The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV marked a significant step in luxury SUVs, offering a blend of sophistication and practicality. For prospective buyers and safety-conscious drivers, understanding its safety performance is paramount. Based on rigorous testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), let’s delve into a comprehensive safety review of the 2017 Mercedes GLC SUV, analyzing its crashworthiness and preventative safety features.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Evaluation
The small overlap front crash test is designed to simulate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or a narrow object like a tree or pole. In the driver-side small overlap test for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4-door 4wd, the vehicle received an overall Good rating.
Specifically, the structure and safety cage of the GLC held up well, also earning a Good rating, indicating a robust design to protect occupants in this severe crash scenario. Driver injury measures for head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot were all rated as Good, signifying a low risk of significant injuries in these areas.
However, the driver restraints and dummy kinematics were rated as Acceptable. The test details noted that while the dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag, it rolled to the left due to excessive forward movement allowed by the seat belt. This caused the head to move towards a gap in protection between the frontal and side curtain airbags. Despite this issue, the side curtain airbag did deploy and provided sufficient forward coverage.
Action shot from the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test, demonstrating the impact on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300.
Dummy positioning post-test in the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 driver’s seat, indicating good survival space maintenance.
Dummy head contact with airbags during the driver-side small overlap test, illustrating head movement towards a coverage gap in the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300.
Assessment of leg and foot injury risk for the dummy in the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 driver-side small overlap test, showing low injury potential.
Technical measurements from the driver-side test reveal minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment. For instance, the lower hinge pillar max intrusion was only 1 cm, and the steering column showed 0 cm of intrusion. Driver injury measures were also low, with a Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) of 224 and low forces recorded in the neck, chest, and femur regions. These measurements reinforce the Good ratings in structural integrity and injury prevention.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side Performance
The passenger-side small overlap test evaluates the vehicle’s ability to protect the passenger in a similar frontal offset collision. The 2017 Mercedes Suv, specifically the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4-door 4wd model tested for this evaluation, earned an overall Good rating, mirroring the driver-side performance. This rating is based on two tests, one by IIHS and another by Mercedes-Benz.
Both the overall structure and safety cage were rated Good. Passenger injury measures for head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot all received Good ratings. Importantly, passenger restraints and dummy kinematics were also rated Good, indicating effective occupant protection on the passenger side in this challenging crash scenario. Driver injury measures and driver restraints were also assessed as Good in the passenger-side test, likely due to the comprehensive nature of the test setup and data collection.
Action shot of the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test conducted by IIHS on a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300.
Demonstration of maintained passenger survival space after the crash test, as seen in the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 passenger-side small overlap evaluation.
Effective interaction of frontal and side curtain airbags in the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 passenger-side small overlap test, designed to protect the head.
Evaluation of passenger space maintenance and potential leg injury risk in the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 passenger-side crash test, highlighting overall protection.
Technical measurements for the passenger-side test showed minimal occupant compartment intrusion, similar to the driver-side. Passenger injury measures, including HIC-15, neck forces, and chest compression, were all low. While forces on the right lower leg were slightly elevated in the IIHS test, indicating a marginal injury possibility, the Mercedes-Benz test showed low injury risk to both legs and feet. The consistency in Good ratings across both tests underscores the robust passenger protection in the 2017 Mercedes SUV.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Evaluation
The moderate overlap front test simulates a frontal collision where a significant portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a barrier. For the 2017 Mercedes SUV, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4-door 4wd was tested, and it achieved an overall Good rating. This rating is based on a test conducted by Mercedes-Benz and assessed by IIHS.
The structure and safety cage again earned a Good rating. Driver injury measures for head/neck, chest, and leg/foot (both left and right) were all rated Good. Driver restraints and dummy kinematics also received a Good rating. This indicates that in a moderate frontal impact, the 2017 Mercedes GLC provides excellent protection across critical body regions.
Technical measurements from this test confirmed minimal footwell intrusion and steering column movement. Driver injury measures remained low, with a HIC-15 of 131 and low forces on the neck, chest, and femur. These results demonstrate that the 2017 Mercedes GLC is designed to effectively manage crash forces in a moderate overlap frontal collision, minimizing injury risk.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Assessment
The side impact test evaluates occupant protection in a T-bone style collision with another vehicle. The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4-door 4wd was tested for side impact, and it achieved an overall Good rating. This rating, like the moderate overlap front, is based on a test conducted by Mercedes-Benz and evaluated by IIHS.
In the side crash test, the structure and safety cage were rated Good. Driver injury measures for head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg were all Good, as was driver head protection. Rear passenger injury measures and head protection also received Good ratings. This comprehensive Good performance across all evaluated areas highlights the strong side-impact protection offered by the 2017 Mercedes GLC for both front and rear occupants.
Technical measurements showed minimal B-pillar intrusion into the driver’s seat area. Driver and passenger injury measures, including head HIC-15 and forces on the neck, shoulder, torso, and pelvis, were all within low-risk ranges. These results demonstrate that the 2017 Mercedes SUV is engineered to provide excellent protection in side-impact crashes.
Roof Strength Evaluation
Roof strength is a critical factor in rollover crashes. The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4-door 4wd achieved a Good rating for roof strength. With a curb weight of 4,026 lbs and a peak force of 24,311 lbs, the GLC demonstrated a strength-to-weight ratio of 6.04. This robust roof strength contributes to occupant protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints and Seats Assessment
Whiplash protection in rear-end collisions is evaluated through head restraint and seat testing. The 2017 Mercedes GLC with power leather seats received an overall Good rating in this category. Both the dynamic rating and seat/head restraint geometry were rated Good.
Technical measurements showed favorable seat geometry with a backset of 38mm and a distance below the top of the head of -14mm. The seat design parameters also passed, with low neck forces recorded in the dynamic test. This Good rating suggests effective whiplash protection in rear impacts.
Headlight Performance
Headlight performance is crucial for nighttime visibility and accident prevention. The IIHS evaluated three different headlight variations available on the 2017 Mercedes GLC.
The GLC 300 trim equipped with the Premium 3 package and LED projector headlights achieved an overall Good rating. These curve-adaptive headlights with high-beam assist provided good visibility on straightaways and curves, with only some glare noted in low beams.
The GLC 300 trim with Premium 1 and Premium 2 packages, featuring LED projector low beams and LED reflector high beams, received an Acceptable overall rating. While low beams offered good to fair visibility, and high beams provided good to fair visibility, some glare was also observed in low beams.
The base GLC 300 trim with halogen reflector headlights received a Marginal overall rating. These headlights offered fair to inadequate visibility in various driving scenarios, with some glare from low beams.
These headlight ratings highlight the importance of selecting trim levels with the higher-rated LED projector headlights for optimal nighttime safety in the 2017 Mercedes SUV.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle Evaluation
Front crash prevention systems can significantly reduce or even prevent frontal collisions. The 2017 Mercedes GLC offers two front crash prevention system variations.
The optional Pre-Safe Brake with Pedestrian Recognition, part of the Premium 3 Package, earned a Superior rating. This system meets forward collision warning requirements and successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph vehicle-to-vehicle tests.
The standard Collision Prevention Assist Plus system also earned a Superior rating, although it does not meet forward collision warning requirements. This system also successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests.
Both systems demonstrate excellent front crash prevention capabilities for the 2017 Mercedes SUV, with the optional Pre-Safe Brake offering additional pedestrian detection and forward collision warning.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH) Assessment
Child seat anchors (LATCH) ease of use is important for proper child seat installation. The 2017 Mercedes GLC received an Acceptable rating for LATCH system usability.
The GLC has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and one additional position with only a tether anchor. While tether anchors were easy to find and not confused with other hardware, lower anchors were noted as being not too deep in the seat but difficult to maneuver around.
Despite being rated as Acceptable, the 2017 Mercedes GLC provides LATCH systems in multiple rear positions, accommodating child seats, but installation may require some maneuvering.
Conclusion: 2017 Mercedes SUV Safety Performance
Overall, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV demonstrates robust safety performance across a range of IIHS crash tests. It consistently achieves Good ratings in key areas like structural integrity, occupant injury measures in frontal and side crashes, roof strength, and head restraints. While the driver-side small overlap test revealed an Acceptable rating for restraints, and headlight ratings vary by trim, the 2017 Mercedes GLC stands as a safe choice in the luxury SUV segment. Its Superior front crash prevention systems further enhance its safety profile, making it a compelling option for drivers prioritizing safety.
For more detailed information, refer to the original reports and data provided by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
