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MERCEDES�FIRST COMPACT SUV

“The GLK proved incredibly stable and rugged, happily
making do with three wheels when the fourth hung in
mid-air as we negotiated an old goat path�br>
Mercedes premiered the GLK �the first ever compact luxury SUV from the premier German manufacturer. Most people know the company as the producer of luxury sedans that are prized the world over. But few would recognise the no-nonsense looks of the G Class 4WD they have been producing since the 1970s. Prized by extremely wealthy enthusiasts and a few military units around the world, the G’s uncompromising stance meant that few others would ever be able to experience it.

But the GLK promises to bridge that gap. Compact, luxurious and user-friendly, it is a lot more comfortable to use on road than its larger-than-life cousin, with enough technology and power to satisfy all the needs you expect fulfilled by a Mercedes.

What will take you by surprise, though, is just how tough this little SUV can be. We raced over the coastal highways of Dhofar and crawled up the mountains in the immediate vicinity. While we didn’t push it through anything extreme, what we did throw at it resembled as much of off-roading and perhaps a bit more than you are ever likely to experience.

The GLK proved incredibly stable and rugged, happily making do with three wheels when the fourth hung in mid-air as we negotiated an old goat path.

The GLK 280 comes with 231hp, while the 3.4-litre 272hp 350 version will get you to 100kmph in 6.7 seconds. For those who want the most of its 4WD system, the off-road package includes 17-inch light alloy wheels, off-road pads and underguards. The off-road engineering package will activate a special 4WD programme.