Mercedes-Benz Goes All-Electric First With Redesigned GLA Crossover

Mercedes-Benz has finally lifted the curtain on the third-generation GLA, closing out a wave of small-car redesigns that began last year with the CLA sedan, its Shooting Brake wagon sibling, and the second-generation GLB. A pre-production prototype of this crossover was spotted testing on American roads back in May, and now the finished product has been revealed in full.

Visually, the new GLA keeps a family resemblance to its predecessor but rides on an entirely fresh body shared in design language with the rest of Mercedes' compact lineup. The nose is dominated by a large grille packed with star patterns and lit by 158 LEDs, with optional illumination extending to the trim surround and the badge itself. Three-pointed stars also show up stylized within the headlights and taillights, while flush door handles pop out on approach. Buyers can pick wheels from 18 to 20 inches and choose among four different exterior styling packages.

Dimensionally, the GLA has grown up: length increases by 155 mm to 4,565 mm, width by 39 mm to 1,873 mm, and the wheelbase stretches 61 mm to 2,790 mm. Height actually drops by 20 mm to 1,604 mm. Cargo space benefits from the changes too, gaining 70 liters for a standard 410-liter trunk that expands to 1,400 liters with the rear seats folded. Fully electric variants also get a 107-liter front trunk for extra storage.

Inside, the GLA shares its cabin architecture with the rest of the modern compact Mercedes range. The optional MBUX Superscreen setup spans the dashboard with a single glass surface hosting three displays: a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, a 14-inch central infotainment screen, and a 14-inch passenger touchscreen. Base models replace that passenger screen with a decorative star pattern, which can be illuminated for an extra fee. The infotainment system itself runs on Mercedes' fourth-generation software, complete with a voice assistant and built-in AI capabilities. A panoramic roof comes standard, with an available electrochromic glass upgrade featuring 172 illuminated stars, and a Burmester 3D sound system with Dolby Atmos rounds out the options list.

Underneath, the GLA now rides on the MMA (Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture) platform, engineered from the ground up to accommodate both combustion and electric powertrains, with MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link setup at the rear. Notably, Mercedes is launching this crossover with electric versions first, all built on an 800-volt architecture. The entry-level GLA 200 uses a single rear motor producing 224 hp and 335 Nm paired with a 58 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery, hitting 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds and covering up to 447 km on a charge despite its 2,145 kg curb weight.

Stepping up, the rear-wheel-drive GLA 250+ pairs a 272 hp/335 Nm motor with an 85 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery, sprinting to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and reaching 657 km of range at 2,155 kg. Topping the electric range is the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive GLA 350 4MATIC, which shares the same battery but delivers 354 hp and 515 Nm combined, needing just 5.4 seconds for the sprint and offering 643 km of range despite weighing 2,235 kg. All three electric variants top out at 210 km/h. Down the road, Mercedes will add 48-volt mild-hybrid versions powered by a new 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder codenamed M252 — the first engine from the FAME family co-developed with Geely, paired with an 8F-eDCT dual-clutch transmission housing a 30-hp electric motor and a small 1.3 kWh battery, available with front- or all-wheel drive.

Production is based at Mercedes' Rastatt plant in Germany, with electric versions reaching dealers in November, though pre-orders are already open. Pricing starts at €48,600 for the GLA 200, €55,000 for the GLA 250+, and €58,100 for the GLA 350 4MATIC, while the hybrid variants are expected to join the lineup early next year.