Test drive Mercedes Benz GLK class X204 since 2008 SUV

Cross-composter

We test the updated Mercedes-Benz GLK crossover.
The presentation of the updated Mercedes-Benz GLK crossover took place simultaneously with the G-Class restyled SUV. So the Mercedes people try to show that GLK is a worthy member of their off -road family, and not just another premium SUV. However, now in this statement there is a certain share of cunning, because during the renewal the crossover has become much closer to the asphalt.
At the time of his appearance in the market in 2009, GLK really claimed the title of the most off -road crossover among his premium counterparts. He had an almost 20-centimeter road clearance, a permanent all-wheel drive with the distribution of thrust in a proportion of 45:55 percent in favor of the rear axle, as well as an optional off-road bag with the protection of the bottom and a special algorithm for the control electronics. Now, the basic clearance has decreased by 20 millimeters to 177 millimeters. According to engineers, to improve the controllability and reduce fuel consumption, but in reality because GLK owners are too rarely leaving asphalt roads.

The situation with the road clearance of the new Mercedes-Benz GLK generally turned out to be somewhat confusing. In official press materials, 177 millimeters of the basic clearance are fair for rear-wheel drive versions with a 2.2-liter diesel engine. At the same time, the data on the size of the clearance of all -wheel drive modifications are indicated with the already installed Offroad Engineering package, which now includes 30 millimeters of road clearance.
These are 207 millimeters for diesel versions and 210 millimeters for machine with gasoline V6.
If you take away 30 millimeters from these numbers, which is added by an off -road suspension, you will get the same 177 millimeters for a diesel engine and 180 millimeters for a gasoline machine. However, in the official documents of Mercedes-Benz, such indicators are not indicated anywhere for some reason.

Offoad Engineering off -road package now includes 30 millimeters of road clearance, additional protection of the bottom with reinforced plastic, a system of assistance from a slope with an adjustable speed of downshill, as well as an off -road algorithm of the work of the ABS, the stabilization system, gearbox and electronic gas pedal, which It is activated by the button on the central console. For machines with an adaptive head light, you can order an off -road lighting system, when at speeds up to 50 kilometers per hour, electronics make a nearby beam slightly wider and brighter.
By and large, to easily updating the pendants and all the work on the chassis in the restyled GLK. Due to the changing kinematics, springs and shock absorbers were redeemed on all versions, but no mechatronics for the Mercedes-Benz crossover chassis was still provided: only pure mechanics and hydraulics of self-regulatory shock absorbers, which change their rigidity only due .

Sales of premium crossovers in 2011

The line of engines has been updated slightly. A gasoline 3.5-liter six, popular in Russia, new, equipped with direct fuel injection. In our market, it will be available in two variants of force: with a capacity of 306 horsepower and with 370 nm of torque (GLK 350), and a capacity of 250 horsepower (350 Nm), which will replace the three -liter V6 with the GLK 300. Diesels for the Russians have not yet been offered , but in Europe there will be as many as four: three options for a 2.1-liter engine with a capacity of 143, 170 and 204 forces, and a diesel V6 with a capacity of 265 forces, which develops 620 nm of torque. We will not have the basic rear -wheel drive modifications GLK.

The updated GLK is now equipped with an electromechanical steering wheel amplifier as well as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class noise. This design saves fuel a little better, tells the driver where to turn the steering wheel in case of sliding and on their own with micro -drives of the wheels corrects the trajectory while moving or inhibition on unstable coatings.
What are other news?
First of all, design. In the appearance of the updated GLK there are now fewer chopped faces, slightly related to it with the original Gelandewagen, but even more chromium: brilliant strips of radiator grilles and bumper overlays, chrome decoration of LED non -Tumens. The front headlights have become more rounded, and the flow in their corners is even more expressive.

The previous GLK divided the potential buyers into two camps: one definitely liked his rude, chopped design, and the others definitely did not like it, explained Mattias Sobota, the GLK project manager. Developing an updated crossover, we tried to blur the border between these customer groups. Its appearance is now more universal, but at the same time, it seems to us, no less expressive.
There may be right and right, but charisma in the guise of Mercedes-Benz GLK is now smaller, and best of all, it looks in the perspective of the back, where its angularity is still clearly noticeable.
But the restyling salon was only good. Here, at first glance, there was not a single old detail at all: a new steering wheel, a tidy from an updated C-Class with a color screen in the center of the speedometer, a large LCD display of the navigation system, expensive, very high-quality decoration materials and not a single flat plane, nor One sharp face! Even the deflectors of the ventilation system changed to round, with aluminum trim as on the SLK and SL relatives.

1. Glk is available as a classic Mercedes finish with a varnished brown tree
2. So more stylish options with black veneer and light beige skin on seats.
3. The display in the center of the dashboard has a high resolution and can withdraw almost any data about the machine, including the hints of the navigation system.
4. Circular deflectors of the ventilation system like SLK and SL.
5. Valnoyed buttons are separated from the rest with protruding ribs. Probably to avoid random presses.
6. Full brown trim - with brown plastic and chocolate color - for an amateur. Although it looks very rich.
The machine gun selector moved from the central tunnel to the steering column, freeing a place for cup holders and the joystick of the Comand multimedia complex. The Comand system itself on GLK is now the most fresh, with voice control, Internet access and the ability to use online applications for reading and Facebook, and even searching for free places in parking lots.

On on-board electronics, the restyled GLK is now unified with the C-Class family, which survived the update last year. This means that now the crossover can be equipped with adaptive cruise control, automatic parking system, as well as monitoring systems of blind areas and monitoring compliance with a row of movement. Among the options, a circular review system implemented using security systems.
How is the new GLK going?
Comfortable, as before. The changes in the suspension did not affect the smoothness of the course: GLK all the same well smoothes any, even the most mediocre roadway in quality. And along a mountain primer, the road, which was part of the test route in the foothills of the Alp, the crossover Mercedes-Benz rushes with enviable equanimity. The energy intensity of the chassis is great. GLK is not afraid of tossing or holes, elastic and almost silently swallowing the majority of irregularities.
With an off -road package, the crossover without hearing the storming roads with a complex relief: a road clearance of 21 centimeters is enough almost everywhere if you go with your head. The deficiency of one is not enough passage of the passenger, in fact, suspension. Therefore, shock absorbers sometimes trigger a little harshly on the holf, and on large pits the wheels are hung early in the air. However, the GLK is not afraid of diagonal hanging: crushing the brakes, he is able to crawl almost everywhere. Especially if it is shod in more or less evil tires.

The Offroad package will cost customers 40 thousand rubles, and it seems that it does not exclude the possibility of installing the AMG staling package, which includes new exterior elements and large wheel discs (the total cost of the exterior package is 100 thousand rubles), as well as the AMG interior of the salon for 58 thousand. What GLK can on a bad road can be seen in the video at the end of the article.
On the asphalt, the softness in habits is traditional for Mercedes. An empty, light steering wheel responds to the actions of a driver with a lazy one, but in turns it becomes quite informative. The rolls are small, but I do not want to go really quickly on GLK even with a top-top 306-horsepower gasoline engine. Its pleasant for observers from the outside of baritones in the cabin, due to good sound insulation, sounds flat, responses to the gas pedal seem to be slightly dumped, the drive in the drive mode relaxedly sorting out the highest gears.
You can slightly cheer the GLK transmission into sport mode, however, the principle of the crossover will not change. The difference between a gasoline and diesel car is much more noticeable: GLK 220 CDI with a 170-horsepower engine is slightly denser in the suspension, and in terms of assertiveness of acceleration in the average revolutions, it does not lose at all a more powerful V6 due to 400 nm of torque, already available from 1,400 revolutions in A minute. But the sound disappeared during active driving, his ugly hicittering nevertheless breaks through the soundproof mats.
But in Russia there will be no diesel GLK?
There will be no yet. Now, crossovers with 250 or 306 horsepower with a machine gun in a special series are available for ordering. Moreover, GLK 300 after restyling fell into 100 thousand rubles from 1.99 to 1.89 million rubles. The top GLK 350, on the contrary, went up by 10 thousand rubles: the buyer will have to pay 2.39 million rubles for a powerful engine and a richer basic configuration. Mercedes comfort is free.
 
Alternative
Audi Q5. The best -selling crossover in the premium segment is almost 5,000 cars in 2011. The most affordable CU5 with a 180-horsepower two-liter turbo engine on the handle can be bought for 1.657 million rubles. However, you can’t approach the car with V6 3.2 liters (270 forces) with less than 2.171 million rubles. With a diesel engine 3.0 V6 Audi Q5 costs from 2.3 million.
BMW X3. The basic version with a 184-horsepower turbo engine in Russia is sold for 1.73 million rubles, and the prices for a top crossover with a gasoline six-cylinder turbo engine (306 forces) begin with a mark of 2.13 million rubles. True, the diesel option with a 313 -horsepower six is \u200b\u200beven more expensive - from 2.35 for modification in the basic equipment.
Lexus RX. In Russia, the Japanese crossover is sold both in the front-wheel drive (from 1.936 million rubles) and in the all-wheel drive version with the 277-horsepower V6 engine (from 2.625 to 2.972 million rubles for the Premium +version). But the most expensive is the RX 450H hybrid, the cost of which is in the range from 2.995 to 3.342 million rubles.

Source: Motor magazine [July 2012]