2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350

It starts with a 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter, V6 engine and seven-speed automatic transmission. Expect 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway/18 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive, dropping 1 mpg highway with AWD. Testers say the GLK350 feels smooth and sufficiently powerful, but those at Car and Driver and elsewhere say the feathery, disconnected steering ruins the fun. Arthur St. Antoine at Motor Trend calls it "as lifeless as King Tut," and colleague Ron Kiino says it's "the worst I've experienced in a Benz." However, Edmunds.com has no problem with the steering, saying it's "well weighted and offers respectable feedback."

On the outside, the Mercedes-Benz GLK350 looks less like a rounded crossover than its rivals and more like a traditional, sharp-edged SUV; some critics think it looks tough, while others say it's dated. Inside, the GLK350's minimalist five-passenger cabin looks either sleek or stark, depending on the source. The comfortable front seats earn a lot of praise, but testers say there's little legroom in back, where cramped door openings and an in-the-way doorsill make it tough to climb in and out without bumping your head or getting your pants dirty. For cargo, the GLK350 offers 23 cubic feet behind the rear seats or 55 cubic feet with them folded. That's a little bit less than most other small, premium SUVs, including the Audi Q5.

The Mercedes-Benz GLK350 comes with the usual array of standard safety features: antilock brakes, electronic stability control and front, front-side and curtain airbags. A rear camera, parking sensors and Tele Aid emergency communications system are optional. The GLK350 had not been crash-tested by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety when we checked.

The Mercedes-Benz GLK350 comes in one trim level, with rear-wheel drive (Base MSRP: $34,600) or AWD ($36,600). Vinyl "leatherette" seats are standard, along with dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth and a CD stereo with auxiliary jack. Leather seats cost $1,750 extra. A Premium 1 package (Base MSRP: $3,150) adds a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate and satellite radio, among other things. A Multimedia package (Base MSRP: $3,350) adds a hard-drive navigation system with backup camera and an upgraded stereo. An Appearance package (Base MSRP: $970) bumps the wheels up to 20 inches and adds aluminum roof rails. A dual-screen backseat entertainment system (Base MSRP: $1,880) is one of several stand-alone options.

Reliability should be excellent, according to one major testing organization. The 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 is covered by a four-year/50,000-mile warranty.

Motor Trend and Car and Driver both test the Mercedes-Benz GLK350 head-to-head against a few of its closest competitors. ConsumerReports.org widens the scope, ranking the GLK350 against most SUVs in its class. Edmunds.com's test-based review is very descriptive, and it draws brief comparisons with the GLK350's rivals. One of Motor Trend's tests takes the GLK350 off-road, and TheTruthAboutCars.com tests it both off-road and in snow. FuelEconomy.gov compares the GLK350's estimated fuel economy with that of other SUVs.