Mercedes Benz GLK Luxury SUV for young car Shoppers in Benin City, Top Features You should look out for

The Mercedes-Benz GLK has rapidly become a thing in Benin City, Nigeria. Literally, every road in Benin is filled with them. You cannot go a day without spotting a GLK in Benin City. And trust me, you won’t be spotting just one. 

The Mercedes-Benz GLK is a compact luxury crossover SUV produced from 2008 to 2015. The GLK stands for Gelandewagen Luxus Kompaktklasse, and it took its name from the larger Mercedes-Benz GL class, which was named after the G-Wagen. This means that the GLK is the compact version of the GL. In the year 2015, the release of the second generation model of the GLK class was renamed to the GLC class after they discontinued the production of the GLK. However, The GLK has become quite a popular car amongst young car shoppers in Benin over the last few years. There is definitely a reason for that, which we will explore in this article.

Here are the top features found in the Mercedes-Benz GLK that make it something everyone wants to get. 

Why is the Mercedes-Benz GLK a popular SUV in Benin City

Over the years the test for luxury vehicles has grown among the young youths in Nigeria especially in Edo state and most love the Mercedes Benz brand, some years back the Mercedes Benz C300 was the top trending sedan in Nigeria but the GLK has now become the SUV everyone wants to drive. In Benin City, they are a group of young shoppers who find the Mercedes Benz GLK interesting to purchasing for its luxury interior, its durability and the Strongest Mercedes Benz in Nigeria The Mercedes-Benz GLK is a luxury compact SUV that was produced in 2008 to 2015.

Most vehicle dealers in Edo that we reached out to confirm that the GLK sells more to young shoppers between 18 and 35 years old. Mr Emma, who facilitates the purchase of cars for shoppers, said that more people are asking for these models in both Benin and Lagos. He helps to buy them from Lagos and ship them to Benin City. According to him, people purchase this SUV because of its ability to navigate the bad roads in Edo state without any issues.

It was designed to offer a combination of performance, comfort, and style. The GLK is the compact version of the GL-Class, which is the luxury-oriented version of the G-Wagen. The GLK has a lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars and base engine power than the Mercedes-Benz GLE, but the GLE is more fuel efficient.

Overview of the Mercedes-Benz GLK

The Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class is a car that proves that good things come in small packages. Despite its compact size, this crossover impresses with top-notch craftsmanship, luxurious materials, and a smooth ride. It feels solid and refined. It comes in two options: the GLK350 for those who prioritize performance, having a powerful V6 engine, or the GLK250 Bluetec for those focused on fuel efficiency, featuring a diesel engine with impressive mpg ratings. While the GLK offers many advanced features found in more expensive Mercedes models, they’re often optional. However, adding these options can make it more expensive. The GLK’s downsides include its small backseat and cargo space, along with narrow rear doors that may pose challenges for taller passengers. Other than that, the GLK is a great car.

Engine, performance, and MPG

The GLK350 offers rear-wheel drive as standard, with the option for 4Matic all-wheel drive. The GLK250 Bluetec comes with all-wheel drive as standard. All GLK models come with a seven-speed automatic transmission that allows manual gear selection using steering wheel paddles. It is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine. The GLK350 generates 302 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It also features an automatic stop-start system that shuts down the engine when the car is stopped to save fuel. A GLK350 4Matic can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, matching the performance of similar models like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. It also achieves an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 21 mpg combined for rear-wheel-drive models and 21 mpg combined for 4Matic all-wheel-drive models. The GLK250 Bluetec is equipped with a turbocharged 2.1-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, delivering 200 horsepower and an impressive 369 lb-ft of torque. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds and also has excellent fuel efficiency, with EPA ratings of 28 mpg combined.

Both GLK models are capable of towing up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped, offering versatility for various hauling needs.

Driving

The Mercedes-Benz GLK350 has a powerful V6 engine that makes it feel fast, and its diesel engine is impressive because it’s strong and quite fuel-efficient. The diesel might feel a bit slow at first, but then it gets smoother and quieter. When you drive it, you’ll notice how solid and stable it feels. The ride is mostly smooth, but you might feel bigger bumps. Some people might think the ride is too stiff, but the GLK handles well enough to make up for it. Inside the GLK, it’s usually quiet with little noise from the engine, road, or wind. However, at higher speeds, wind noise becomes noticeable, which could be because of its boxy shape and upright windshield.

Interior

The Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class has a really nice interior with standard MB-Tex upholstery on the wood and metallic accents. It is very luxurious inside, and if there is any inexpensive plastic used, it is definitely not evident, which is not something we can say for every type of vehicle in its class. The gearshift lever on the steering column creates more space in the middle of the car, giving you a big storage area. It also makes the front seats feel less crowded. The buttons and knobs to control things like the stereo and navigation might seem tricky at first, but once you get used to them, they’re not too bad. The climate controls are easy to reach, but they’re a bit low. The GLK doesn’t have a lot of cargo space—just 54.7 cubic feet, which is less than other similar SUVs. The backseat is also a bit tight for adults, and it’s not easy to get out of the car gracefully because the doors are small. But there’s plenty of headroom for everyone.

Safety 

The Mercedes-Benz GLK has a bunch of safety features, like antilock brakes, stability and traction control, active front head restraints, front side airbags, front pelvic airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, a driver knee airbag, and a driver inattention monitor. The mbrace2 communications system provides automatic crash notification, on-demand roadside assistance, and a system that alerts the owner when a selected speed or boundary is exceeded by another driver. There are optional packages you can get for even more safety stuff, like blind-spot warning, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera, an automated parallel parking system, and automatic braking if a crash is about to happen.

Price of a Mercedes-Benz GLK class in Nigeria

The price of a Mercedes-Benz GLK differs depending on the model year and whether it is brand new, foreign-used (Tokunbo), or a Nigerian-used GLK. The Tokunbo ones are a little bit more expensive than the Nigerian ones. Here is a list of the price ranges depending on the year. 

2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK

• Brand New 2011 Mercedes-Benz GlK – N9.6 Million
• Nigeria used 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK – N6.4 million
• Foreign Used 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK – N7.5 million

2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK

• Brand New 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK – N10.2 Million
• Nigerian used 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK – N6.8  million
• Foreign Used 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK – N8.5 million 

2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK

• Brand New 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK – N15 MILLION
• Nigerian used 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK – N9.8 million
• Foreign Used 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK – N11 million

2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK

• Brand New 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK: N15.8 MILLION
• Nigerian used 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK: N10 MILLION
• Foreign Used 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK: N12.3 MILLION

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK 

• Brand New 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK – N18.2 MILLION
• Nigerian used 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK- N11.5 MILLION
• Foreign Used 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK – N16 MILLION