The crossover SUV marketplace is loaded with options, but the luxury segment is a little less crowded. The first competitor for the GL350 is the 2013 Audi Q5, which starts out at $35,900 and comes with a 211-horsepower, 2.0-liter engine that gets 28 mpg highway, tows up to 4,400 pounds and features leather seating for five people. Next up is the 2013 BMW X3, which carries a base MSRP of $38,500, has a standard 2.0-liter engine that pumps out 240 horsepower, gets 28 mpg highway, carries up to five people on leatherette interior and tows up to 3,000 pounds. The final competitor is the 2013 INFINITI EX37, which comes with a base MSRP of $36,800, seating for up to five people on leather, a 325-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 engine and 25 mpg city.
Though the competition for the GLK350 is slim, it is still rather tough, so Mercedes needs to bring a lot to the table to prevent losing customers to BMW, Audi and INFINITI.