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2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class

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Overview

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2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 6.8

The 2013 GLK-Class is the junior member of the Mercedes-Benz SUV family. Like its larger siblings - the Mercedes M-Class and GL-Class - the compact GLK offers modern styling, upscale amenities and advanced safety features, just as one would expect from a luxury-branded vehicle. A development of the same platform as used on the best-selling Mercedes-Benz C-Class automobiles, the 2013 GLK combines the comfortable ride quality and enticing technology of the C with the versatility of a small SUV. Its total passenger and cargo space is tight compared to an Audi Q5 or BMW X3, and its price tag is a bit higher. A substantial freshening for 2013 includes the addition of the GLK250 model with a 2.1-liter BlueTEC turbodiesel engine, unique in the compact class.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you desire traditional SUV features, such as a flexible cargo area and an elevated seating position, but you want it in a smaller, more practical package, the 2013 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

6.8
Driving Dynamics

6.7
Comfort & Convenience

7.3
Design: Interior & Exterior

6.9
Value

6.5
Safety

N/A

How It Ranks

#12

out of 30

MPG

#7

out of 30

Horsepower

View all rankings

Consumer Rating

8.9 out of 10

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consumer ratings

2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Low/wide front photo

What's New for 2013

For 2013, the Mercedes-Benz GLK line expands to include a new BlueTEC diesel-powered GLK250 (arriving mid-2013). The GLK350 gets a new 3.5-liter V6 with better power, response and efficiency. There's new front- and rear-end styling, a redesigned interior, improvements to the power steering and some new equipment offerings.

Driving the GLK-Class

2013 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, the ride quality is firmer than some people may expect, but the GLK's...

well-insulated cabin blocks out the majority of road noise, even when equipped with the panoramic sunroof. The new 3.5-liter V6 delivers good power for typical daily driving and answers concerns we had last year about throttle response and fuel efficiency. The 2.1-liter 4-cylinder BlueTEC turbodiesel in the GLK250 offers up 369 lb-ft of torque, which translates to very strong low-speed pulling power. 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 has been reprogrammed this year, and weight and feel are both much improved.

Favorite Features

HARMAN/KARDON LOGIC7 AUDIO SYSTEM
This impressive audio system features impeccable sound quality with 510 watts, 11 speakers including a subwoofer, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and up to 10GB of storage for your music.

COMAND MULTIMEDIA CONTROLLER
The 2013 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.

2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Details

2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

Despite its entry-level price point (for the brand), the GLK's superb interior fit and finish and high-quality soft-touch materials uphold Mercedes-Benz's reputation for fine craftsmanship. And this year the cabin feels even richer with its cleaner instrument panel and full-width wood trim. The 5-passenger GLK features a 60/40-split rear seat and a useful 54.7 cubic feet of cargo space. While the front seats are not quite as comfortable as those in a Lexus RX or Audi Q5, they do feature 8-way adjustability and ample bolstering. 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, for 2013, new grille, fascia, headlamp and tail lamp treatments. 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 2013 GLK is as easy to step in and out of as a traditional sedan.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

Standard equipment on either 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK 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 damp conditions.

Optional Equipment

The 2013 GLK offers Mercedes-Benz's 4Matic all-wheel-drive (AWD) system as a $2,000 option. Several premium packages and stand-alone options include leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, power liftgate, Active Parking Assist, blind-spot and lane-keeping assist, xenon headlights, heated front seats, an 11-speaker harman/kardon sound system, voice-recognition capability, rear-seat entertainment system and an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot. A wide range of accessories includes aerodynamic roof containers with their own fitted luggage.

Under the Hood

2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Engine photo

There's plenty of news here for 2013. The GLK350 gets an all-new and all-better engine. Still a 3.5-liter V6, the new engine is much more modern, using direct fuel injection and other advances to boost output to 302 horsepower and EPA city/highway fuel economy to 19/25 mpg. The only transmission is a 7-speed automatic, though it can drive either the rear wheels only or, with M-B's optional 4Matic system, all four wheels. The new-for-2013 BlueTEC turbodiesel in the GLK250 (arriving in mid-2013) is a 2.1-liter four and, as the only diesel currently in the compact-luxury SUV class, it should automatically become the fuel-efficiency leader.

GLK350
3.5-liter V6
302 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
273 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500-5,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/25 mpg (RWD), 19/24 mpg (AWD)

GLK250
2.1-liter turbocharged diesel inline-4
190 horsepower @ 4,200 rpm
369 lb-ft @ 1,600-1,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

Pricing Notes

The 2013 GLK350 SUV has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting just under $38,000 for the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) model. It can top out at a whopping $60,000 for a fully-loaded 4Matic GLK350. We expect our Fair Purchase Price will reflect real-world transaction prices within a few hundred dollars of sticker price. As for resale, we project that the 2013 GLK350 will hold strong 5-year residual values, better than the Land Rover Evoque, nearly equal to the BMW X3 and just slightly below the Infiniti EX35 and Audi Q5.

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2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.9

Out of 10

Based on 73 Ratings for the 2010 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

8.9/10

Quality

9.2/10
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

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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

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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..."

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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

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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 5 found this review helpful

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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

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