Mercedes-Benz USA just priced the vehicle, and the recent drop in the value of the euro allowed them to offer it at a reasonable starting price of $33,900 plus $875 destination charge (total: $34,775). Naturally, there's a hitch: that sticker price is for the rear-wheel-drive model. If you want 4Matic all-wheel drive, which of course those of us in the snowbelt do, add another two grand, for a total starting price of $36,775. The 2008 X3, by comparison, starts at $39,425, including all-wheel drive. Happily, the Benz is well-equipped for its starting sticker, with a standard 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 mated to a seven-speed automatic, nineteen-inch wheels, and either aluminum (with the black M-B Tex simulated leather upholstery) or burled-walnut (with almond Tex) trim. Our fully loaded test vehicle with genuine leather upholstery, twenty-inch wheels, and a killer Harman/Kardon stereo/DVD system, among other goodies, rings in at about $49K.

The EPA has not yet issued its official ratings for the GLK350, but Mercedes is hoping for 16/22 mpg, and maybe 16/23 for the rear-wheel-drive version. These figures are comparable to the BMW X3's. The GLK350 goes on sale as a 2010 model on Monday, January 5, 2009, ahead of the Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60, which don't arrive until March.