Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350
This week, Autoguide.com takes a look at Mercedes’ GLK350 small crossover. The boxy trucklette gets mild styling updates for 2013 and promises mildly improved fuel economy over last year’s model. But what else is important about the square-looking Benz?
Direct injection and other improvements to the 3.5-liter V6 push the power to 302 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque for the 2013 model year. It’s noticeably better than the previous model year, but it’s also a noisy motor.
At higher rpms, which the seven-speed automatic gladly obliges, the six cylinder sounds great. That isn’t true around the low end, though, and more fuel frugal drivers will probably spend most of their time in the car’s gravelly vocal range.
Don’t skip the all-wheel drive model if you can help it. Car salesmen might like to slay you with slick talk, but this is no bull.
Even crawling up ice-covered roads, the GLK feels sure-footed and confident. Better still, the overall driving experience isn’t ruined.
Small SUVs have their spirits stolen all too often these days by watery, uninspired front-wheel drive layouts. Power is sent to the rears and then all four if things get hairy.
Saying this tactfully is sort of pointless. If there’s one thing Mercedes understands better than its competition, it’s how to make a car feel exclusive to sit in. The GLK class is cheap as Benz cars go, but the leather seats and door panel accents are good. Good to touch, to look at, to own.
While the car’s boxy looks might not appeal to everyone, it’s hard not to enjoy sitting in the car.
Rich wood accents take things up a notch in a way you’ll probably appreciate.
If there’s one thing that stands out in a bad way about the car’s cabin, it’s that the gear selector is on the steering column.
There are two places where this sort of equipment can live – cop cruisers and work trucks. It feels cheap in every other scenario. It’s a shame, because there’s a lot to love, but this part stands out like someone sleeping during a board meeting.
The GLK starts at $37,995, but opting for any options hoists the price higher at an alarming rate. For example, the “Premium 1” package adds a panoramic sun roof, power liftgate, a two-prong outlet and more. In fact, the $3,450 package is composed entirely of can’t-miss features.
You won’t be getting out of the showroom for anything less than the mid-40’s and models armed to the teeth with Mercedes’ latest safety features climb into $50,000 territory.
Certain features, like the optional 20-inch wheels and leather upholstery aren’t to be missed.
The truth is, the GLK350 you’ll want to buy is very expensive. Mercedes will happily nickel-and-dime you for features that less exclusive brands often leave in the standard equipment list. It’s fun to drive, feels good and if you have the cash it’s not a bad choice, but you’re paying a lot to make that decision.
If you’re thinking about buying a GLK350, head to the new car buying page to browse.
You can also click here to go directly to the Mercedes section, or here to skip straight to the GLK350.
Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> and <A title="Luke on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/112531385961538774338?rel=author">Google+</A>.
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