First Contact — 2028 Mercedes-Benz GLA : Moving Up in the World

The Mercedes-Benz GLA was launched for the 2014 model year, becoming the brand’s entry-level SUV. Stylish, it quickly carved out a place in enthusiasts’ hearts. In 2020, we got the second-generation model, and now the star brand is doing it again with a third edition. As far as we’re concerned, it’ll arrive next year, for the 2028 model year.

• The 2028 GLA will offer both electric and hybrid powertrains

• The electric version’s expected range will top 500 km

• The model should reach us in the second half of 2027

At the launch of the electric C-Class two weeks ago, we got a preview of this new GLA. Here’s what matters.

A New Image

The first two GLA generations gave us a model with rounder, softer lines. That changes with this third act, as the whole vehicle takes on a more muscular, sharper look. That’s especially true at the rear, where a more robust shoulder line gives the impression of a wider vehicle.

Up front, the grille is more upright than ever. Like the C-Class and the GLC, and every other Mercedes-Benz product arriving over the coming years, it revives the classic grille style that defined the brand’s image from the 1950s through the 1980s.

This new grille consists of a chrome frame and a smoked-glass-effect panel, with the brand’s star mounted at the centre, illuminated as an option. The panel’s surface hides no fewer than 608 light points, along with 158 micro-LEDs, capable of orchestrating short light sequences in time with the on-board soundtrack.

New Dimensions

This more muscular, more assertive body also hides another notable change: the GLA is bigger. Granted, it loses 20 millimetres in height compared with the previous generation, but it gains 61 millimetres of wheelbase and 31 millimetres of rear track. Its wheels, ranging from 18 to 20 inches, sit flush with the body rather than tucked in. The overall stance is noticeably sportier.

And this styling, as you can see in our photos, will be shared by both variants on offer: the fully electric model and the hybrid variant.

Two Powertrains, Two Customer Bases

The GLA is set to play both sides of the field, going all-in on electrification while also offering a combustion engine, albeit hybridized with electric power. It’s an approach we’re starting to see more of, and one likely to spread across the industry given the fluctuating sales of electric models in certain parts of the world. By offering both solutions, the automaker is, in a sense, hedging its bets.

We’ll be cautious about the mechanical details of these versions, since plenty can still change between now and the moment these models actually reach dealerships. What we can confirm is that the gas-powered variant will be driven by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, paired with a 22 kW electric motor integrated into a new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. A 48-volt battery with a capacity of 1.3 kWh allows the vehicle to run in pure electric mode around town and let the gas engine rest on secondary roads.

First Drive — Mercedes-Benz Electric C-Class 2027: A Little S-Class

For the electric version, the first figures shared concern European data, including range, calculated on the more generous European WLTP cycle. Once converted, that should put us somewhere north of 500 km, perhaps close to 550 km, though caution is still warranted: it’ll vary by version, and it remains to be seen which ones will be offered here. Battery capacity sits at 85 kWh. Of the three versions announced in Europe (GLA 200, GLA 250+ and GLA 350 4MATIC), we can likely expect the last one.

Everything remains to be confirmed.

Speaking of all-wheel drive, Mercedes-Benz also states that the four-wheel-drive versions will get a TERRAIN driving mode, designed for surfaces such as gravel or sand, along with an optional “transparent bonnet” function that displays a virtual view beneath the vehicle, making it easier to navigate rough trails.

Inside

Inside, the GLA benefits directly from recipes that have already proven themselves elsewhere in the Mercedes-Benz family. The cabin gains space just about everywhere: 7 millimetres more front legroom, up to 38 millimetres more in the rear, and headroom up by 23 to 24 millimetres depending on the row, thanks in part to the panoramic roof, now standard. The trunk grows to 410 litres, 70 litres more than before, with a 107-litre front trunk on the electric versions.

Still a subcompact, this GLA, but more spacious than ever.

The interior presentation also adopts the brand’s new visual language, which is cleaner and less sculptural than before. The optional MBUX Superscreen stretches across the full width of the dashboard, combining the instrument cluster, central display, and a dedicated passenger screen that can browse the web or play content without distracting the driver, thanks to camera-based privacy, much like on the C-Class.

The MBUX system also comes with a virtual assistant powered by generative AI, capable of holding a genuine conversation, remembering certain details, and answering just about anything, from directions to ski conditions. The brand has decided to make this assistant a selling point in its own right, on par with the mechanicals.

For music lovers, the sound isn’t an afterthought either, with an optional Burmester 3D system on offer. The ambient lighting, meanwhile, comes in 64 hues and has little left to envy in the brand’s more upscale models.

In short, the formula that works elsewhere at Mercedes-Benz has been carefully carried over into this new GLA.

Of course, for a full picture, we’ll need to get behind the wheel of these new versions, which will happen next year.

Final Word

On paper, this new GLA has everything it needs to win over customers looking for a more affordable model without sacrificing style or technology.

The styling, inherited from the brand’s new signature look, is quite successful, which bodes well for what’s ahead. The interior, larger and reworked, has little left to envy in the family’s more upscale models.

The GLA is Mercedes-Benz’s third best-selling model in Canada, behind the GLC and the GLE. This new formula could help it make gains and aim for second place.

To be continued…