It's generally said that to afford a Mercedes SUV, you have to be good at managing your money or get free capital. The latest GLK tweaks that dogma slightly.
The new Mercedes-Benz GLK 220 CDI costs just over 39,000 euros including tax, which is the lowest of all the manufacturer's other SUVs. For the cheapest all-wheel drive variant, the 220 CDI 4Matic with the 7G-Tronic automatic, you will pay over 4,000 euros more, but it is still a very reasonable and affordable choice.
Innovative design
The basic version of the new GLK retains the good and beautiful from the previous version. Mercedes decided to slightly round and soften the sharp edges, following the example of other models, which makes the new GLK look more elegant and less aggressive. However, it still clearly shouts to the world that it belongs to the family of better Mercedes.
Compact SUV deceives with its body
The Mercedes-Benz GLK is often mistakenly placed in the same class as the BMW X3 and Audi Q5. In reality, it is closer to the even lower class dominated by the BMW X1 and Audi Q3, or the Range Rover Evoque. With a bit of exaggeration, I could compare the space in the GLK to that of a C-segment sedan.
This is primarily due to the dimensions, which place this SUV among the smallest on the market. The car is 4,536 mm long and 1,840 mm wide, so two passengers do not feel the freedom typical of the M-class or even the GL. However, it cannot be said that the new Mercedes does not provide first-class comfort. If you have driven any other car from any “less valuable” manufacturer, you will be delighted with the GLK. The unladen weight of the vehicle has reached 1,888 kg.
Top driving characteristics
Multi-link axle, independent suspension, coil springs, double gas shock absorbers with SDD system at the front and rear and of course progressive all-wheel drive with electronic traction system 4ETS – all of this contributes to the fantastic driving characteristics of the vehicle. Driving the new GLK is accompanied by real driving pleasure, also because in a relatively small compact vehicle you get an experience comparable to driving in a larger SUV. The vehicle does not lack the ability to easily handle moderately difficult obstacles with the need for strong axle flexibility, while providing a pleasant experience while driving in an urban environment.
Interior like in a luxurious CLS
The interior of the vehicle has also undergone changes, primarily in terms of significant innovations. The space in which the driver works is strikingly similar to the latest CLS and C interiors. It beautifully combines elegance with a reasonable degree of sportiness, while the manufacturer placed great emphasis on direct interaction. Therefore, the materials used to make the steering wheel covers and control elements are of a premium nature and touching them never causes unpleasant sensations. Chrome, soft plastic imitating leather and hardened synthetic imitation wood are widely used. However, the layout of the basic control elements is identical to the previous version, so a driver with experience with another Mercedes vehicle will not be surprised.
The parking brake and its mechanical release lever remain on the left under the steering wheel, within reach of the left foot – an unusual but typical solution for Mercedes. The COMMAND system, displayed on a large color display, has also not undergone any significant changes at first glance, so even die-hard fans of the previous system will not get lost in it.
The perfect SUV for the city?
The Mercedes-Benz GLK is still the good old Mercedes we are all used to. However, it does not deny its efforts to progress and adapt to supporters of an active lifestyle based in larger cities, where even the SUV category requires a certain degree of compactness.