Test drive Mercedes Benz GLK class X204 since 2008 SUV

The crossover Mercedes-Benz GLK is impeccable

The small crossover Mercedes GLK did not give surprises. Porodist. Quiet. It costs two Japanese. Mercedes buyers do not need any reason to buy a car of this brand. Adherence to the three -beam star is inherited through genes.
Otherwise, it is not to explain why with such persistence the company holds on to dubious values, lovely to the heart of regular customers.
And consumers are against
At the presentation of the Mercedes GLK arranged in Germany, I finally asked questions to the person responsible for the interior in Daimler AG. Why don't you get rid of the inconvenient in circulation and overloaded with the functions of the steering wheel switch of light and janitors? We wanted, but consumers who have long been accustomed to them. Does anyone lead the topic of control buttons, so that they finally become more ergonomic and you do not need to look for a tense look? After all, you know the experience of Chrysler, who has used a blind method for controlling the radio? We focus on fans of the brand, they do not require.
I got a job well. The work is not dusty. But a person who first sat in Mercedes GLK must lower his head under the steering wheel to turn on the turnover along with the washer, but still gets to the cruise control or at best to adjust the steering wheel in height and departure.
Delight for everyone
What is GLK? First of all, it is an angular body. The Germans emphasized the charms of a new design with great enthusiasm. Our clients do not want round. They like that there is a kinship of new products with Gelandewagen. The protruding chin, the muscular rear, is delighted not only women translated into Russian the words of the GLK Rubenbauer Markus production manager at a press conference before a test drive.
The longitudinal location of the engine and gearbox. The main drive to the rear axle. In a word, unlucking classic
Daimler AG is sure that Mercedes GLK is the safest SUV in its class. But Volvo, for example, does not think so, she has XC60
The angularity for an all -wheel drive car is a win -win topic. This is, by the way, let the forms discuss in women's magazines. It will be more interesting for us to find out that the angles of the entry/congress at this body are not the worst among classmates-criminals 23/25 degrees. Road clearance is also worthy of 201 mm. Only the depth of the overcome fords is small only 300 mm. Maybe, of course, the crossover is no longer needed, but, by the way, the direct competitor, the BMW X3 500 mm.
GLK offers a choice of three engines. Two gasoline 3.5 liters and 3 l, plus 3-liter diesel. I immediately sat on the GLK 350, since the 320th diesel is promised to us only next year, but for now only gasoline versions will be available.
Successful weightlifting, a minimum of vibrations, smoothness, all this is again a consequence of a thorough study of the classic design. Not a Zhiguli, of course, but you can ride
Amplitude -dependent damping. I hope that this means that this means the process of changing the elastic characteristics of shock absorbers depending on the road conditions
With a calm driving style outside the road, shock absorbers are softened, and with sharp maneuvers on the highway they become tougher, guaranteeing maximum stability
He says nothing
So I sit behind the wheel of new items, go on the road leading from Dusseldorf to the suburbs, and gradually understand that it will not work to write this article lightly. It is hard to test Mercedes on the roads of Germany. You can cross the whole country and remain without impressions. The Germans do not play their robbers on their roads, do not arrange a showdown. Do not warm each other with the headlights, do not offend if they are overtaken. Forgive mistakes. They go along a flat multi -lane asphalt with a chipper in the middle, excluding a trip to the oncoming lane. It looks like an attraction when you are put in a booth and it moves along the rails how to evaluate the settings of pendants, especially since for our market there are two sports and basic? How will I look among the German Stiel, if I suddenly start a tough game in the checkers?
Perhaps the point is not only in smooth roads. The new crossover goes beautifully, solid, without unnecessary rolls, but somehow too flat. Sit in Mitsubishi Outlander XL and you will feel how he communicates with you. Get the BMW X3 and he will execute applications before you think, and Mercedes GLK silently and perfectly delivers you to point B. It is nice, of course, but still a little uneasy. Perennial culture. As in the production of beer. They kept the breed. And they did it. Mercedes is primarily comfortable, quiet and does not bother the driver. Rides with dignity. The steering wheel and suspension are adaptive, change the characteristics depending on speed and road surface. The car retains a small distance from the driver, but only then, so as not to disturb him. I’m afraid that this is the main thing that we can say about the new crossover, otherwise it will be necessary to disassemble the design of adaptive shock absorbers, which not only rearranged here from the C-class, but also increased the volume so that the oil does not boil when long driving on poor coating.
Effective and rude
On the second day, a test drive was invited to a refined German off-road. Check the operation of the anti-wings system, the system for the descent and the off-road button, when pressed, which GLK dissolves shock absorbers, facilitates the steering wheel, softens the accelerator pedal, and turns on the off-road mode ABS and ESP.
I will give it to the magic button and go to obstacles. The Germans proposed several rise and areas with soil drops for diagonal hanging. The soil, as usual at presentations, was dry and therefore uninteresting. But the GLK wheels were not afraid. I drove all the sites. True, before the test, all the cars were re -outlets to the rubber of class AT. Tricky move.
Full -wheel drive, coupled with the anti -wings system, works efficiently. But rude. First, the system strangles the motor. Then he thinks. Collects information from sensors. Having figured out, he releases momentum. The movement begins, the anti -book, braiding hanging wheels comes into business. Trual, the car gets out of captivity.
The GLK central differential device was shown in the context of us. The traditional 4-Matic from the C-Class Passenger model, which is responsible for the degree of transmission of torque with a two-disc clutch. Do not throw stones at me, but it seems that a smart all -wheel drive in a tandem with an anti -wings system on the BMW X3 works more confidently, predictably, clearly and at the same time softer. GLK in the exercise diagonal hanging more resembles Mazda CX-7, too, however, not the last representative of the army of crossovers.
Oleg, come on!
Although the diesel version of the Mercedes GLK with a 3-liter engine cannot be bought yet, I still could not resist. Transfer from the GLK 350 gasoline on the 320th, you get high from a more fierce start. Accelerator pedal seems to come to life. And at high speeds that we are still prohibited, diesel is already souring during overtaking, and again you remember about gasoline.
Whatever version you prefer, you need to take it with an off-rock bag. In addition to 17-inch discs, you will receive an off-road ABS, otherwise a configured suspension, an off-road button and delightful protection of the bottom: a steel sheet covers a crankcase, and a thick combined plastic of other important units. At a press conference, they proposed a demonstration model of this protection, according to which it was possible to beat with a hammer. Many journalists from different countries have tried to no avail before us. But the Russian went to the stand, called a friend with a camera (Oleg, take off!) And hesitated this defense with the stand. It was fun, but we will give tribute to the plastic still very strong.
Short results. Price? Too expensive for an ordinary crossover. Gas or diesel? Diesel, as soon as possible. Moderate off -road? There are no contraindications. Asphalt, other household little things? The breed is preserved, and fans of Mercedes will receive what they have the right to count on.
Author: Dmitry Leontyev, Photo Daimler AG

   
 
 
 
 
 

 

Source: Magazine 4x4 [October /2008]