5.99 pizza and by the time you were done adding all toppings the bill was much more? Well, entry-premium shoppers will need to pay strict attention to the 2013 GLK's menu since its "toppings" are much more tempting than extra cheese and sausage. And much more expensive. Of course that's not the case, but most of the brand's entry models start out with a pretty appealing pricepoint to which you can start piling on the toppings. That's in contrast to the higher-priced models, of course, that start out with much more. The GLK, which is based on the entry-level C-Class car platform, has been around since the 2010 model year and has gained rapid acceptance with its bold looks and practical shape. Although not the roomiest model in its class (both the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 offer more interior space), the GLK looks somewhat more car-like due to a low stance and ample glass area.

5.99 pizza and by the time you were done adding all toppings the bill was much more? Well, entry-premium shoppers will need to pay strict attention to the 2013 GLK's menu since its "toppings" are much more tempting than extra cheese and sausage. And much more expensive. Of course that's not the case, but most of the brand's entry models start out with a pretty appealing pricepoint to which you can start piling on the toppings. That's in contrast to the higher-priced models, of course, that start out with much more. The GLK, which is based on the entry-level C-Class car platform, has been around since the 2010 model year and has gained rapid acceptance with its bold looks and practical shape. Although not the roomiest model in its class (both the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 offer more interior space), the GLK looks somewhat more car-like due to a low stance and ample glass area.

The 2013 GLK is a more-of-everything proposition, not counting its unaltered dimensions, of course. The revised nose is fitted with a larger grille, headlight pods and lower air intakes, while at the opposite end there's a new bumper with nifty integrated twin exhaust outlets. An optional AMG package adds lower front, rear and side panels plus added air-intake trim. Nineteen-inch wheels are standard, with a choice of 20-inchers available. The upgraded cabin gets a new instrument panel along with a quartet of oversized fresh-air outlets and a restyled floor console. Among the numerous cabin add-ons is a premium leather interior and genuine wood trim. Perhaps the most important decision facing GLK shoppers is the choice of powertrains. Base rear- and all-wheel-drive (4MATIC) GLK350 models come with a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 302 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. That's up slightly from the previous 3.5's 268-horsepower/258-pound-feet-torque rating, due to a switch to direct fuel injection in which fuel is delivered directly to the combustion chamber (instead of through the intake manifold) under very high pressure.

The V6 also gets stop/start control that shuts off the engine in stop-and-go situations to save fuel, and then fires it up again once the brake pedal is released. Available for the first time is a 2.1-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder in the all-new and 4MATIC-only GLK250. It produces 190 horsepower and an astounding 369 pound-feet of torque. That's a V8 torque number. All of M-B's turbo-diesels get the BlueTEC handle since they use a special urea solution called AdBlue that cleans up the exhaust gasses after they've passed through the catalytic converters. A 2.5-gallon reservoir of AdBlue lasts about 10,000 miles. Both engines feature seven-speed automatic transmissions, with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for the V6. Mercedes-Benz claims the 4,100-pound GLK350 can manage a zero-to-60-mph sprint in 6.5 seconds, while the GLK250 takes 1.5 seconds longer, although the diesel's fuel-economy numbers are sure to be much better than the V6's. Both models include plenty of standard power and comfort items, however allowing temptation to take root can seriously inflate the base price with extra-cost premium interior and exterior packages, fancier wheels and a navigation/rearview camera package. Then there are the various electronic safety watchdogs, such as a radar-guided Blind Spot Assist that alerts you to any overtaking vehicles. Lane Keeping Assist causes the steering wheel to vibrate if you stray outside your lane (and corrects the GLK's path if you fail to respond). 50,000 Mercedes-Benz M-class. It's also well suited for all-around urban use and for those of more modest means who know when to hold the toppings. Market position: Smaller-sized luxury utility-style wagons continue to be popular as more buyers gravitate to less expensive, more fuel-efficient transportation options. The GLK is one of the leaders in this category. Safety: Front airbags; side-impact airbags; side-curtain airbags; driver's knee airbag; anti-lock brakes; traction control; stability control. Attractive wagon offers a great ride with a top-grade interior.

Mercedes-Benz has tried for decades to project a more youthful image and seem more approachable than in the past, and it has finally seen some success of late. 30K CLA will turn the brand into a viable option for a significantly larger portion of the car-buying population. In Europe, the strategy has already paid off with the success of the A- and B-classes, which have sold extremely well and made significant contributions to the company鈥檚 bottom line. With some questioning the financial viability of the company, bringing in new buyers is critical to Daimler鈥檚 vitality. The U.S. market plays a pivotal role in this scheme. Platform: It is closely related to the A-, B-, and CLA-classes, bringing further economies of scale to Benz鈥檚 compact front-wheel-drive platform, and is powered by the same family of efficient four-cylinder engines. 4MATIC all-wheel drive will be standard in the U.S., but don鈥檛 expect rock-crawling off-road capability. The philosophy skews more toward practicality and efficiency, and to offer a higher H-point for a commanding view of the road as well as raised ground clearance for confronting challenging weather conditions. Powertrains: The GLA will be powered by turbocharged four-cylinder engines plucked from Benz's powertrain bin. We expect U.S. models to feature a 208-hp, 2.0-liter base unit in the GLA250 4MATIC. Mercedes could easily add a diesel engine; if it does, expect the 2.1-liter found in the GLK250 BlueTec. But if we get only two powertrains, the second will be the highly impressive, 355-hp 2.0-liter turbo four from the CLA45 AMG, which will slot into the GLA45 AMG. The standard transmission here will be a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, regardless of engine. Competition: Acura RDX, Audi Q3, BMW X1, Lexus NX.