2012 Mercedes GLK Facelift – but still no GLK for the UK

2012 Mercedes GLK Facelift - but not for the UK

A facelift for 2012 on the Mercedes GLK SUV is due to debut at the New York Auto Show in April, but the UK still won’t get the GLK.

Mercedes’ answer to cars like the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 – the Mercedes GLK – is to get a facelift for 2012 and some tweaks to the oily bits for 2012, but Mercedes still don’t think it worth their while building a RHD version for the UK.

In fact, despite expectations that Mercedes would at least deliver a RWD version of the GLK to RHD markets it now seems that won’t happen until the all new GLK arrives in a few years time.

Still, the facelift for the GLK is newsworthy nonetheless and the tweaks Mercedes has made to the GLK for 2012 (although it will be a 2013 model in the US) are worthwhile, even if it’s still oddly proportioned in our eyes.

On the cosmetic front the new GLK gets new bumpers front and back across the whole range with new lights front and back – including LED driving lights – and a new choice of alloys in a variety of sizes depending on model and the depth of your pockets.

For the first time GLK buyers can also tart up their new compact SUB with an AMG Exterior Sports pack that adds a front and rear aprons, AMG grill and running lights, 19″ AMG alloys and a firmer suspension.

Inside the GLK gets more of a tweak than a facelift with new air vents, new colours, some new sports seat option, a different steering wheel and new infotainment. Nothing major.

Mercedes are offering 7 models of the GLK with everything from the 2.1 litre OM651 Diesel engine (which now seems to have injectors that actually work for more than five minutes) in the GLK220 to the V6 GLK 350 4Matic petrol. Models on offer are:

The 2012 Mercedes GLK arrives next month at the New York Auto Show and goes on sale across Europe in the Summer.

Not that it matters to our UK readers.

(40 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)

By Cars UK