The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC has undergone rigorous testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to determine its safety performance. As a potential car buyer, understanding the safety rating of a vehicle is paramount. This comprehensive guide breaks down the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC safety rating, providing you with detailed insights into its crashworthiness and safety features.
Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test
The small overlap front test evaluates how well a vehicle protects occupants in a collision involving a small portion of the vehicle’s front corner. The IIHS conducts both driver-side and passenger-side small overlap tests.
Driver-Side Small Overlap Front
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC earned a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front test. This is the highest possible rating, indicating excellent protection in this type of severe frontal crash.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall driver-side evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Chest | G (Good) |
| Hip/thigh | G (Good) |
| Lower leg/foot | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
Measurements from the test show minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment and low risk of injury to the driver.
Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front
Similarly, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC achieved a “Good” rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test. This ensures that passengers in the front seat receive the same high level of protection as the driver in a small overlap frontal crash.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall passenger-side evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Chest | G (Good) |
| Hip/thigh | G (Good) |
| Lower leg/foot | G (Good) |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
Like the driver-side test, the passenger-side evaluation demonstrated excellent structural integrity and minimal risk of injuries.
Moderate Overlap Frontal Crash Test
The moderate overlap front test assesses occupant protection in a frontal collision where a significant portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a barrier. The IIHS conducts both original and updated moderate overlap front tests. The updated test includes a rear passenger dummy to evaluate rear seat safety as well.
Moderate Overlap Front: Original Test
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC received a “Good” rating in the original moderate overlap front test. This test represents a more traditional frontal crash scenario.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Chest | G (Good) |
| Leg/foot, left | G (Good) |
| Leg/foot, right | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
The results indicate good structural performance and low risk of injury for the driver in this type of crash.
Moderate Overlap Front: Updated Test
In the more demanding updated moderate overlap front test, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC again earned a “Good” overall rating. While it scored “Acceptable” for rear passenger head/neck injury and rear passenger restraints, the overall performance remains strong.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Chest | G (Good) |
| Thigh/hip | G (Good) |
| Leg/foot | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | A (Acceptable) |
| Chest | G (Good) |
| Thigh | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | A (Acceptable) |
Image alt text: 2024 Mercedes GLC moderate overlap front crash test outcome showing airbag deployment and vehicle damage.
The updated test highlights the importance of rear passenger safety, and while the GLC performs well overall, there is room for improvement in rear passenger head and neck protection.
Side Crash Test: Updated Side 2.0
The side crash test has been updated to Side 2.0, representing a more severe side impact scenario. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC achieved a “Good” rating in this updated, more stringent side crash test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Torso | G (Good) |
| Pelvis | G (Good) |
| Driver head protection | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Torso | G (Good) |
| Pelvis | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger head protection | G (Good) |
This “Good” rating in the Side 2.0 test demonstrates the GLC’s robust side impact protection for both front and rear occupants.
Headlight Rating
Headlight performance is crucial for preventing nighttime accidents. The IIHS evaluates headlights based on visibility and glare. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC offers different headlight options depending on the trim level. Both headlight systems available on the GLC received a “Good” overall rating.
Pinnacle Trim Headlights
The Pinnacle trim of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC comes with LED projector headlights, which are curve-adaptive and include high-beam assist. These headlights earned a “Good” rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | G (Good) |
The IIHS found that these headlights provide good visibility on straightaways and curves, with low beams that do not produce excessive glare.
Premium and Exclusive Trim Headlights
The Premium and Exclusive trims feature LED reflector headlights with high-beam assist but are not curve-adaptive. These headlights also achieved a “Good” rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | G (Good) |
While these headlights also received a “Good” rating, it is noted that the low beams create some glare, though visibility remains good overall.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian
Front crash prevention systems aim to mitigate or avoid collisions with pedestrians. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC has two front crash prevention systems: standard Active Brake Assist and optional Active Distance Assist Distronic.
Standard Active Brake Assist
The standard Active Brake Assist system on the 2024 GLC received an “Acceptable” rating in pedestrian front crash prevention.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | A (Acceptable) |
This system performed well in avoiding collisions with a crossing child and adult during daytime tests. However, in nighttime parallel adult scenarios, the system showed more limited effectiveness, especially with low beams.
Optional Active Distance Assist Distronic
The optional Active Distance Assist Distronic system, available with the Driver Assistance Package, earned a “Superior” rating in pedestrian front crash prevention. This is the highest rating possible.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
Image alt text: 2024 Mercedes GLC pedestrian front crash prevention system test, illustrating system effectiveness.
This advanced system demonstrated superior performance across all pedestrian scenarios, both day and night, and with both low and high beams, even avoiding collisions in most challenging situations.
Seat Belt Reminders
Seat belt reminders are essential safety features that encourage seat belt use. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC seat belt reminder system received a “Good” rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
The GLC’s system provides clear and timely alerts for unbelted occupants in the front row and startup visual alerts for the second row, contributing to increased seat belt usage.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchors, also known as LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), make installing child safety seats easier and more secure. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC’s LATCH system received a “Good” rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
The GLC has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor, providing flexibility for installing child seats safely. The anchors are also noted as easy to find and use.
Conclusion: 2024 Mercedes GLC Safety Rating is a Testament to its Protective Design
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC safety rating is a strong indicator of its commitment to occupant protection. Achieving mostly “Good” ratings across various IIHS crash tests and safety evaluations, the GLC stands out as a safe choice in its class. From excellent performance in small and moderate overlap frontal crashes to robust side impact protection and effective crash prevention technologies, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC prioritizes safety for drivers, passengers, and even pedestrians. While there is always room for minor improvements, particularly in rear passenger protection in updated moderate overlap tests, the overall safety rating of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC positions it as a top contender for safety-conscious car buyers. For those prioritizing safety along with luxury and performance, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC is a compelling option.
