2010 Mercedes Benz Glk Class Review
By introducing the GLK, Mercedes-Benz has finally entered the small luxury SUV market competing mainly with the Infiniti EX, BMW X3, Lexus RX and Audi Q5. While the GLK is based mechanically on the C-Class sedan, it borrows some styling clues from the bigger G-Class and GL-Class SUVs.
The GLK is built using a C-Class platform that has been shortened by 4 inches and given some appropriately pumped-up SUV ground clearance. Thus, the GLK's steering and ride are remarkably similar to the C's.
The GLK 350 has a 268-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine with 258 pound-feet of torque shared with the C350. Mercedes claims a 0-to-60-mph time of 6.5 seconds. Top speed is about 143 mph. Mercedes estimates it will get 23 mpg on the highway. While, the GLK 280 is powered by a 3.0-liter V-6 engine with 228 hp and a top speed of 131 mph. The GLK 220 CDI Blue Efficiency is offered with an all-new four-cylinder diesel engine which provides 168 hp achieving a top speed of 127mph and a 0-to-62 mph sprint in 8.8 seconds. Fuel consumption is a decent 34.1 mpg. The 3.0-liter V-6 in the GLK 320 CDI is the fun diesel. Rated at 221 hp, its top speed is 137 mph. However, the GLK 350 is the only one available in the U.S.
For the GLK 350 a seven-speed automatic transmission with comfort, sport and manual settings is standard. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive (known as 4Matic) is optional.
Standard equipment includes 19-inch wheels, cruise control, automatic headlamps, eight-way power front seats, MB Tex premium vinyl upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power tilt and telescoping steering column, Bluetooth and an eight-speaker stereo with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack. The Premium 1 package adds a panoramic sunroof, a power tailgate, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming mirrors, driver seat memory settings, a 115-volt household outlet and satellite radio. The Multimedia package adds a hard-drive navigation system, the COMAND interface, a rearview camera, and a surround-sound system with 11 speakers, in-dash six-CD changer (available as stand-alone) and 6 GB of digital music storage. The Appearance package adds 20-inch wheels and aluminum roof rails. Other options include front and rear parking sensors, xenon headlights, leather upholstery, heated front seats, running boards, an iPod interface and a rear-seat entertainment system with dual front-headrest-mounted displays.
For your safety the GLK comes standard with stability control, antilock disc brakes with brake assist, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags.
Rear legroom is tight. Getting in and out can be a squeeze, too. Maximum cargo capacity is 54.7 cubic feet, which is less than most luxury competitors. The GLK 350 may not be perfect but when it comes to precise build quality, it has no equal in this segment. That's obvious when you drive on rough roads. The GLK mutes all the jarring and jiggling.
For the record, the GLK is one of the few Mercedes models that will not get an AMG version.
Sources:
www.edmunds.com/mercedesbenz/glkclass/2010/review.html
