Has anyone made this change and if so, may I please hear your experience?

I made this very same switch on my wife's GLK from ML. I like the tighter feeling of the GLK, and the things like the panoramic roof. The ML was better optioned, but that's something that just was the features that each car had. The GLK also feels to have better power delivery, and I really like the increase in gas mileage. We got 18-19 on the ML and it's more like 23-24 in the GLK. They are definitely different, as the GLK is more like a beefed up C Class, but I prefer the result. Rear leg room is only slightly less, and I don't notice a difference in cargo space.

The windshields are much, much cheaper in the GLK too, as the rain sensors is not embedded on the GLK like it is on the ML. We're talking a difference of $2-300 for the G and $7-800 for the M.

Cons to the GLK: I wouldn't tow anything of decent size with the GLK as the wheelbase and chassis aren't really for towing.
Ground clearance is not as good, but not a big deal as our cars are pavement queens.
Tire in the 19" size seem harder to find for the GLK too.

That's all I have.

The ML felt more spacious but more ponderous too. It felt like a minivan-SUV if that makes sense ('06 ML350) The GLK feels lighter on it's feet and a lot more fun to drive.
I wish it could tow more like 5000 lbs though but as hondafan says, it's doesn't have the chassis for it.

I didn't go from ML to GLK, but I did look at a used ML350 before buying the GLK250.

Our main beef about the GLK, is that it is small. We often have two men in front because of the legroom and two ladies in back. They feel cramped. Partly, but not only because the seats are pushed back. Access to back seats is also tight. Check the width of the rear doors vs any other similar sized suv.

We are golfers. In most smaller suvs, there is room in cargo space to stow 3 or 4 sets of clubs across the back. The GLK is too narrow for even one men's set. Long clubs have to be removed to fit them in.

We have bought a roof rack and Thule box just to carry the stuff we take south as snowbirds. With our E320 sedan, we didn't need to do that.

Fuel consumptin is not as good as advertised. But at 7.7l/100 km mixed use at last check, it is not bad. Certaily better than larger gas powered gas guzzlers.

The GLK250 feels quite sporty. Not truck like. It is fun to drive, probably because it is quite small.

Minor problems we have had in 3500km: Passenger side mirror no longer folds. Parking brake warning keeps coming on. Otherwise good.

I had that issue with the parking brake light and the dealership quickly changed out the pedal itself. Weird thing about this E-brake, though: it doesn't seem to actually do anything. The car still moved with it engaged (a warning comes on, but still) and when parking on an incline with the brake engaged, the car still rolls back or forward a few inches and comes to a stop. I have never experienced either of these issues in any other car.

From your responses I was able to verify my suspicions and decided I would be best served by buying a new 2014 ML350.


I am very happy so far.

That's really good to hear. The ML was a great car, but for what we needed, the GLK was a better fit. As the family grows or we have the need to tow anything, we'll likely step into another ML or even GL.

Enjoy the ML, we just got rid of ours and kept the GlK. We use the increased MPG more than the extra space.