Used car safety, rank #29 of 181
Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD Safety Rating (2017-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2017-20 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD, a midsize luxury car, compared with its class and with the current model.
Honorable MentionThe 2017-20 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 9 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize luxury cars average of 24.8, which is 64% below the class average. That places it #29 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 84.0/100, earning our Honorable Mention designation, and it typically sells used for $20,000 to $34,000.
What the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan death rate means
At 9 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD beats the midsize luxury cars average of 24.8 by 64%. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 21, so even the pessimistic end of the range is no worse than the class average.
The other-driver death rate of 26 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan. It is higher than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used luxury cars
The safest midsize luxury cars in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD highlighted. It ranks 3 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Lexus ES 350 at a death rate of 0.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexus ES 350 | 2019-20 | 0 (0 to 29) | 94.5 | 4.0/5 | $24,000 to $35,000 |
| Audi A4 2WD | 2017-20 | 7 (0 to 21) | 85.6 | 3.5/5 | $18,000 to $30,000 |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD (this page) | 2017-20 | 9 (0 to 21) | 84.0 | 3.5/5 | $20,000 to $34,000 |
| Tesla Model 3 2WD | 2019-20 | 15 (0 to 33) | 78.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Audi A4 4WD | 2017-20 | 17 (0 to 36) | 77.4 | 3.5/5 | n/a |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 2WD | 2017-20 | 28 (5 to 51) | 64.2 | 3.5/5 | n/a |
| Acura TLX 2WD | 2018-20 | 31 (0 to 64) | 59.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Tesla Model 3 4WD | 2019-20 | 52 (9 to 96) | 42.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 2WD | 2017-20 | 64 (11 to 117) | 35.0 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize luxury cars: 24.8 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
Reliability and cost of ownership
Reliability: 3.5 out of 5
RepairPal rates the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 3.5/5, 13th out of 31 in its category. Owners spend about $739 a year on repairs and maintenance, visiting the shop 0.7 times a year for unscheduled work, and 9% of those repairs are severe.
RepairPal detailsUsed price: $20,000 to $34,000
Typical asking prices for 2017-20 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD listings. For a model with a death rate of 9, that buys more real-world protection per dollar than most alternatives in the midsize luxury cars class.
Safety recalls for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD
No recalls on record for the 2020 model year.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 9 per million registered vehicle years for the 2017-20 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD, 64% below the class average (24.8 for midsize luxury cars). That earns a used-car safety score of 84.0 out of 100 and rank #29 of 181 used vehicles, with a Honorable Mention designation.
What is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD driver death rate?
9 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 21. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan died at a rate of 26 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2017-20 models.
How does the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD compare with other midsize luxury cars?
The midsize luxury cars class averages 24.8 driver deaths per million; the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD sits at 9. Among the 9 midsize luxury cars compared above it ranks 3 by safety score; the top of that group is the Lexus ES 350 with a death rate of 0.