2010-2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Course | Employed Auto Spotlight

Right before Mercedes-Benz reconfigured its SUV lineup with naming conventions subsequent the very same sample as its vehicles — prior to the GLA, GLC, GLE and GLS — there was a humble compact crossover referred to as the GLK. Trendy and boxy, the GLK-Class provided an cost-effective entry into the Mercedes ute lineup. The GLK 350 was made available with a V6 and both two- or all-wheel-push layouts, while the 250 BlueTEC supplied a torquey diesel turbo-four.

The GLK was somewhat quick-lived, promoting for just 6 design decades in the U.S. It was adopted by the a little bit more substantial GLC-Class, which gave up the squared-off styling for a sleeker, a lot more rounded glance. The GLK’s styling designed a return of kinds with the Mercedes-Benz GLB class.

Why the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Course?

We owned a GLK 250 BlueTEC for about 8 several years, and last but not least replaced it with a much larger SUV as our spouse and children grew. We beloved it for a selection of explanations. First and foremost, it was a pleasure to travel. Its compact footprint built it maneuverable, and we appreciated its automobile-like managing.

We also beloved the gas overall economy. Whilst the fuel-driven GLK 350 with its 3.5-liter V6 returned 19 miles per gallon town (or 18 with all-wheel drive) and 25 highway, our minimal AWD turbodiesel was rated at 24 mpg city and 33 highway, but it wasn’t strange for us to average 38 mpg on prolonged freeway trips. That manufactured for fantastic array, and we could make the 500-mile round trip to our cottage and back — additionally some driving in involving — with no owning to cease for gasoline.

It was also remarkably area economical. I after employed a GLK to move offices at a prior publication. I was stunned by the sum of boxes I could in good shape in it with the rear seats folded. It labored perfectly adequate for our relatives with two canine and one youngster, but sitting down in front of a rear-facing kid seat was a minimal cramped. We only moved up in size after owning our 2nd kid.

We also loved the all-wheel-generate ability of the GLK. It wasn’t super sturdy, and I did control to get it stuck in the snow once on an outdated logging path (that one’s on me), but it provided a large amount of self esteem on unfastened, soaked or snowy roadways.

Which GLK to select?

Get the diesel. The 250 BlueTEC served my loved ones perfectly. It was swift plenty of to blend it up in highway website traffic. The 369 pound-toes of torque was fantastic around city or when towing a pair of jet skis (like the gasoline-run GLK 350, it can tow up to 3,500 kilos). Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel-push program arrived conventional on the BlueTEC, as well.

Browsing our listings, the reduced-mileage types of both equally the 250 and 350 are in the substantial teenagers to small $20k assortment. Slim the offerings down by a radius close to your ZIP code, and fork out awareness to the offer score on just about every listing to see how a auto compares with other people in a identical spot.

What else to look at?

Or you could go with the apparent rival, the second-era BMW X3. The styling is a lot distinctive, and the X3 supplied better tech and what was arguably a nicer cabin.

Another deserving contender would be the Acura RDX, with sporty handling and fantastic reliability, but it was also lower on tech, and could only tow 1,500 kilos.

You could go with the GLK’s instant successor, the GLC, if you want a used car that is just a bit newer (and even larger), with a improved inside — but also extra high-priced. 

Of system, employed car rates are type of mad right now. As such, it may well not be wholly out of the problem to use the money you’d invest on a employed GLK for a down payment on a new Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class. It is a bit of a extend, but you’d get a warranty and thoroughly up-to-date infotainment and basic safety options.

But, seriously, if you’re thinking about the GLK, it’s in all probability the GLK you want, and not one particular of the competitors. There is actually almost nothing else like it … Besides maybe that new GLB.

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