2010 Mercedes Benz GLK
by Jim Prueter -03/2009
Not wanting to be left out of the popular small and sporty crossover utility vehicle market, German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz has expanded to five the number of SUVs in its lineup by adding the all-new GLK.
Arriving late to the party in this segment, the new GLK competes with other luxury cute utes like BMW X3, Acura RDX, Infiniti EX35, Land Rover LR2 and the new Volkswagen Tiguan. Audi and Volvo will introduce their new small utes, Q5 and XC60, respectively, within the next few months.
The GLK is based on the compact C-Class sedan platform and shares the same 3.5-liter 268-horsepower V-6 engine, the only engine available. It’s mated to a silky-smooth seven-speed automatic transmission that includes both comfort and sport modes in addition to a manual setting if you prefer to move through the gears yourself. The GLK comes standard with rear wheel drive; permanent 4MATIC all-wheel drive is an additional $2000.
However, smallest Benz in the lineup doesn’t come with a diminutive price: $33,900 to start for the rear-wheel-drive to well over $50,000 when checking most options on the 4MATIC. Our all-wheel-drive tester had an as-tested price of $46,905.
The first thing you notice about the GLK is the total departure from traditional small-ute “jelly bean” styling in favor of a chiseled look with strong cues borrowed from the big GL Galendewagen. Is there a curve anywhere on the vehicle, inside or out?
Most people I encountered during our weeklong test liked the look, including the massive oversized grille plucked from the C-Class parts bin.
Inside, the two-tiered dash continues the blocky look of the exterior. Faux wood trim gives way to aluminum and soft touch materials. The surprising catch is the upholstery, which Mercedes calls MB-Tex (vinyl) rather than leather. Leather costs an additional $1750 and with it, the aluminum trim is replaced with burl walnut. Seats are Mercedes firm, well-shaped and supportive, with ample adjustment even for this tall driver.
Like other Mercedes-Benz vehicles we’ve tested, the GLK uses a stalk to the left of the steering wheel and just above the turn signal stalk for the cruise control. I always confused it with the turn signal stalk and annoyingly set the cruise control rather than the directional signal.
Our tester came with an optional power tilt-telescoping steering wheel. Headroom is exceptional, ditto visibility. The backseat, however, isn’t a place you want to be. Ingress and egress are difficult because of the small door openings. Legroom is minimal, especially for those relegated to sit behind this driver.
Thankfully, three-row seating isn’t available because of scarcity of space. Cargo space behind the second row is at a premium, but the boxy shape helps maximize what there is.
Even when selecting the all-wheel-drive option, I wouldn’t consider the GLK to have much in the way of off-road capability, especially considering the test car’s 20-inch rims (19-inch are standard) and low-profile all-season tires that are part of a $970 option package that also includes aluminum roof rails.
What we especially liked about the GLK was its ride and handling. Equipped with an intelligent four-wheel suspension — a computer-sensor that automatically adjusts the vehicle ride and feel according to road conditions — the ride is comfortable and near perfect. At all speeds, the cabin is library quiet, the gearshifts imperceptible and there is ample power across the entire gear range.
The doors close with a solid “thunk” and all fit and finish is exceptional in quality. Mercedes has had its quality problems in the recent past, but the GLK is one of the most solid, well-built vehicles we’ve tested this year.
The GLK is offered in just one model with a choice of rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive. Ten exterior color choices are available but only white, red and black aren’t an extra $720. A diesel powered GLK is in the works for later this year.
Standard safety gear include six airbags, active front head restraints, electronic stability control with trailer stability assist, four-wheel electronic traction system, roll-over sensor system, anti-lock system, brake assist and adaptive brakes featuring brake drying and hill start assist. The GLK has not been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Overall, we were thoroughly impressed with the GLK350 and certainly consider it a worthy contender in the compact luxury crossover segment and an easy choice over the more established BMW X3. But one has to question the public’s appetite for a compact luxury ute that requires serious money to own, especially considering the current state of the economy.
