Even if it came late to the party, Mercedes-Benz GLK appeared with a good stance and a bold look in its eyes like it was a descendent of the mighty G-Class.
At least, that’s what Mercedes-Benz tried to tell the world. The underpinnings of the GLK were more related to the C-Class than to the G-Wagon. The only connections between the GLK and its famous ancestor were the G from its name and the V6 turbodiesel engine. Nevertheless, it was a fierce contender for the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Infiniti EX.

Its sharp lines resembled the angular look of the G-Wagon, but the headlight’s shape was closer to the C-Class W204. The grille was big, with two slats, and resembled the shape of the GL-Class. With its flared wheel-arches and narrower main bodywork, it tried to tell that it can work well on unpaved roads and even some mild off-roading sessions. But its main charisma was often seen in the malls’ parking lots.

The interior showed few similarities with the C-Class W205, especially for the dashboard with the extended instrument cluster over the infotainment system. Unlike its sedan sibling, it featured a steering-column mounted gear-selector for the automatic gearbox. The German carmaker offered the vehicle with a wide range of customization programs, including a glass-roof and leather upholstery. Unfortunately, the rear-seat legroom was about the same as in any other C-Class.

For the technical part, GLK featured an all-wheel-drive system (4Matic), which could send the power to the wheels with the most traction. Depending on the market, it was offered with a wide choice of gasoline and diesel engines. Most versions were paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission standard, while selected versions were available with a 6-speed manual.