2010 Mercedes Benz GLK350

I have to admit that when I first saw the GLK sitting in my driveway I wasn’t particularly overwhelmed by it. It seemed a bit spartan in design, small and just not very exciting. That said, once I got inside the GLK350 I was actually amazed at just how nice a vehicle it is.

The GLK is all-new for the 2010 model year with two trim levels, the GLK350 and the GLK350 4MATIC, the latter utilizing Mercedes' proven full-time all-wheel drive system which is what our test car was. The only engine available is the 3.5 liter 268 horsepower V6 engine mated to an advanced 7-speed automatic. As expected from Mercedes, the GLK is well equipped with the latest safety equipment as well as an array of luxury features and as one would expect, the interior is pure Mercedes Benz.

The use of available space inside is well thought out with plenty of room for cargo and room for three passengers in the back seat. Folding down the seats provide an unbroken flat surface for easy loading and unloading of cargo. Power comes from a 3.5-liter 268-horsepower V6 engine mated to an advanced seven-speed automatic transmission. Towing capacity is rated at 3,500 lbs and the GLK350 is estimated to achieve 23 mpg on the highway.

The GLK has a very affordable base price at $34,600, but adding the Premium Package for $3150, and the Multimedia Package, which includes navigation, pushed the price of the tester to $42,925. That may seem like a lot of money for a small crossover, but it does have the world famous Mercedes Benz emblem in the grille.

With very adequate power out of the engine and a suppleness I didn’t expect, the GLK is actually quite fun to drive, handling corners more like a sporty crossover than an SUV. That and the revered V6 engine made the GLK a pleasure to drive. It is smooth and strong off the line and has plenty of punch to pass slower vehicles. I found it interesting that my wife really liked the GLK350, and this is a woman that drives a small roadster and isn’t into big vehicles at all but when we were hauling our grandkids around, she was very impressed with the room and comfort of the SUV.

There seems to be no shortage of small to midsized SUV’s making the competition very stiff in this class of vehicle. I think the name and history of Mercedes Benz gives it just a bit of an edge but the truth is the GLK350 can make it on its own merit. It’s neat, roomy, efficient and almost fun to drive. So if you’ve been thinking about making a change or replacing your SUV, the Mercedes Benz GLK350 should definitely be on your shopping list.