2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350: Video Road Test & Review

The Mercedes-Benz GLK is a compact luxury SUV that seats five passengers and is designed to offer excellent around-town comfort while providing a respectable amount of foul-weather capability and the potential for light off-roading.  The Mercedes-Benz GLK is the most affordable SUV in the German brand's lineup, and it comes with side curtain airbags that deploy along the entire length of the passenger compartment, seat-mounted side airbags and pelvic airbags up front, dual-stage forward airbags, and a knee airbag for the driver.  Electronic traction control and stability control - along with an automatic brake-drying feature - are also standard.

The Mercedes-Benz GLK is available with a choice between gas and diesel engines.  The gas unit is found in the GLK350 and it offers 302 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, shifted via a seven-speed automatic transmission that shunts power to either the rear or all four wheels if optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive is selected.  The 2.1-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder diesel shares the same gearbox, offers up 195 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, and comes in the all-wheel drive only GLK250 Bluetec 4MATIC.  Fuel mileage figures for either engine have yet to be released.

The Mercedes-Benz GLK350 (est. MSRP $36,000) features the standard range of Mercedes-Benz goodies, including18-inch wheels, dual automatic climate control, simulated leather seats, the COMAND interface for vehicle features and entertainment systems, and Bluetooth connectivity.  The GLK250 Bluetec 4MATIC (est. MSRP $43,000) offers the engine upgrade along with a slightly nicer standard of interior comfort.  Options packages that can be had with the GLK include the AMG Sports package (larger wheels and tires, stiffer suspension system), and stand-alone features such as adaptive cruise control with collision-avoidance, a driver alertness detection system, a lane keeping system, and blind spot monitoring can all be ordered with the vehicle.

A list of cars similar to the GLK includes the 2012 Audi Q5, 2013 BMW X3 and 2013 Volvo XC60.

See more details about the 2013 Merceds Benz GLK.