“We are extremely pleased that the inherent safety of the B-Class has again been recognised with this highest possible occupant rating of five stars,” said Horst von Sanden, managing director of Mercedes Car Group in Australia.

“Our A-Class, B-Class, C-Class and E-Class all have the maximum five star rating for occupant protection from EURO NCAP and this latest test result recognises the primacy that safety plays at Mercedes-Benz,” he said.

The occupant star rating considers the injury measures to the occupants head, neck, abdomen, pelvis, upper and lower legs and the deformation of the vehicles structure. The star rating is assigned on the basis of crash test results from an offset and side impact crash and include any additional points awarded where advanced seatbelt reminders are fitted or a pole test is conducted.

To simplify the crash test results ANCAP has assigned an occupant protection rating based on an overall score, which is portrayed as a star rating out of five. The more stars the higher the rating, the B-Class has scored the maximum number of stars for occupant protection.