At Mercedes-Benz, the GLK compact SUV is second in sales behind the very popular C-Class, so it鈥檚 no surprise that the famous German brand is taking special care of it. Unveiled in 2009, the GLK was due for a minor facelift. They used the usual recipe as before, but played a little with the front end (headlights, bumper) and with the taillights. The passenger compartment, on the other hand, warranted more consideration. The most notable change is to the shifter, which moves from the central console to the steering column, like it used to be back in the day. Although it鈥檚 electronic now, I still think that they had it right back in the day. This moves means that Mercedes can offer more storage space. The dashboard has also been updated and now features bigger gauges, a more modern steering wheel and round air vents. The result is striking. When the GLK first came to North America, it had but one engine: a 3.5-litre V6. Everywhere else in the world, the GLK was offered with several engines, including diesels. That, of course, is no surprise; Mercedes-Benz has always known a thing or two about diesels.

At Mercedes-Benz, the GLK compact SUV is second in sales behind the very popular C-Class, so it鈥檚 no surprise that the famous German brand is taking special care of it. Unveiled in 2009, the GLK was due for a minor facelift. They used the usual recipe as before, but played a little with the front end (headlights, bumper) and with the taillights. The passenger compartment, on the other hand, warranted more consideration. The most notable change is to the shifter, which moves from the central console to the steering column, like it used to be back in the day. Although it鈥檚 electronic now, I still think that they had it right back in the day. This moves means that Mercedes can offer more storage space. The dashboard has also been updated and now features bigger gauges, a more modern steering wheel and round air vents. The result is striking. When the GLK first came to North America, it had but one engine: a 3.5-litre V6. Everywhere else in the world, the GLK was offered with several engines, including diesels. That, of course, is no surprise; Mercedes-Benz has always known a thing or two about diesels.

Now, North America is finally catching up to the rest of the world. The GLK continues to be available with a V6 (we鈥檒l come back to that), but it can also be equipped with a diesel engine, like its big brother, the GL. Since 80% of GL units sold in Canada come with the diesel engine (GL 350 Bluetec), it鈥檚 safe to bet that the GLK diesel will be just as popular. The diesel engine found in the GLK 250 is a 2.1-litre (2.143 cc) four-cylinder twin turbo. Don鈥檛 waste your time trying to find the link between the engine capacity and the vehicle name. At Mercedes, confusion reigns. In any case, it develops 200 horsepower at 3,800 rpm, which isn鈥檛 much, but it redeems itself with a torque of 369 lbs-ft at 1,600 rpm. This mill is paired with the 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission that activates the 4Matic all-wheel drive.

While Mercedes-Benz usally slaps the 鈥? Matic鈥?label on all cars equipped with this efficient drive train, the GLK 250 doesn鈥檛 mention it at all on its body. However, the word BlueTEC is emblazoned on the liftgate, which surely makes up for it in the eyes of owners. Mercedes-Benz calls its diesels 鈥淏lueTEC,鈥?which is reminiscent of another name: AdBlue. This urea-based liquid helps the motor run extremely clean. You fill it up while you鈥檙e changing your oil, making the operation more expensive. The GLK 250 is a relatively heavy vehicle (1,925 kg), so don鈥檛 expect to win any drag races. As with most Mercedes-Benz products, the accelerator isn鈥檛 terribly progressive and it鈥檒l take some time to get used to, which may have distorted our impressions considering that we only drove it for half a day. Mercedes claims that it can charge from 0-100 km/hr in eight seconds flat. The GLK 250 really excels when it comes to fuel consumption and the noble manufacturer is announcing a combined 7.2 L/100 km.

In reality, that doesn鈥檛 mean much. During our test drive, we recorded an excellent average of 7.0 L/100 km, and I imagine that an average fuel consumption of 8.0 L/100 km is realistic. For those who get a nosebleed every time you hear the word 鈥渄iesel,鈥?let me reassure you. From the inside of the GLK, you almost have to know in advance that there鈥檚 a diesel engine lying in front of you. The typical diesel engine noise is a little more audible from the outside, but we鈥檝e come a long way from the rattling, smelly engines of the old days. There GLK can also be outfitted with a 3.5-litre V6 that finally includes direct injection. Thanks to its 302 horsepower and its 273 lbs-ft of torque available between 3,500 and 5,250 rpm, this V6 moves the GLK smoothly and swiftly. Its sound is more pleasant than that of the diesel and it goes from 0-100 km/hr 1.5 seconds faster, according to Mercedes. However, it consumes 2.5 more litres per 100 km (9.7) combined.