Mercedes’ Smallest SUV Points To A Different Kind Of Compact Future

The next chapter of the Mercedes-Benz GLA story looks set to evolve on the outside while reinventing itself underneath, keeping its familiar shape but introducing a thoroughly re-engineered core.

Positioned beneath the recently redesigned GLB, the GLA shifts onto the brand’s new MMA architecture, opening the door to a broader mix of electric and hybrid drivetrains while keeping its compact SUV brief intact.

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Based on test mules snapped by our lens-toting spies, we have illustrated how the production car is likely to look and gathered everything currently known about it.

Evolutionary Stars

At the front, the next GLA adopts Mercedes’ latest upright grille, with cooling inlets for hybrid versions and a closed-off panel for EV versions. It’s flanked by slim headlights that feature a horizontal LED brow above star-shaped daytime running lights, similar to the latest GLB.

In profile, the GLA sticks with its raised-hatchback silhouette rather than the ‘upright’ aesthetic of its larger brother. Short overhangs, a gently rising beltline, and pronounced wheel-arch cladding give it a compact, athletic stance. Flush-fitting door handles reduce visual clutter, and the roofline tapers subtly toward the rear, complementing its pumped haunches.

Out back, star shaped LED taillights are framed by an illuminated loop that stretches from the rear quarter panel into the tailgate, creating a continuous light signature that is instantly recognisable at night.

Superscreen Overload

While the cabin remains under wraps, the new GLA is expected to closely mirror the latest CLA and GLB. That means a pixel-loaded dashboard dominated by a pillar-to-pillar MBUX Superscreen, combining a digital instrument cluster, central infotainment display, and optional passenger screen within a single glass panel.

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A Google-powered virtual assistant, Burmester 3D surround sound, and over-the-air updates will also be featured.

Material quality is expected to step up, with higher-grade recycled trims, cleaner surfacing, and dynamic ambient lighting. Improved packaging should also free up more rear-seat knee room and a slightly larger boot. Expect a full suite of MB.Drive driver assistance systems such as self-parking and hands-free semi-autonomous highway driving.

Electric Drive

Underneath, the GLA rides on Mercedes Benz’s Modular Architecture, or MMA, which supports both electric and electrified combustion powertrains across front and all-wheel drive layouts.

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Electric versions will employ an 800-volt electrical system and offer rear, or dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configurations. Output for the former is said to be 268 hp (200 kW) and 247 ft-lb (335Nm), and the dual-motor version amps this up near the 350 hp (257 kW) mark.

Both electric variants use the same 85 kWh NMC battery, with an estimated WLTP range of around 337 to 392 miles, and can be charged at up to 320 kilowatts using DC fast charger.

Hybrid models are powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder paired with a 48-volt system and an electric motor integrated into an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Outputs are expected to range from around 136 hp (100kW) to 190 hp (140kW), with front and all-wheel-drive options, though we could see more powerful versions joining the standard range too.

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And then there is the likely performance angle. Expect more potent AMG flavored variants to join the lineup at a later stage, potentially including an electric EQ version producing more than 500 horsepower if Mercedes mirrors the direction planned for the upcoming CLA AMG.

Rivals And Reveal

Key rivals include the BMW X1 and iX1, Audi Q3, Genesis GV60, Volvo EX30, Polestar 4, and Lexus UX, a line up that covers everything from sensible premium staples to design led disruptors. In other words, the GLA is stepping into a ring that is already crowded and not particularly forgiving.

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The all electric GLA is expected to debut later this year, with hybrid and flagship AMG variants scheduled to follow later in 2027.

What do you make of the GLA’s evolutionary redesign? Is playing it safe the smart move in this segment, or should Mercedes have pushed harder? Share your thoughts in the comments below.