why ads?

Popular at KBB.com

The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class

Please enter a valid mileage

View all 54 photos

Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class

Overview

Get Your Fair Purchase Price See actual transaction prices, explore total cost to own, projected resale value and more. See what you should pay

Buy used | Trade-in/Sell

2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Review

By Zach Vlasuk

KBB Expert Rating: 6.9

The 2012 GLK350 has some big shoes to fill as the junior member of the Mercedes-Benz SUV family. To the delight of its larger siblings – the Mercedes M-Class and GL-Class – the compact GLK offers the modern styling, upscale amenities and advanced safety features one should expect from a luxury vehicle. Developed on Mercedes-Benz's best-selling C-Class platform, the 2012 GLK combines the comfortable ride quality and enticing technology of the C with the versatility of a small SUV.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you desire traditional SUV features, such as a spacious cargo area and an elevated seating position, but you want it in a smaller, more practical package, the 2012 Mercedes GLK is a good choice.

You May Not Like This Car If...

Those looking for a luxury SUV with sedan-like mpg might find the superior fuel economy of the Audi Q5 and Land Rover Evoque more appealing.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

6.9
Driving Dynamics

6.8
Comfort & Convenience

7.4
Design: Interior & Exterior

7.0
Value

6.6
Safety

N/A

How It Ranks

#42

out of 49

MPG

#30

out of 49

Horsepower

View all rankings

Consumer Rating

8.9 out of 10

View all
consumer ratings

2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Low/wide front photo

What's New for 2012

There are no significant changes slated for the 2012 GLK350 versus the 2011 model.

Driving the GLK-Class

2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions The GLK's well-balanced chassis and sharp suspension tuning provide enjoyable driving on curvy roads. On the highway, we found the GLK's well insulated cabin dissipates the majority of road noise,...

even when equipped with the panoramic sunroof. The only engine choice is a 3.5-liter V6 that delivers ample power for typical daily driving, but lacks the crisp throttle response and fuel efficiency found in most modern V6 engines. The 7-speed automatic transmission provides silky smooth gear changes along with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for manual-style shifting. The electric power-steering system, however, offers an inordinately sensitive feel that requires constant supervision on the highway.

Favorite Features

harman/kardon LOGIC7 audio system
This impressive audio system features impeccable sound quality with 11 speakers, including a subwoofer, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and 6GB of storage for your music.

COMAND multimedia controller
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK's COMAND multimedia controller is conveniently located for simple operation of the audio, navigation and communication functions. Combined with the dash-mounted LCD screen, the COMAND interface allows for streamlined information retrieval to help keep your eyes off the LCD and on the road where they belong.

2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Details

2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

The GLK's interior architecture features a simplistic, yet elegant design with sharp lines and attentive ergonomics. Despite its entry-level price point (for the brand), the GLK's superb fit and finish and high-quality soft-touch materials uphold Mercedes-Benz's reputation for fine craftsmanship. The 5-passenger GLK350 features a 60/40 split rear seat and a generous, for its size, 54.7 cubic feet of cargo space. While the front seats are not as comfortable as its Lexus RX and Audi Q5 challengers, they do feature 8-way adjustability and ample bolstering for spirited driving. Controlling the GLK's abundance of high-tech features is Mercedes-Benz's intuitive COMAND multimedia interface.

Exterior

Complementing its stout, aggressive stance, the Mercedes-Benz GLK features strong character lines, angled wheel arches and a 2-bar chrome grille. Large windows combined with slender structural pillars provide exceptional outward visibility. The available AMG Styling Package adds aluminum roof rails and LED daytime running lights, and replaces the standard 19-inch wheels with massive 20-inch twin 5-spoke wheels. Despite its tall appearance, the 2012 GLK is as easy to step in and out of as a traditional sedan.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The GLK350 is the only 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK version offered. Standard equipment includes roof rails, 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, Burl Walnut interior trim, MP3/WMA interface, 8-way power-adjustable front seats, and Bluetooth hands-free phone capability. Significant safety features include nine airbags, Neck Pro front headrests to help reduce the severity of whiplash injuries, hill-start assist to prevent unintended rollback on steep inclines, and an Automatic Brake Drying system for improved braking in moist conditions.

Optional Equipment

The 2012 GLK350 offers Mercedes-Benz's 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD) system, aluminum interior trim, a panoramic roof, sonar proximity warning system for those difficult parking situations, Xenon headlights (up to three times brighter than conventional halogen headlights), an 11-speaker harman/kardon sound system, and conversational voice recognition software to wrangle multimedia commands.

Under the Hood

2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Engine photo

Ten years ago, a 3.5-liter V6 pumping out 268 horsepower would have impressed most prospective buyers. However, with today's modern V6 power plants, 300-plus horsepower engines with admirable fuel economy are the norm. While the GLK's outdated V6 returns meager fuel economy, it does provide smooth power delivery and a quiet operation. Matched to the GLK350's lone engine choice is a 7-speed automatic transmission with Adaptive Logic technology that monitors your driving style and alters shift points accordingly.

3.5-liter V6
268 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/22 mpg (RWD), 16/21 mpg (AWD)

Pricing Notes

The 2012 GLK350 SUV has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting just over $36,000 for the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) model, and tops out near a whopping $60,000 for a fully loaded 4Matic GLK 350. We expect our Fair Purchase Price values to reflect real-world transaction prices within a few hundred dollars of sticker price. As for resale, we project that the 2012 GLK350 will hold strong 5-year residual values, better than the Land Rover Evoque, nearly equal to the BMW X3, and just below the Infiniti EX35 and Audi Q5.

To find out what consumers are really paying for this vehicle, first select a style to see the Fair Purchase Price| Calculate payments for this vehicle

To compare current market prices, check out KBB.com's car classifieds to view the new and used Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class vehicles for sale near you.

Get Your Fair Purchase Price See actual transaction prices, explore total cost to own, projected resale value and more.

See what you should pay

Buy used | Trade-in/Sell

2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.9

Out of 10

Based on 72 Ratings for the 2010 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

8.9/10

Quality

9.1/10
Reliability

9.2/10

Performance

9.0/10
Comfort

8.9/10

Styling

9.2/10

Love the car with one major exception - ECO

By Skyking (AZ) on Saturday, March 23, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 3,500

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Fun to Drive perfect size for me."

Cons: "ECO Stop/Start Awful"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"Had a 10 and traded it for an ML350, the interior was very lacking but the 13 interior is much improved. It is a perfect size for me and a pleasure to drive would rate it highly except for ECO Stop/Start system. I drive Company Hybrids that do this all the time and it is truly not noticeable however the GLK is. It can be switched off but ECO defaults on every time you start the car and this setting can't be changed. Unless this default is changed I would not recommend the GLK."

12 people out of 12 found this review helpful

Was this review helpful to you? yes | no | report abuse

Great overall package

By ahr1123 (IA) on Monday, January 21, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 5,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "handling, interior, bluetooth features, ride, eco"

Cons: "can be a bit pricey, needs more cargo space"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"The combination of quality, luxury and comfort makes for a great overall package. It drives like a car but provides more space and versatility. It wont blow you away with its mileage but what it gets is respectable for the 300+ hp it gives you. It is an incredibly smooth driving machine. The eco stop start feature has far exceeded my expectations. I thought I would be able to notice it every time the motor shuts off but if the radio is playing and you go straight from brake to throttle it takes off without a hitch. However in stop and go traffic it is noticeable. However, with the touch of one button you can shut it off. It handles beautifully in poor weather. The blue tooth connectivity works flawlessly likewise with the audio streaming. Great features! Much better interface than my Chevrolets. If you forgo on many of the "extra" options and just get what you want, it can prove to be a very good value for the combination of quality and luxury that it provides. Overall a great buying decision I feel. Very close to purchasing an Infiniti but I am very happy with the decision I made."

9 people out of 10 found this review helpful

Was this review helpful to you? yes | no | report abuse

GLK 350 4 Matic is a super car

By arun (CA) on Friday, December 28, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 26,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Cons: "Back seat leg room little congested..."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I love my GLK 350 very good at snow, rain & mountains...I stunned while I am driving in the snow very stubborn, good power n smooth driving..."

Was this review helpful to you? yes | no | report abuse

Love my 2nd GLK

By Alex (FL) on Tuesday, November 13, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 2,500

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Fun to drive. Excellent visibility"

Cons: "Back seat slightly tight"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Had the 2011 and was looking to possibly switch to Audi Q5 or a BMW x3 , after test driving both alternative vehicles , I received a call from my dealer that the new vehicles were in and ready for test drives. I checked out the Glk350, BLK/BLK Lighting Package / AMG Styling and 20" Rims and freaking fell in the love with the car all over again. Absolutely, love the fact I stayed with Mercedes , the new improvements are well done and noticed. Highly recommend this car, if you don't have kids, my 80lbs dog fits in the back just fine so we're cool :)"

9 people out of 9 found this review helpful

Was this review helpful to you? yes | no | report abuse

Best small luxury SUV

By working mom (CA) on Saturday, November 03, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 65

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "excellent apprarance, and interior, smooth ride"

Cons: "smaller back seat space compare to ML350"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I was debating of getting the Mecedes ML350 or Lexus Rx350 or this Mercedes GL350. After driving Mercedes vs Lexus, I fall in love with Mercedes GL350. It rides so smoothly and the interior is such a beauty that the other 2 cars can't compare. I own a Toyota previously and now I think I am go gears German car. The material is more solid, heavy but rides nice and smoothly. Yes, the back seat is smaller than ML350 but same as Lexus rx350. Overall I love this car."

3 people out of 4 found this review helpful

Was this review helpful to you? yes | no | report abuse

MERCEDES BENZ GLK 350 MATIC

By Dave (MA) on Thursday, October 18, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 49,300

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"THIS MERCEDES SUV IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION! LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE IT IS BRAND NEW! BECAUSE IT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION THIS SUV COMES WITH AN EXTRA CPO 50,000 MILE WARRENTY WHICH IS TRANSFERABLE. HOW GOOD DOES IT GET."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

Was this review helpful to you? yes | no | report abuse