SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, Mercedes-Benz hopes to cash in on the anticipated growing market for sport-utility/crossover vehicles with its GLK-Class model -- a new entry in what it calls its "SUV family."
The roomy, nicely sized GLK goes on sale next month as a very early 2010 model. It was recently unveiled here at a media preview, where it proved to be fast, with steering, handling and braking that let it tackle twisty mountain roads more suited to long-slung sports cars than crossovers or SUVs.
The test drive proved you can have fun with the athletic GLK without sacrificing utility and more than a touch of class.
"The GLK is the right size for today's family, whether it's parking in town while running errands or making a cross-country trip," David Larsen, Mercedes-Benz USA product manager for the GLK, said here at the preview.
Rivals include the Japanese Acura RDX, Infiniti EX, Lexus RX and European BMW X3 and Land Rover LR2.
Mercedes found at GLK consumer test clinics that most considered it more of an SUV than one of the growing number of car-based utilitarian crossovers because it has the rather boxy shape associated with SUVs. Most consumers associate crossovers with jelly bean shapes, Larsen said.
Although rather boxy to provide the greatest interior space, the GLK is handsome, with such features as an aggressive-look grille, steeply raked windshield, fender flares and an integrated rear spoiler on its tightly styled roof section. It looks every inch a Mercedes, although the standard roof rails seem as if they should be optional.
The 178-inch-long, four-door GLK can seat five tall adults, although the center of the rear seat is too stiff to make the interior comfortable for more than four occupants. A large rear hatch has a chrome load sill that prevents luggage scuffing and allows easy cargo loading. Nice touch. Rear seatbacks flip forward to significantly enlarge the cargo area.
The GLK resembles larger Mercedes SUVs and slides into a market that Mercedes projects will grow by a whopping 72 percent between 2007 and 2009.
Mercedes spokespersons here said that, with the country's economic uncertainty, nobody "can fully expect what's coming next," but added that "the compact, fuel-efficient GLK seems right for the times."
The well-equipped GLK isn't offered with a bunch of different engines and transmissions, which would confuse some potential buyers. Rather, it arrives in showrooms next month as the $35,900 GLK350 with Mercedes' sophisticated 4MATIC all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. A rear-wheel-drive model debuts in April for $33,900.
Mercedes expects that 70 percent of GLK buyers will want the AWD model, with most rear-drive versions bought in Southern states with their friendlier winter roads. There's decent ground clearance for at least mild off-road driving with AWD.
And there's little difference in estimated fuel economy between the AWD and rear-drive versions of this approximately 4,000-pound vehicle. The GLK with AWD provides 16 mpg in the city and 21 on the highway, while the rear-drive version provides 16 and 22.
The engine is a dual-overhead-camshaft 3.5-liter V-6 with 268 horsepower, which has four valves per cylinder and variable valve timing for good responsiveness. The engine develops 87 percent of its maximum torque at just 1,500 rpm for quick starts and whisks the GLK to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. This is an easy 80 mph cruiser, with a top speed of 143 mph.
Mercedes said no plans exist to offer an ultra-high-performance version of the GLK from its hot rod AMG unit, but it hinted that a diesel engine might be in the vehicle's future.
The sophisticated four-wheel independent suspension and large 19-inch (20-inchers are optional) wheels easily soak up road imperfections and provide adroit handling in the mountains and on freeways and city streets. Helping keep the GLK on the road during trying conditions are electronic stability and anti-slip systems. Strong anti-lock brakes with a brake-assist feature are controlled by a pedal with a linear action.
The GLK has dual chrome exhaust tips that work with a true dual exhaust system. Most vehicles have a single exhaust system with phony dual outlets to simulate a genuine dual-exhaust system.
The engine shoots power through a seven-speed automatic transmission, which has more than the usual number of speeds for better acceleration and fuel economy. Unlike most transmissions, it skips up to three gear ratios if necessary when it downshifts -- shifting directly from seventh to fifth, for instance, or even from sixth to second. That helps the smooth transmission choose the right gear ratio for quick acceleration.
A Touch Shift feature lets a driver manually select forward speeds by pushing the gear lever slightly left or right to downshift or upshift while in the "drive" position. (That worked OK, but it's more natural to upshift or downshift an automatic with a manual mode by pushing the lever forward to upshift and moving it back to downshift.) When not shifting manually, the GLK transmission adapts to changes in road grade and to an individual's driving style.
Safety items include front-side, window and knee air bags.
Leather upholstery is optional, but the standard GLK interior is upscale, with such items as burl walnut trim, dual-zone automatic climate control, power front seats, tilt/telescoping steering column, cruise control and a CD/MP3/AM/FM eight-speaker sound system with auxiliary input.
Other options include a premium package containing a panorama sunroof and power liftgate and a multimedia package with a navigation system and rearview camera, along with an upgraded sound system.
Glitches include rather flimsy-feeling plastic rear cupholders and power window controls that are set too far forward on the driver's door; they make it easy to accidentally open, say, the left rear window instead of the left front one.
The Mercedes SUV family began in 1997 with the arrival of its M-Class, which is still with us. The GLK is a worthy addition.
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