Top News

The 2028 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has now been revealed, and like the closely related CLA-Class, it will be offered with both electric and hybrid powertrains. This new GLA is larger than before, though it remains the smallest SUV in the Mercedes-Benz line-up — and it now comes loaded with considerably more technology.

Based on the same MMA platform as the new CLA, the GLA shares the sedan’s key powertrain hardware. At launch, there will be two electric variants: the rear-wheel-drive GLA250+ Electric and the GLA350 4Matic Electric. The latter can sprint from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 5.3 seconds, courtesy its dual-motor powertrain producing 349 horsepower. The entry-level 250+ delivers 268 horsepower.

Both versions use an 85-kilowatt-hour nickel-manganese-cobalt battery pack. As with the CLA, the GLA features advanced 800-volt charging architecture, enabling DC fast-charging at up to 320 kilowatts. The 250+ has an estimated WLTP range of 408 miles, and Mercedes says it can recover up to 167 miles of range in only 10 minutes at a charger. Range is expected to drop significantly under EPA testing, as the more efficient CLA 250+ is rated at 374 miles in the U.S. Choosing all-wheel drive will reduce that further, with the dual-motor CLA rated at 312 miles by the EPA.

For buyers not interested in a full EV, Mercedes is also offering a hybrid powertrain. Just like the CLA, the new GLA gets a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission that integrates an electric motor. Mercedes says the hybrid uses a 1.3-kWh battery pack, and in city driving, when less than 30 horsepower is required, it can run purely on electric power. Full specifications were not initially released, but this powertrain is expected to be similar or identical to the CLA’s combined output of 208 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque.

The GLA’s larger footprint should be good news for anyone planning to carry more passengers in this compact SUV. Its wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than before, while the rear track is 1.2 inches wider. Mercedes says this creates 1.5 inches of extra rear legroom and 0.3 inch more up front. Headroom has also increased slightly, despite this new GLA being 0.8-inch lower than the outgoing model.

While the added cabin room should be welcome, the GLA’s redesigned exterior is likely to divide opinion. Rather than adopting the CLA’s more restrained appearance, Mercedes has fitted its new “iconic grille” to the front end, complete with an illuminated surround and panel on the EV. According to Mercedes, the illuminated grille incorporates 158 micro-LEDs, though the hybrid gets a functional grille with only the surround lighting. The headlamps themselves carry the Mercedes three-pointed star motif, and although it appears fragmented at the rear, the same pattern is repeated in the taillamps.

The proportions of this new GLA are clearly more EV-inspired. There is visible visual mass lower down in the body, where the battery is located. Aerodynamics were also a major priority — note the new flush door handles — and Mercedes says the GLA achieves a drag coefficient of 0.27. The company adds that this also helps cut wind noise inside the cabin, while extra sound insulation and new elastomer mounts between the chassis and body are intended to make this entry-level Mercedes-Benz feel more refined.

If you have already seen the CLA’s cabin, the GLA’s interior will look familiar. Buyers opting for the MBUX Superscreen will get a highly digital set-up that includes a 10.3-inch driver display, a 14-inch central infotainment touchscreen and a 14-inch passenger display. The limited number of physical buttons are placed on the floating centre console, while the steering wheel combines touch controls with a physical scroll wheel for volume and a toggle switch for cruise control.

A full glass roof is standard across the GLA range, and it helps shield occupants from the sun with both an infrared-reflective coating and an “ultra-thin low-emissivity” coating. The first is meant to lower cabin temperatures in summer, while the second reflects heat back into the interior during winter. A 16-speaker Burmester 3D audio system is available as an option, and if selected, it also brings Dolby Atmos support.

Mercedes says the new 2028 GLA will reach U.S. dealerships in the second half of 2027, which means roughly a one-year wait from this reveal. Both the electric and hybrid versions are expected to go on sale at the same time.