driving Assistance Package Plus, includes over 40 advanced assistance features. Among these are Active Distance Assist Distronic, Active Lane Change Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, and PRE-SAFE functions that enhance vehicle safety for both occupants and other road users.