IIHS gave it a Top Safety Pick for 2010.

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx

"To determine crashworthiness — how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash — the Institute rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests, a rollover test, plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. To earn TOP SAFETY PICK for 2010 a vehicle must have good ratings in all four Institute tests. In addition, the winning vehicles must offer electronic stability control."

 

yeah, C is the toughest car in its class.

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/datatabl...lass=15&type=f
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/datatabl...lass=15&type=s

passenger compartment has almost no deformation after front crash. B pillar is farthest to center of dirver seat after side crash compared to other cars.

and the latest result on roof strength test

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/roof/detailsbyclass.aspx?15

 

Since the C is the same since 2008, does this rating apply to all current Cs or is it somehow different for 2010?

 

Looks like the 2010 model MB did something to improve the crash test from the 08-09 models which were not as good as the 10 result.

 

That is not correct. If you examine the iihs.org website, you will see that the W204 results are the same since launch in 2008MY. The Insurance Institute toughened their standards for 2010 roof crush performance, but the W204 performed at that level already. The recent news applies equally to all W204 sold in the U.S. since the model launched. There is no information on whether W204 models for other markets have different content which would affect the results.

 

Actually, the 2010 gets driver front knee airbags because back in 2008, the IIHS reported that there was possible of light injury to the knees.

 

Very true.

Also, 2009s added an extra little pouch on the side airbag at the very bottom of your side.

So my 2008 is the least safe of them all. Oh well.

I think they're all pretty good though.

 

Different hardware does not always equal different results. IIHS created meaningful categories based on significant testing differences. The W204 has consistently scored GOOD in all categories tested since launched in the U.S. Kudos to MB for adding knee bags, but they did not appear to have a significant effect in these tests (but may have in other tests, such as Euro NCAP). Variations within GOOD are relatively less significant and real world outcomes will vary more by the type of impact than the model year of the W204. The old expression among designers was "You show me the accident, I'll design you the car" in this case means any W204 does well in the IIHS testing. Given the immense variations in real world crashes, there would be no significant difference expected in any given crash based on differences between 2008-2010MYs.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4k0FWvGoSM

Lol...