Mercedes-Benz GLK 2009 Review - International

Mercedes-Benz GLK

Not so much
>> Steering too light
>> Could be expensive once the extras are added on
>> Won't be all-wheel drive Down Under

Overall rating: 3.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 3.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.0/5.0
Safety: 3.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.5/5.0
X-factor: 3.5/5.0

In the Mercedes-Benz lexicon, letters once had firm meaning. Now, there's now no sense to Mercedes' model naming system.

Most recently, an L designated long-wheelbase, and once a K at the end of a 'name' meant Kompressor -- the German term for supercharging. Thus applying that logic to the model designation GLK, would mean the car would be a stretched, supercharged version of the iconic G-wagen. Or looked at another way -- a supercharged version of the companies, full-size seven-seat go-anywhere GL...

The GLK is neither. Rather it is Mercedes-Benz's new compact SUV, and the good news is that it is almost certainly going to come Down Under.

Launched in Europe in late 2008 and on sale in the USA this month, the GLK is already a hit in the northern hemisphere. Some might put that success down to the softroader's cameo role in last year's Sex and the City movie. More likely it's a measure of the pent up demand for a compact SUV with the three-pointed star on the front of it.

Available in a range of four and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, the five-seater, two-row, unitary (no separate chassis) wagon is built on the same platform as the 4MATIC (all-wheel drive) version of the W204 C-Class. This is good in one way, but for right-hand drive markets, bad in another...

Seen any all-wheel drive C-Class wagons driving around Oz? No... There's a reason for that... Simply, the all-wheel drive hardware that connects the drive to the front diff in the left-hand drive version is right where the steering column and pinion would be in a right-hand drive car. Oops...

Benz insiders say the platform will need to be redesigned before all-wheel drive GLKs and C-Class can be built in right-hand drive, but, the company is close to a decision to push ahead with a rear-wheel drive 'right hooker' of the current car for the Japanese and United Kingdom markets. That decision opens the way for the vehicle to come Down Under ((more here).

At this stage, you can expect an 18-24 month wait before the car arrives -- confirmation that it's coming, however, should be received before the end of 2009. The arrival of the car will correspond with its mid-series facelift.

Though sold in four and six-cylinder versions in the northern hemisphere, the GLK will almost certainly be a four-cylinder-only offering Down Under. A new generation of direct-injected turbo petrol and diesel engines should mean there's a powerplant to suit all when the GLK arrives.

Expect the GLK to pack Benz's latest 250 CGI direct-injected turbocharged petrol four, and the 500Nm twin-turbo 250 CDI diesel. Both engines will appear Down Under coupled to Benz's excellent seven-speed auto in the new W212 E-Class later this year. The turbodiesel/seven-speed in particular seems well suited to the GLK application.

We sampled a high-spec all-wheel drive 3.5-litre V6 model in the hills and canyons north of Malibu in California last week in a 'sneak peek' drive of the GLK. Riding on big alloys and low profile rubber the car was very much an urbanite, so it's partly representative of the GLK's we'll get Down Under.

With 200kW/350Nm the V6 GLK was spritely and in terms of refinement and onroad manners true to its C-Class roots. With the high, wide and handsome body, there's a bit more body roll in the corners, but lovers of SUVs will enjoy the elevated driving position and good sight lines all round.

Inside there's a clever blend of the utilitarian dash of the original G-wagen and the style of modern sedans. There are plenty of C-Class cues -- Benz regulars will recognize much of the centre stack and instrument panel.

In terms of curb-appeal the 'Edition 1' launch model we drove was impressive. Offered in Europe and the US to mark the introduction of the GLK, the variant packs an exterior sports package, 20-inch wheels, the electrically operated EASY-PACK tailgate and rear tinted privacy glass. Other inclusions were nappa leather seats from the Designo range, an AMG multifunction leather steering wheel, a black roof lining, aluminium trim elements and the COMAND APS nav-audio system.

There's no word on the level of equipment Aussie GLKs will get. Benz Australia officials say the "sweet spot" of the car is in the $60-80K range. We expect the base car to be priced just above the equivalent engined C-Class estate and mirror the equipment offering.

Unlike the sedans with their Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde trim levels the GLK adds 'packs'. Expect there to be plenty of boxes to tick if you have the money to spend.

The GLK rides on essentially the same wheelbase (5mm shorter) as the C-Class and is marginally shorter overall -- though it's wider and boasts up to a 40mm increase in track. As you'd expect, interior space is commensurate with the C-Class wagon, though headroom is enhanced and there's the impression of more luggage area (in fact, official capacity with the second row in place is quoted at 450 litres, 35 litres less than the C Estate!). The GLK is currently offered as a two-row five seater only.

In terms of a dimensional comparison with others in the class, the GLK is around 40mm shorter than the current X3, marginally narrower (13mm) and 15mm taller. The X3's wheelbase is 40mm longer. Audi's soon to be released Q5 is by comparison over 100mm longer than the GLK, rolls on a 55mm longer wheelbase and is 40mm wider and lower.

Of course, both BMW and Audi offer all-wheel drive! No doubt they'll make hay with this fact when the sun doesn't shine... Benz will likely throw up the questions of the dat-to-day efficiency of the rear-only drive system and the fact only a handful of premium softroaders ever venture off the beaten track.

Indeed, Benz's Australian connections don't believe rear-wheel drive only will handicap the GLK. They'll push the road manners of the softroader. Certainly, over assisted US-spec steering aside, in the tight, twisty and at times bumpy roads of our impromptu test route, the rear-drive's GLK's manners were impeccable. Add in a couple of inches of snow or some ball bearing gravel and perhaps we'd be commenting differently.

It's telling too that Mercedes-Benz won't drop the C-Class Estate when the GLK arrives.

"We obviously love to be able to offer both [all-wheel drive and two-wheel drive GLK] variants, but if people really need all-wheel drive then we will continue to offer the ML," Mercedes-Benz Australia PR boss, David McCarthy told the Carsales Network during last week's drive.

"We see estate buyers as another customer group. Obviously there could be some substitution but we're confident the GLK represents a real incremental growth opportunity for us," McCarthy opined.

This far out from the local launch of a car it's hard to offer concrete opinion. We haven't driven the GLK with the engines we're likely to get (indeed, Benz is yet to even build 250 CGI and CDI GLKs) and local price, equipment level, on-road performance (the GLK is almost 300kg heavier than the C-Class estate) and a whole host of questions are hanging.

What we can say is that as tested, the GLK 350 is an impressively refined and capable onroad wagon. If Benz can retain the same level refinement and performance in the high-tech four-cylinder models that are likely to come Down Under, it should prove a successful addition to the range.