Mercedes GLK 220: specifications, reviews

The automotive world in which we live is in continuous competition between the largest automakers. It all comes down to who will squeeze the most out of the niche model, and which company will make a more profitable offer in a particular market segment.

Difficult choice

The segment of compact luxury SUVs is in the border area, where the competitive advantage outweighs all other considerations. To him, automakers also include the ability of the vehicle to evoke in the future owner a sense of pride in the purchase.

If for a moment to put yourself in the shoes of a man choosing between the BMW X3, the Audi Q5, the Volvo XC60, the Porsche Macan and the Mercedes GLK 220, it becomes clear that he faces an astonishingly difficult task. The reason for this is one - a common package.

10 years ago, manufacturers differentiated cars, focusing on one aspect that offered a competitive advantage: comfort, price, economy, productivity, and so on.

Today, the main representatives of compact luxury crossover can not be as easily distinguished from each other as it was ten years ago. If we compare the characteristics of the Mercedes GLK 220 and the specifications of the aforementioned SUVs on paper, then the manufacturers offer almost identical solutions, which forces potential buyers to focus on personal preferences rather than differences in car parameters.

Therefore, the question arises: did it make sense to buy gelendvagen-luxury-compact? If you answer briefly, then yes, the car is at the top of the segment, next to the Range Rover Evoque. More details of the reasons for this are set out below in the review of the Mercedes-Benz GLK 220 CDI 4Matic BlueEFFICIENCY.

Cosmetic changes

In the model of 2015, the black plastic front bumper, round fog lights with off-road skirts, disgusting square ventilation holes, too thin steering wheel and not very exciting rectangular exhaust pipes disappeared.

The Mercedes GLK 220 purchased strips of LED daytime running lights , two aluminum horizontal chrome rails that support a three-pointed star and a more dynamically stylized front bumper.

The visual differences on the sides are insignificant, the rear bumper has more distinct outlines, and the rectangular exhaust pipes are now combined with a mudguard. Needless to say, the external lighting system at the front and rear has been updated.

In the rear position lights, fiber optics and LEDs are used. In the front, the manufacturer equipped Mercedes-Benz GLK with standard awful looking reflective headlights. Much better looks optional ILS intelligent lighting system, which combines bi-xenon far and dipped beam, LED fiber optic cables for parking lights and LED turn indicators. All this costs 1395 euros, so why not for 100 euros to buy an additional adaptive high beam system that eliminates the need to switch between the two headlight modes, providing full road lighting and without dazzling oncoming drivers?

Aesthetics or quality

In any case, you should refrain from buying a set of light-alloy wheels of the smallest size (17 inches), because the square arches do not fit very well with the small rim. It looks good set of 20-inch wheels with five double spokes and tires 235/45 front and 255/40 rear.

But although this kit improves the appearance of the car, it requires sacrificing ride quality due to the shorter sidewall of the tire compared to 18- and 19-inch alloy wheels.

Inside the salon

Lovers of a more eagle-looking Mercedes know well that the ventilation holes of the 2015 model are a tribute to the classic - full-size luxury sedan of 1965 W111, the honorary predecessor of the W116 - the original S-Class car.

It goes without saying that the chrome framing of the ventilation holes, together with the aluminum trim that goes from one end of the dashboard to the other, is in harmony with the overall interior design.

The steering wheel has become thicker and better profiled than before, and the lever of the Mercedes GLK 220 has found its place on the steering column. Despite the fact that at first glance everything seems perfect, there are some details that the manufacturer forgot to take care of.

Button Vintage

In a typically German manner, someone at the Mercedes company really likes the buttons on the center panel, and does not like touch screen technology. For those who do not see this problem, there is a standard 5.8-inch display of infotainment system Audio 20 CD.

For 800 € spent on this device, which also provides satellite navigation, the user will receive a schedule that resembles the classic games for MS-DOS. There is also the possibility of a three-dimensional display of buildings, which prevents reading the street names and everything else while driving around the city.

"Mercedes GLK", the basic configuration price of which is 37 400 euros, in the modification of 220 CDI 4Matic BlueEFFICIENCY with all optional additions will cost 56,940 €. With all this, someone in the company somehow thought that manually adjusting the seat for such money - this is normal.

Expensive extras

Another thing that causes confusion is the rear ventilation holes. If Mercedes spent its time and energy to replace them in front, why did it leave angular plastic design elements from behind?

By the way, the bag for luggage is not included in the base price of the car, and it must be bought separately for 50 €. The interior can be ennobled with a double transparent hatch with a drive (1420 €) and black seats made of artificial leather Artico (450 €). A rear-view camera and a parking brake for Mercedes GLK class, the price of which is 496 and 730 euros respectively, are also included in the number of additional options.

Visually reinforcing impression of the footboard with aluminum trim and rubber studs for 470 € should be ordered in any case. It should be remembered that people of small stature, sitting in the car and disembarking from it, risk contaminating their pants.

The magic of design

Despite all the strong and not so strong sides of the crossover, being behind the wheel is a real pleasure. This is the magic of Gelendvagen - staying in an SUV of this type makes the driver feel successful and free.

The driver's seat or seats for passengers in the BMW X3, Audi X5 and Volvo XC60 do not give the same feeling of comfort as the GLK or Evoque. As for Macan, the extra 28 thousand euros for Porsche make the comparison simply dishonest.

But do you know what allows the model of Mercedes-Benz GLK to outshine its competitors? Its angular body, stylized under the G-Wagen, which lacks the M-class and the German equivalent of Cadillac Escalade, GL-class. Compared with the fashionable Evoque, the soft silhouette of Q5 and the cunning X3, the designers of this model have achieved a perfect interlacing of elegance and classic design of "Gelendvagen".

At the price of 37 425 euros, the 2015 Mercedes GLK 220 CDI with a rear-wheel drive, a six-speed manual transmission, a 143 HP 2.1-liter turbo-diesel engine is no different from what Audi and BMW are asking for their Q5 and X3, respectively .

Power point

Do not make the mistake of refusing to purchase a GLK 200, 200 CDI or 220 CDI because who can imagine a compact luxury crossover with a rear-wheel drive and a gearshift lever? In Europe, the most popular model is the Mercedes GLK 220 CDI 4Matic BlueEFFICIENCY, which costs 44,149 euros.

Of course, you can choose a gasoline V6 with a turbocharger or V6-turbodiesel, but again, and this model is not from slow.

So why is the Mercedes GLK 220, whose diesel has a volume of 2.1 liters, 4 cylinders and 170 liters. from. (400 Nm), has become the most popular on the old continent? It's simple: it's powerful and economical.

Whether acceleration after green traffic light or overtaking at high speeds, the characteristics of the Mercedes-Benz GLK 220 allow the car to easily move 1880 kg, even if the automatic transmission of the 7G-Tronic Plus is set to the smoothest, not the fastest, changes.

Suspension

The improved platform 4Matic, associated with the now defunct W204 (C-class), according to the owners, is inferior to the all-wheel drive BMW X3 or Porsche Macan.

In general, the Mercedes permanent all-wheel drive system has a transfer box integrated with the main transmission via the dual-clutch inter - axle differential and two main torque locking axles. Under normal conditions, the 4Matic is set to transmit 45% of the engine's torque to the front and 55% to the rear axle. This ensures a well-balanced movement stability.

Although GLK 4Matic, according to users, does not shine on the road, the car has other qualities.

While other automakers treat their own compact crossovers as the sense of their existence, the compact is less rigidly sprung and mature enough that the driver does not feel old.

"The Mercedes GLK 220" was a breath of fresh air at a time when most manufacturers of crossovers were crazy about passing the Nürburgring circle and a few other useless features not applicable in the real world.

Thanks to the standard suspension with amplitude-dependent damping and torsion stabilizers in front and behind, connected by lower levers and two-pipe gas-filled springs, the GLK irones the road irregularities exceptionally well, without driver isolation from what happens to the front wheels when they get into the pothole. This is a good mixture of comfort and a sense of the road.

The non-ideal ideal

Dynamical drivers who prefer not imposing driving and do not press the gas pedal to the limit, users advise curbing the skill of GLK so that the car captures a wider range of driving styles. That's why a diesel with a 4Matic all-wheel-drive system can be classified as an almost ideal station wagon for most car enthusiasts who do not intend to engage in motorsport.

Drivers say that when driving on rough terrain "Mercedes GLK 220" will not hit the face in the mud. Soft and easy off-road driving scenarios are not enough to make a car sweat. Crossover premium, without all-terrain tires, overcomes marshy ruts and sticky slime, as if it's a children's game.

The body of the car exudes the thoroughbred strength of the "Gelendvagen", and details embody his refined person, not as rude and frightening as the G-class, - GLK speaks about personality, desire and status elegance.

Since most of its competitors are much younger in design and technology, an uninformed buyer of GLK may seem outdated. A skeptic can call a local dealer and sign up for a test drive. The driver will be pleasantly amazed by experience, no matter how demanding he is for cars in this segment.

The last representative of the K-class

GLK is built on the basis of the previous generation platform, the C-class, and all-wheel drive technology, although the chassis, road and off-road capabilities and general driving experience are exactly what can refresh the sensations from this crossover.

After 7 years of production of Mercedes-Benz GLK (X204) in June 2015 was replaced by the second generation - model X253. In accordance with the new strategy of the manufacturer's nomenclature, the GLK-class was replaced by GLC.