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Home | Auto Shows | New York Auto Show | 2012 New York Auto Show | 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Debut

2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Debut

Refreshed and refined with a powerful new diesel option joining the mix in 2013.

Mercedes-Benz Research Click to hide
By Joel Arellano  | 

What's New

Why mess with perfection? That's probably what the Mercedes designers were thinking when they were tasked to refresh the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class crossover SUV for model year 2013. The GLK-Class, which is the entry vehicle to the Mercedes-Benz brand's crossover SUV fleet just like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is to Mercedes' car lineup, was already a capable crossover, competing against German rivals Audi Q5 and BMW X3 as well as the Acura RDX, Infiniti EX, and the all-new Land Rover Evoque. Most of Mercedes-Benz's changes in the GLK-Class involve aligning its exterior and interior designs to the rest of the Mercedes lineup as well as the addition of a new transmission and engine option.

Who It's For

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class satisfies several needs for the Mercedes buyer. As the entry level crossover SUV, the Mercedes GLK-Class is compact enough for owners transitioning from cars who don't want the driving and parking hassles of the larger crossovers and SUVs, but the GLK-Class still offers the visibility and roominess found on such vehicles. Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class competitors offering similar advantages include the Audi Q5 and Infiniti EX. The BMW X3 is also considered a competitor, though it has grown in size in its latest incarnation. Same with the all-new Acura RDX, which goes on sale later this year.

Key Features

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class most outstanding feature is that it rides like a (tall) car on the streets and highways that dominate urban and suburban life. Yet with the available 4MATIC all-wheel drive powertrain, the Mercedes GLK-Class is a capable off-road vehicle.

Other features found on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class include:

  • A diesel version, the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class BlueTEC, will go on sale sometime in early 2013. The compact crossover will come equipped with a 2.1-liter four-cylinder diesel engine with an output of 190 horsepower but low end power, or torque, of nearly 370 pound-feet.
  • Mercedes relocated the 2013 GLK-Class seven-speed automatic transmission shifter from below the center stack to the steering column, creating additional storage space in the crossover.
  • The 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class has an almost dizzying array of optional packaging, including Premium 1, which includes driver memory seats and panoramic sunroof; Appearance package, which includes 20-inch wheels; and Multimedia, which includes rearview camera.
  • Three new exterior colors -- Diamond Silver, Pebble Grey, and Polar White -- are available on the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class for model year 2013.

What We Think

We've heard nothing but good things about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class and would normally say the crossover should do fine in this increasingly growing and crowded market. But Land Rover has launched its stunning Evoque into the mix, and the all-new Acura RDX is a step up from its predecessors. Thus we're taking a wait and see attitude with the Mercedes GLK-Class as consumer become aware of their new choices.

Back to Auto Show Coverage: New York 2012