It’s compact, practical and peppy, but the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 might not carry quite the cargo space or the rear-seat room that many families want. That said, however, this 5-door, 5-passenger SUV offers traditional German engineered performance and ride comfort in a compact frame and for a pretty conservative price. Just be aware that this little ute packs only 54.7 cubic feet of cargo area, and those rear seats are comfortable only for 3 small children.
In any case, this luxuriously appointed sport ute boasts standard 19-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, a roof rack and heated power-adjustable mirrors outside, with premium leatherette upholstery, wood and alloy cabin trim, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and power-adjustable front seats inside. Then there are such top-shelf touches as full power accessories, cruise control, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, a cooled storage bin for beverages, dual-zone climate control with Sun Sensor auto-adjustment and floor mats front and rear.
Electronic goodies, meantime, include M-B’s touted COMMAND electronics interface, Bluetooth hands-free calling and a 100-watt audio system boasting a 6-CD changer, 6 speakers, an auxiliary MP3 input, a USB connection and steering-wheel-mounted controls.
Options, meanwhile, include such noteworthy standalone items as a power sunroof, satellite radio, a Class II trailer hitch and front under-seat storage bins.
Available Packages include the Premium 1 Package that adds a power liftgate, universal remote garage door opener, power-adjustable steering wheel, auto-dimming rear-view mirrors and rear parking sensors. The Multimedia Package, meanwhile, throws a navigation suite, DVD-capable touchscreen, 40GB of music storage, a rear-view camera and real-time traffic alerts into the mix. Finally, the available Full Leather Seating Package and the AMG Package again add leather upholstery, heated front seats and premium interior lighting, and 20-inch upgraded alloy wheels and an aluminum roof rack, respectively.
Standard power for Mercedes’ compact GLK350 remains a variable-valve-timed (VVT) 3.5-liter V6 that mates with the standard 7-speed shiftable automatic transmission for 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Look for 3,500 pounds of towing capacity from this little SUV with the optional trailer hitch, while the standard rear-wheel drivetrain (RWD) is good for 16 mpg city/22 highway.
Of course, noteworthy standard safety equipment aboard the 2012 GLK350 remains 4-wheel antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags, driver knee airbags, front-seat pelvic airbags, front and rear head airbags and front headrest whiplash protection. Further standard safety features include front fog/driving lights, daytime running lights, turn-signal-integrated mirrors and a remote antitheft alarm, with front and rear parking sensors (in the Premium 1 Package) and M-B’s touted mbrace safety alerts each optional.
14 GREAT DEALS
are available with average savings of $4,087 below market price
