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Road Test: 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic car review; Is Mercedes-Benz cheeky?
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It might seem a bit cheeky to ask almost $50,000 for a compact SUV, but that was the price tag on the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic we recently tested. Absurd? Should one really pay $45,685 for a small sport-utility vehicle when one can buy a well-equipped competitor for half that amount?
Indeed, exactly what does one get for dipping further into one’s bonus—or what’s left of it after taxes—that ones doesn’t get with a vehicle without an oversized three-pointed star gracing its grille?
Quite simply, a lot.
Barring discussion of relative chassis structure that would read with excitement of a party at an engineering fraternity house, we’ll note that the unit body chassis of the Mercedes-Benz GLK350 is comprised of 47 percent high-strength steel with reinforced body joints and varying steel thickness for example from 1.25 mm at the lower firewall to 0.80 mm higher up. And, says Mercedes, “The dash is supported by a straight square-profile aluminum section, which is bolted both A-pillars…”
OK, enough of the frat party.
Still, it’s worth pointing out that Mercedes tested the body (and the rest of the vehicle) “on location” from Canada to Thailand, exposing it to more different climates and conditions that drivers, other than those with that dreadful Canada-Thailand commute, are likely to experience.
The GLK350 4Matic’s suspension is fully independent and has what Mercedes calls Agility Control as standard equipment, which combines variable-rate damping with electric power steering. Not surprisingly, stability control and other features such as traction control and brake assist are standard as well.
As the model designation suggests, the 2010 GLK350 4Matic is powered by Mercedes’ ubiquitous 3.5-liter double overhead cam V-6 producing 268 horsepower and important for this type of vehicle, TK ft-lb of torque. Mercedes claims a 0-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 143 mph. We found the GLK350 4Matic to live up to its billing, quick and smooth, able to accelerate in acceleration lanes (that’s what they’re there for) and slip into holes in traffic.
That’s due in part to Mercedes’ smooth-shifting seven-speed automatic transmission with the right ratio for every driving condition (egad, sounds like a commercial), which also allows the boxy GLK to achieve an EPA-estimated 16 city / 21 highway mpg.
See more pictures and details in the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic Photo Gallery.
Boxy or not, the compact Mercedes has a drag coefficient of TK, impressive for any SUV. Mercedes attributes the GLK350 4Matic’s ability to leave the adjacent atmosphere relatively unmolested to among other things underbody panels that cover all the nubby parts.
Good aerodynamics generally results in low wind noise, something that impressed us about the GLK, though it was not immune to road noise coming up from the tires over coarser pavement.
Our test 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic carried a base price of $35,900 but was quickly bumped up to the $45,685 mentioned above by the $3,150 premium package and $3,350 multimedia package plus a couple of other items that would also be hard to give up, although we’re flabbergasted how an iPod/MP3 media interface and cable has a price tag of $300. What’s that, like an expensive hotel charging for WiFi service?
Still there’s a lot standard with the GLK350, including all the usual power stuff, plus Bluetooth, 8-way power adjustable front seats (both sides), and a 5-inch color display in the center stack.Mercedes claims the GLK350 4Matic is fully offroad-worthy. We weren’t able to test that function, nor even test it in particularly adverse weather. But on the road the GLK 4Matic is a landshark among other compact SUVs, not only faster but also a super handler. The GLK350 is not the winding road equal a Mercedes SLK sports car, of course, but it’s well short of the usual tippy feeling of an SUV.
So is it worth almost $50k? Certainly. Can one live without it? There are cheaper ways to get around town or even through the woods, and were we to go cost-no-object offroading in this vehicle class, we’d take a Land Rover LR3. But hey, it’s your checkbook, and if it’s you paying for our ride, it certainly would be worth it to us.
Illustrations: 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic. Photos courtesy Mercedes-Benz USA LLC.
| Engine | 3.5-liter 268-hp DOHC 24-v V-6 |
| Displacement, cc | 3498 |
| Compression | 10.7:1 |
| Horsepower, @ rpm | 268 @ 6000 |
| Torque, lb-ft @ rpm | 258 @ 2400 - 5000 |
| Max engine speed, rpm | 6000 |
| Fuel requirement | 91 octane |
Configuration | Front engine/AWD |
| Transmission | 7A |
| Suspension, front | MacPherson strut, 2-piece lower control arm |
| Suspension, rear | Multi-link |
| Wheels, type, front / rear | alloy, 19 x 7.5 / 19 x 7.5 |
| Tires, front / rear | 235/50R19 |
| Brakes, dia. in., f / r | 13.0 / 11.6 |
| Dimensions and capacities | |
| Length, in. | 178.3 |
| Width, in. | 79.4 |
| Height, in. | 66.9 |
| Wheelbase, in. | 108.5 |
| Curb weight, lbs. | 4,034 |
| Towing capacity, lbs. | 3,500 |
| Cargo cap, rear seat up/down, cu. ft. | 23.3 / 54.7 |
| Seating | 5 |
| Performance | |
| 0 - 60 mph, sec. | 6.5 |
| Top speed, mph | 143 (limited) |
| Fuel econ., EPA city / hwy, mpg | 16 / 21 |
| Base price | $35,900 |
| Dual-zone automatic climate control | std |
| Leather multifunction steering wheel w/ tilt/telescope | std |
| "MB-Tex" upholstery | std |
| AM/FM/CD/MP3/aux 8-speaker audio | std |
| 8-way power seats | std |
| Roof rails | std |
| Power windows w/ express up/down | std |
| Automatic headlamps | std |
| Trip computer | std |
| Front airbags; front & rear side-curtain airbags | std |
| Active front head restraints | std |
| Electronic stability w' trailer stability assist, roll-over sensor system | std |
| Traction cotrol, four-wheel | std |
| ABS, brake assist, adaptive braking w/ brake drying, hil | std |
| Adaptive braking w/ brake drying, hill start assist, pre-charging | std |
| "Smart key" proximity locking/starting | std |
| Iridium Silver paint | 720 |
| TeleAid | 650 |
| Heated front seats | 740 |
| Premium Package, incl. garage door opener, rear view mirror compass, autodimming inside/driver's side mirrors, memory for driver's seat, mirrors and steering column, rain sensor, SIRIUS satellite radio, power liftgate, panorama sunroof, 115v AC outlet | 3,150 |
| Multimedia Package, incl. rearview camera, telephone, radio, and navigation voice control, COMAND system with hard-drive navigation, harman/kardon LOGIC 7 surround sound system w/ Dolby digital 5.1, Gracenote media database, in-dash 6-disc DVD/CD changer, 7-inch color display, 6GB hard-drive w/ music register | 3,350 |
| iPod/MP3 media interface/cable | 300 |
| Destination | 875 |
| Total MSRP | $45,685 |
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Have a question about anything automotive? Ask Uncle Spinout at AskUncleSpinout [at] gmail.com
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