Dusseldorf, Germany - With luxury SUV buyers steering away from mid-size and full-size SUVs, Mercedes-Benz' new compact GLK sport utility vehicle appears to be well timed to take advantage of the current downsizing trend. The 2009 GLK will arrive in Europe this Fall and in Canada in early January, 2009.

Like other compact "crossover" SUVs, the new GLK is not a truck: it uses the new C-Class sedan's unit body platform with a fully independent suspension and full-time "4Matic" all-wheel drive. It also includes all of the safety and luxury features available on the C-Class automobile, plus a few other features like running boards and roof rails.

Still, for a crossover the GLK's angular styling is certainly very "truckish", borrowing heavily from the full-size Mercedes-Benz GL-Class rather than from the more streamlined mid-sized ML-Class. The GLK's blunt nose features a prominent three-bar grille and large Mercedes' star, raised hood, body-coloured bumper with fog lights, covered headlights, and front fender flares. In profile, the GLK has a wedge-shaped character line from the front fender to the rear taillights while the roofline is mostly flat culminating in a sharp cutoff at the rear. The tail features large wraparound taillights, a generously-sized hatch door, body coloured bumper, and dual exhaust pipes.

From a practical point of view, the GLK is a very appealing design: its tall roof and vertical body sides allow generous headroom and hiproom for all occupants; the big door openings provide easy entrance and exit; the large rear hatch makes loading fairly easy; and the cargo is quite roomy (450 litres/15.9 cu. ft. behind the rear seats). As well, the absence of large pillars between the side windows provides excellent visibility for the driver and passengers.

In Europe, the 2009 GLK will be available with two V6 engines and two diesel engines, but in Canada it will be offered only with the top-of-the-line 272-hp 3.5-litre V6 engine, seven-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Matic all-wheel drive - at least, to begin with. Just as a 2.5-litre V6 engine was a surprise addition to the Canadian C-Class sedan lineup late in the 2008 model year, I wouldn't be surprised to see a smaller V6 engine or one of the diesel engines offered in the GLK in Canada at a later date.

Standard equipment on the 2009 GLK350 will include Artico "man-made" leather seats with seat heaters, 10-way power driver and front passenger seats, leather-covered steering wheel and shift knob, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, burl walnut wood trim, AM/FM/in-dash CD changer and Bluetooth compatibility, THERMATIC dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, Panoramic sunroof, aluminum roof rails, four power windows w/express up & down, SmartKey with remote, multi-function steering wheel with driver information display, split folding rear seatbacks, sliding cargo privacy cover, and cargo net.

The 2009 GLK350 will also include standard 19-inch all-season tires with 10-spoke alloy wheels, anti-lock braking system, electronic stability program (ESP), acceleration skid control (ASC), brake assist (BAS), Hill Start Assist, PRE-SAFE anticipatory occupant protection system, agility control suspension, dual-stage front airbags, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, driver's knee airbag, tire pressure loss warning system, ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts, NECK-PRO head restraints, and seatbelt tensioners with belt force limiters.

Major options will include leather upholstery, aluminum interior trim, Pine brown wood interior trim, Harman Kardon LOGIC7 surround sound audio system, rear seat entertainment system, Keyless Go, rear view camera, backup sensors, power tailgate, TeleAid emergency calling system, SIRIUS satellite radio, trailer hitch, 20-inch tires and wheels, and aluminum running boards. Some of these options will be available individually, but many will come as part of option packages.

An Off-Road package available in Europe will not be available in Canada. This package includes a manual shift mode for the automatic transmission, off-road ABS, 4ETS off-road traction control, DSR downhill speed regulation, and special underbody protection. Given that few GLK owners will be doing any serious off-road driving, it probably won't be missed.

Driving impressions

At the GLK's worldwide media introduction in Dusseldorf, Germany, I had the opportunity to drive the GLK350 on a variety of city, country, and highway roads as well as a fairly demanding off-road course.

With its wide track, standard 19-inch all-season radials (front 235/50R19, rear 255/45R19), four-wheel independent suspension, and "Agility Control" which includes shocks that automatically adjust to road conditions, the GLK rides comfortably over even the worst surfaces - the body and suspension feel very solid and transmit very little noise to the cabin. The GLK handles surprisingly well with very little lean or drama in fast corners. Speed-sensitive steering provides a firm, stable feel at freeway speeds and a light, but not too light, steering feel at slow speeds. Compared to its competitors, the GLK doesn't feel quite as sporty as the BMW X3, but is more driver-oriented than a Lexus RX 350.

The GLK's standard 272-hp 3.5-litre V6 engine propels the GLK from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds according to Mercedes-Benz, and returns average fuel consumption of 10.6 L/100 km (27 mpg Imperial). The cabin is comfortably quiet at freeway speeds, and the GLK tracks very well at high speeds. Engine speed in seventh gear at 100 km/h is about 2,000 r.p.m.

The standard 4Matic all-wheel drive system, which distributes torque 45/55 front to rear, is basically invisible to the driver, but in combination with stability and traction control, it is designed to provide excellent stability and control in poor weather conditions. The standard seven-speed automatic transmission changes gears so smoothly that you often don't notice it - but it requires a firm kickdown prior to accelerating onto the freeway. Unlike the BMW X3, the GLK350 doesn't offer a standard manual transmission.

I experienced one curious drivability issue: when backing off the throttle at freeway speeds, and after coasting for a few seconds, the GLK slows down suddenly because of engine braking, even though the transmission didn't shift down.

I tested the GLK equipped with the Off-Road package (which is not available in Canada) on a demanding off-road course where it performed very well for a "crossover".

But even without the Off-Road package, the GLK's generous wheel travel, 20 cm of ground clearance, and all-wheel drive and traction control (plus a good set of winter tires) will be sufficient for most unpaved and snow-covered roads in Canada.

I also had a brief opportunity to drive the GLK220 CDI diesel model (pictured at right) and came away with the impression that if this model were offered in Canada at a lower price than the GLK350, it would sell like bratwurst at a German beer festival. It offers average fuel consumption of just 6.9 L/100 km (41 mpg Imperial); and though its 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder "BlueEfficiency" diesel engine has only 170 horsepower, it offers 295 lb-ft of torque starting at just 1400 rpm, providing throttle responsiveness akin to a much larger engine. Its official 0 to 100 km/h time is a respectable 8.8 seconds, and the diesel engine is surprisingly quiet, even with the windows open. The BlueEfficiency label means that it meets the strictest Euro 5 emissions standards, but I wasn't told whether it would meet North American standards.

Canadian pricing for the 2009 GLK350 hasn't been announced, but it's a safe bet that it would be competitive with the BMW X3 3.0si which currently sells for $51,100. Given the trend to lower luxury car pricing, my guess is that it will be in the mid to high 40s.



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M

That's common in all mercedes. It has to hurt fuel mileage. I find myself shifting into neutral alot to avoid this feature.

The photography of Canadian Driver just annoys me. I mean look at this!



Throw the bottle out!

^ There's something about the middle part of that interior. Its kinda tacky. I ges dats what ruins it for most people. Rest of it is nice enough

I think its the design of the air vents. Maybe some chrome around the airvents was spark things up enough..

I agree. That would also be good for the W204 C-Class.

Audi does this on their interiors - they make use of chrome or chrome-imitating plastic. It works.

^^I think the vents look ok enough, same boxy theme going on as with d rest of d car. Tho some chrome would improve its look of course. But the plastic middle area just looks.... bare/cheap/unattractive. It even manages to look better in d W204

Well i think u guys would say different with dark wood or alu trim

There should be wood at least around the AirCon controls like the W204. In some versions I have seen wood there and in others plastic.

I need to see the interior in person, I am not convinced by the pictures and on top of the fact that edmunds said it has cheap plastics inside.

The plastic should have been darker. The gray makes it look a bit wierd and cheap.