Mercedes-Benz pulled the covers off the next-generation GLA on July 29, 2026, and the update goes well beyond new bumpers and a fresh grille. The GLA is currently Mercedes’ best-selling model in the compact SUV segment, and for 2028 the automaker rebuilt it around the same MMA platform that underpins the latest CLA, rather than simply refreshing the outgoing car.
The new GLA sits 0.8 inches lower than before, with a wheelbase stretched by 2.4 inches and a wider rear track. It’s the styling change that stands out first, though: for the first time in this segment, Mercedes is offering an illuminated front grille — a panel built from 158 micro-LEDs on electric versions, paired with 608 backlit light points across the front end for a distinctive light signature after dark.
Two Electric Variants and a New Hybrid
Buyers get a genuine choice of powertrains rather than a single electrified option bolted onto a gas platform. The all-electric lineup includes the GLA 250+ Electric, making 268 horsepower, and the GLA 350 4MATIC Electric, making 349 horsepower with all-wheel drive. Both share an 85-kWh usable nickel-manganese-cobalt battery and 800-volt architecture, enabling up to 657 kilometers (roughly 408 miles) of WLTP-rated range and fast charging that can recover about 270 kilometers (168 miles) of range in as little as ten minutes. Mercedes says the top electric variant can reach 60 mph in 5.3 seconds.
For buyers not ready to go fully electric, a 48-volt hybrid pairs a new turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission that has a 30-horsepower electric motor built directly into it. A compact 1.3-kWh battery allows limited electric-only driving at low speeds in city traffic, and the system can recover up to 25 kW through regenerative braking. Mercedes has not released full output figures for the hybrid, but the setup is expected to closely mirror the new CLA’s hybrid system, which produces just over 200 horsepower.
More Space and a Screen-Filled Cabin
Inside, the longer wheelbase translates directly into more room: Mercedes says front occupants gain 0.3 inches of legroom and rear passengers get up to 1.5 inches more, along with 0.9 inches of additional headroom at both rows. A fixed glass panoramic roof is now standard, built with a heat-insulating, infrared-reflective coating designed to keep the cabin cooler.
The centerpiece of the redesigned interior is an optional MBUX Superscreen, a glass panel spanning the dashboard that houses three separate displays for the driver and front passenger. The new GLA also introduces Mercedes’ MB.Drive Assist system, which adds Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capability, along with improved sound insulation and revised chassis mounts aimed at making the cabin quieter overall.
When and Where You Can Buy One
The new GLA goes up for order in Europe almost immediately, but U.S. buyers will have a longer wait: Mercedes says the 2028 GLA arrives at American dealerships during the second half of 2027. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but for context, the outgoing 2026 GLA 250 starts at $42,850 including destination charge, and industry analysts expect the redesigned model to start somewhat higher, likely in the mid-$40,000s before options.
What This Means for Compact SUV Shoppers
The redesigned GLA is a meaningful statement about where Mercedes sees its entry-level SUV heading: rather than treating the smallest model in the lineup as a stripped-down starter car, the 2028 GLA gets genuine technology, real electric range, and cabin materials that echo the brand’s larger SUVs. For shoppers cross-shopping compact luxury SUVs over the next year, the bigger question will be whether Mercedes can hold pricing close to the outgoing model’s range once the redesigned car actually reaches U.S. showrooms in 2027 — and how it stacks up against rival German electric SUVs entering the same segment around the same time.
