Offering both hybrid and all-electric powertrains, Mercedes-Benz's 2028 GLA SUV offers more room and more performance, helping expand the brand's presence in the ultra-competitive subcompact premium SUV segment.
Photo: Tim Stevens
Mercedes-Benz has a new SUV coming, a completely rebooted GLA that may still be the brand's smallest, even though the GLA is growing substantially for the 2028 model year. It is also getting a suite of new powertrains, including a new 48-volt mild-hybrid system and single- and dual-motor electric-vehicle (EV) options.
Let's start with the battery-powered machines. The lowest-spec model is the single-motor GLA 250+ Electric, producing 268 horsepower. The next step up is the GLA 350 4Matic Electric, which adds a second motor and all-wheel drive (AWD). It delivers 349 hp, good enough for a zero-to-60-mph time of 5.3 seconds.
Both draw power from an 85-kilowatt-hour (kWh) nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery and use an 800-volt architecture, enabling a maximum charge rate of 320 kilowatts (kW). Although Mercedes has not yet provided official charging times, the current CLA with EQ Technology’s battery pack charges from 10 to 80 percent in 22 minutes.
Photo: Tim Stevens
Mercedes also has not provided any range estimates for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test cycle. Likewise, the automaker has not provided specific power or efficiency figures for the hybrid option. That information will be available closer to launch.
However, it has confirmed the hardware: a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The electric motor delivers 30 hp on its own, enough to drive the GLA for short distances without emissions. But with only a 1.3-kWh battery pack, you should not expect to go far without burning gas.
The new GLA is nearly 6 inches longer and the rear track is 1.2-inch wider, resulting in a much roomier interior. There is an extra 1.5 inches of legroom in the back and 0.9 inches of headroom overall. I sat in a pre-production model and found both the front and rear seats perfectly comfortable.
The interior is dominated by the available MBUX Superscreen setup, which includes a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster behind the steering wheel, a 14-inch central touchscreen, and a 14-inch passenger touchscreen on the right.
On the cargo side, the gasoline-powered model offers slightly more cargo volume than the EV. However, the EV makes up for it with generous frunk space. Exact cargo measurements for the U.S. market will be available closer to the GLA’s on-sale date.
Mercedes has not yet confirmed pricing or trim levels for the 2028 GLA, and we may have to wait a bit for all the numbers to come in. The SUV is not scheduled to hit the American market until sometime in the second half of 2027.
Photo: Tim Stevens
The new GLA most closely compares with the gas-powered Audi Q3 and the battery-powered Q4 E-tron. Volvo offers a similar split between its electric EX40 and the XC40, which is available with a hybrid powertrain. The BMW X1 also competes in the same segment.
Tim Stevens is a veteran automotive and technology journalist with nearly 30 years of experience covering a wide range of topics, from smartphones to supercars. In addition to jdpower.com, his expert perspectives have appeared in numerous national and international outlets, including print, online, and broadcast television.
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