2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK Review – Walkaround and Interior Features
The Mercedes-Benz GLK uses a five-door layout with a whole lot of GL
spirit in its exterior design. Initially, the U.S. will get the GLK as
a five-seater: two in front, three in rear.
The GLK has the sports car grille with the central star, a set of three
flowing lines from front to rear on the body, and a design in a
thoroughly modern idiom. In the wind tunnel, it’s slick enough to
generate a 0.35 coefficient of drag, better than many lower-riding,
rounded-off passenger cars and better by far than most of the SUVs
against which it will compete. In many markets, things like PreSafe,
adaptive headlamps, and the new intelligent lighting system (ILS), all
class exclusives for the GLK, will be standard equipment.
The 4000-pound Mercedes GLK uses welded steel unibody construction with
front and rear subframes to mount the steering and suspension systems,
with almost half the body weight in high-strength low-alloy steel.
Interior Features
Inside, the GLK is a Mercedes-Benz through and through, but with
some new features added, like the central controller on the console for
combined control of the sound system, navigation system, and telephone,
and a much more angular, purposeful instrument panel and dashboard
layout. All of the dashtop panels in the GLK will be anti-glare black,
regardless of the interior color scheme (black, tan or gray).
If there’s a negative in daily use duties, it’s the interior space, or
lack thereof. Mercedes-Benz told us that the total interior space
inside the GLK is less than that of the C-Class wagon (not sold in the
U.S.)
When loaded up to the top edge of the rear seat backrests, the load
compartment of the GLK has a capacity of 23.3 cubic feet. The rear-seat
backrests fold down in a 33/67 split or folded down completely to
produce a flat load floor. Folding the second seat flat produces 54.7
cubic feet of load capacity, with a load compartment measuring 66
inches long.
The load compartment can be hidden from sight thanks to the load
compartment cover, while standard-fit load-securing rings make it
easier to fasten down cargo. There are bag hooks, coat hooks in the
tailgate trim, a 12-volt power outlet and a lamp at the side of the
load compartment.
An additional 86-liter stowage compartment is hidden under the fold-up
load floor. This compartment is split into smaller partitions by a
removable stowage tub. A safety partition net is available.
A power tailgate is available that can be opened and closed at the push
of a button, either from the driver’s seat or by remote control.
By Jim McCraw [NewCarTestDrive]