2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK250 Bluetec: Is diesel really a cure-all?

Some people like its angular lines, others not so much!

Initially, the 2013 GLK 250 was slated to come to North America at the end of 2012. But in the end, it didn’t arrive to dealerships until the end of April.

One of the more noticeable changes to the 2013 model is the strip of LEDs added to the headlamps.

It’s hard to tell which engine lies below this massive plastic cover. In this case, it’s a 2.1-litre four-cylinder diesel.

As is customary at Mercedes-Benz, the exterior rearview mirrors feature integrated signal lights.

The tail-lights and a few other aspects have been modified in the rear section.

“BlueTEC” sounds a lot better than just plain old “Diesel,” wouldn’t you say?

The rear bumper is covered by a chrome plate.

The GLK 250 starts at $43,500, which is $1,400 less than the V6!

The loading sill is low, the opening to the cargo hold is big, and the hatch opens up nice and high.

The lower section of the rear bumper is all chrome.

The GLK 350 comes factory-standard with the AMG Package, whereas the 250 does not. This explains why the front treatments are different.

These wheels come exclusively on the GLK 350.

Once part of the console, the shift lever is now on the steering column. This change frees up space for an additional storage compartment in the console (the compartment is closed in this photo).

The dashboard is more modern, but it’s a shame that the centre display screen isn’t bigger.