The interior receives a makeover of its own, with upgraded finishes, revised instrument panel lighting and graphics, and an abundance of standard wood trim. In fact, the plank of burl walnut that adorns the dash is one of the largest single pieces of wood ever used in any Mercedes -- and looks positively stunning.
Lest you be distracted by its beauty, the GLK offers an Attention Assist system that sounds an alarm when it senses you aren't paying attention to the road. An equally impressive automated parallel parking system is a new option this year.
There's only one area where the GLK might disappoint buyers: 54.7 cubic feet of cargo space is rather stingy for a crossover. Even some tall hatchbacks offer more.
The big news for 2013 is the debut of the only diesel engine in the GLK's segment. The all-new 2.1-liter four-cylinder features dual turbochargers and the latest clean-burning technology. Horsepower comes in at 200, but it's the torque that makes this engine special, all 369 pound-feet of it. That's massive output for an engine of this size, and enables the BlueTEC to scoot from zero to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds. The diesel GLK can also tow just as much (3,500 pounds) as the gas V6 model.
Fuel efficiency is the BlueTEC's main strength at 24 mpg city and up to 33 on the highway, which is especially impressive considering the extra weight of standard 4MATIC all-wheel drive.