The Surprisingly Reliable & Affordable Mercedes SUV You Forgot: The GLK

Looking for a luxury SUV that won't leave you stranded on the side of the road? Turns out, Mercedes has a hidden gem in its back catalog – and it might just be the most dependable Benz SUV of the last 25 years.

Meet the GLK: Benz's Forgotten Crossover

Before the GLC became Mercedes' compact crossover darling, there was the GLK. Introduced in 2008, this boxy little Mercedes was essentially the C-Class of SUVs – built on the same platform but with a higher ride height and more utility. It was designed for city dwellers who wanted something premium but didn't need the bulk of a full-size SUV.

What makes the GLK special isn't just its squared-off styling (which still looks pretty cool today) – it's the fact that this thing was built like a tank, especially the 2013 model year.

Reliability That Puts Other Mercs to Shame

The 2013 GLK earned an impressive 85/100 reliability score from J.D. Power – practically unheard of for a German luxury vehicle. Kelley Blue Book owners seem to agree, giving it a stellar 4.7/5 stars based on over 150 reviews.

What makes this particularly noteworthy is that Mercedes as a brand ranked 23rd in J.D. Power's 2025 Vehicle Dependability Study. The GLK is the exception to the rule – a Mercedes that doesn't demand constant attention from your mechanic.

Post-Facelift Perfection

The 2013 model hit the sweet spot in the GLK's production run. Being the first year after a mid-cycle refresh, it benefited from updated styling and, more importantly, fixes for issues that plagued earlier models. By this point, Mercedes had worked out the kinks, resulting in remarkably few owner complaints.

In 12 years, the NHTSA has recorded just 139 complaints about the vehicle – and most of those were related to the Takata airbag recall that affected practically every car manufacturer, not just Mercedes.

What's Under the Hood?

American buyers got two engine choices: the GLK350 with a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 making 302 horsepower, or the less common GLK250 with a 2.1-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder producing 200 horsepower.

Both came with a seven-speed automatic transmission, and buyers could choose between rear-wheel drive or Mercedes' 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. The V6 version wasn't slow either – it could hit 60 mph in about 6.4 seconds.

Surprisingly Affordable to Own

Unlike many German luxury vehicles, the GLK won't drain your bank account with maintenance costs. RepairPal estimates annual maintenance at around $945 – not cheap, but significantly less than the $1,000+ expected for most Mercedes SUVs.

Common issues are few and far between. The most reported problem is a cracking power steering pump reservoir, but even that affected only five reported owners.

Bargain Luxury on the Used Market

Here's the best part – these reliable luxury crossovers are now remarkably affordable. Clean GLK350s with reasonable mileage can be found for around $10,000, while high-mileage examples dip below $8,000. The diesel GLK250s are slightly more expensive, typically starting around $12,000.

For that price, buyers get leather seats, dual-zone climate control, and – if they shop carefully – extras like heated seats, premium sound systems, and panoramic sunroofs.

Bottom Line

The 2013 Mercedes GLK proves that "German luxury" and "reliable" aren't always contradictory terms. For used car shoppers who want Mercedes-Benz prestige without the stereotypical headaches, this boxy little crossover deserves a serious look – especially when it can be had for less than a basic new Kia.