SAFETY | 9 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
'Good,' frontal offset; 'good,' side impact; ‘good,’ rear impact; ‘good,’ roof strength; Top Safety Pick
IIHS
Not yet rated
NHTSA
Mercedes-Benz' enduring reputation for safety and related technology is evident in the 2013 GLK. It earns excellent crash-test scores from the agency reporting thus far, and this year, it's been refreshed with a slew of new features that improve its standing in the crossover class.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has tested the latest GLK, and it gives the crossover "good" scores in all relevant tests. That made the GLK a Top Safety Pick again for 2012, and with no structural changes for the new model year, it's expected that the designation will carry over.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on the other hand, hasn't yet tested the smallest Benz SUV.
All the customary safety features are included in the GLK package: there are dual front, side and curtain airbags as well as anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control. Active front head restraints are standard, too, and the GLK has emergency systems that will automatically contact emergency dispatch if you're in a severe crash.
New this year are features like Attention Assist, which uses cameras to measure drowsy driving--and to suggest a coffee stop when needed. MBrace2 seeks to avoid distracted driving by offlining smartphone activity to the ute's audio and Bluetooth controls, while active park assist uses the GLK's electric power steering and parking sensors to accurately place the vehicle in a parallel parking spot--with the driver manning the accelerator and brake. Lane-keeping assist is now available: it nudges the GLK back into the proper lane when it detects a swerve over the lines. And finally, blind-spot monitors and adaptive cruise control are now offered on the GLK as options.
Thanks to the relatively high seating position and low shoulder line, the Mercedes-Benz GLK has impressive outward visibility—better than most other luxury crossovers.
Conclusion
The GLK's plentiful safety gear adds lane-keeping and active park assist, as well as blind-spot monitors, to the options list.
