Mercedes just gave its smallest crossover a full reboot, and the new GLA arrives with a plug before it ever gets a gas tank. The electric versions lead the rollout, the sheet metal looks a class above the outgoing model, and the range-topper promises up to 400 miles between charges. It’s a clear signal of where the brand wants this entry point to go.
- Three electric versions launch first, topping out at 349 hp and around 400 miles of range
- The GLA grows longer and wider, adding cabin and cargo room
- US buyers get the 250+ and 350 4MATIC, with hybrids following later
A Sharper, More Grown-Up Look
Mercedes styling has been a mixed bag lately, but the GLA lands on the right side of the ledger. Up front sits the company’s new iconic grille, now bigger than before with optional illumination. Standard LED headlights carry a chrome-plated star design, and the optional Multibeam LEDs add daytime running lights shaped like tiny stars.
The body gets flush door handles, pronounced cladding, and muscular rear haunches, riding on wheels that range from 18 to 20 inches. Around back, the license plate has shifted from the liftgate down to the bumper, and squared-off taillights are tied together by a slim light bar. Buyers can dress it up with AMG Line, AMG Line Plus, and Night Edition packages. The Night Edition leans dark with a Cosmos Black Magno finish, high-gloss black trim, black 20-inch wheels, and two-tone sport seats.
The car is also physically bigger. It stretches 179.7 inches long, 73.7 inches wide, and 63.1 inches tall, with a 109.8-inch wheelbase. That makes it 6.1 inches longer than before, with 2.4 extra inches between the wheels.
Inside a Cabin Built Around Screens
Open the door and the GLA borrows heavily from the CLA. You get a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14-inch central touchscreen, plus a blank panel decorated with star graphics that quietly pushes you toward the optional MBUX Superscreen. Add it and a 14-inch passenger display joins the party, with access to more than 40 apps including Disney+ and YouTube.
The options list keeps going. There’s a Sky Control panoramic roof that switches from clear to opaque in milliseconds, and a 16-speaker Burmester 3D surround sound setup for anyone who wants concert-hall volume on the commute. The extra length pays off inside too. Front legroom grows a touch, rear passengers gain up to 1.5 inches of legroom and nearly an inch of headroom, and the boot now holds 14.5 cubic feet. Fold the seats and that opens up to 49.4 cubic feet, while electric models add a small 3.8-cubic-foot frunk for cables.
The Electric Lineup, From Base to Brawler
The entry point is the GLA 200 Electric, using a 58 kWh LFP battery and a single rear motor good for 221 hp and 247 lb-ft. It runs 0 to 62 mph in 8.1 seconds, tops out at 130 mph, and returns a WLTP range of 245 to 278 miles. Fast charging at 200 kW takes it from 10 to 80 percent in about 20 minutes, and ten minutes on the plug adds roughly 103 miles.
Step up to the GLA 250+ Electric and you get 268 hp, a 7.3-second sprint, and a larger 85 kWh NMC pack rated at 359 to 408 miles. Its 320 kW charging can bank 168 miles in ten minutes. At the top sits the GLA 350 4MATIC Electric, a dual-motor all-wheel-drive version making 349 hp and 380 lb-ft. It hits 62 mph in 5.4 seconds and still covers up to 400 miles. The US will get only the 250+ and 350 4MATIC, and a fourth version with a 71 kWh battery is due in 2027.
Hybrids and a Smarter Assist System Round It Out
Gas-electric versions arrive next year with front- or all-wheel drive. Each pairs a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder with a small 1.3 kWh battery and a 30 hp motor built into an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Mercedes stayed vague on numbers, though the setup likely mirrors the CLA, pointing to a GLA 200 near 190 hp and a GLA 220 around 217 hp. Every version can also be fitted with the new MB.Drive Assist for Level 2 semi-autonomous driving.
Orders open first in Europe, with the US launch set for the second half of 2027. If you’ve been eyeing a compact Mercedes GLA for sale but wanted more range and a nicer cabin, this redesign answers both without asking you to size up. Keep an eye on local pricing as the American versions get closer, since the 250+ and 350 4MATIC will set the tone for what this crossover costs here.