As SUV entrypoint to the Mercedes-Benz brand, the subcompact GLA can introduce new buyers to the world of German luxury. That makes it important for first impressions, and the redesigned 2028 Mercedes-Benz GLA appears ready to improve upon the previous generations.
2028 Mercedes-Benz GLA Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2028 Mercedes-Benz GLA
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2028 Mercedes-Benz GLA
The Mercedes-Benz GLA is all-new for 2028, and for the first time, it gets hybrid and electric powertrains. It sports a new design inside and out, and it’s bigger, to give it more interior space. It also has more interior and safety technology and boasts a state-of-the-art electrical architecture that should deliver great range.
Design
Like most vehicles these days, the Mercedes GLA gets bigger for its third generation, though it sits lower. The roof is 0.8 inch lower, but the GLA rides a wheelbase that grows by 2.4 inches and its rear track is 1.2 inches wider. The nose features an upright stance, a new taller grille, and LED lighting with Mercedes star elements. A total of 150 Mercedes stars also adorn the grille of the hybrid, while the EV has chrome trim, an illuminated surround, and a “grille” panel that can illuminate and animate light sequences. Underguards front and rear suggest more of an adventurous character, while exterior chrome trim front and back has a luxurious look. The flanks have clean surfaces with horizontal lower character lines and darkened rocker panels to alleviate visual weight.
The optional AMG Line appearance package gets a dark grille with an illuminated surround, body color front and rear fascias, gloss-black or body color wheel arch trim, a flat-bottom steering wheel with shift paddles, and stainless steel pedals. An available Night Edition sports Manufaktur Cosmos Black Magno paint, black exterior accents, and AMG 10-spoke, 20-inch wheels on the outside, with illuminated black door sills, dark air vents, and sport seats in white and black microfiber on the inside.
Powertrain
Mercedes will offer the electric version of the GLA in 250+ Electric and 350 4Matic Electric models. The 250+ will come with a single front-mounted electric motor good for 268 horsepower, while the 350 4Matic will have a rear motor to unlock all-wheel drive and 349 hp. Both powertrains will draw their power from a nickel-manganese-cobalt battery with 85 kWh of usable capacity.
An 800-volt electrical architecture will allow the GLA Electrics to charge at up to 320 kW on a DC fast charger. Mercedes says the GLA Electric will have up to 408 miles of range on the European WLTP cycle. That should translate to about 350 miles on the U.S.’s tougher EPA cycle.
Hybrid versions of the GLA will use a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that can add up to 30 hp. The motor is integrated into a new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. A 1.3-kWh battery will allow the hybrid to drive on electric power alone at up to 30 mph for short distances. Mercedes hasn’t announced total output, but the related 2027 CLA 220 has 208 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is yet to be determined.
While the GLA is generally not considered to be an off-roader, the new model will have a Terrain mode to adjust the steering, brakes, and drivetrain for dirt and gravel roads. It will also offer a transparent hood view through the surround-view camera system to better place the vehicle in off-road conditions. Towing capacity has not yet been announced.
Interior
The 2028 Mercedes GLA will continue to seat five but now in more comfort. The 2.4-inch longer wheelbase allowed Mercedes to add 0.3 inch of front legroom and 1.5 inches of rear legroom. Despite the fact that the vehicle sits lower, it also adds 0.9 inches of headroom for both seating rows. Mercedes hasn’t announced rear cargo room, but it should increase from the current model's 15.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 50.5 cubic feet with those seats folded down. The rear seats will fold in a 40/20/40 split. The GLA Electric will also have additional space in a front trunk.
Mercedes has only outlined a few interior materials as of this writing. The Night Edition will come with sport seats upholstered in synthetic leather and microfiber. We expect synthetic leather as standard, likely with heated front seats and power controls. Heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel will likely be offered as well.
Mercedes has said that a glass panoramic roof will come standard, and an optional Sky Control roof will be able to switch from transparent to opaque.
Technology
So far, Mercedes has only detailed the optional Superscreen, which consists of a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14-inch central touchscreen, and a 14-inch front passenger touchscreen, all under a single glass surface. In other Mercedes, the Superscreen adds only the passenger display, so the other two screens are likely to be standard. Expect standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a wireless device charger, though those features haven’t been announced.
The GLA will run the MB.OS software with graphics from the Unity Game Engine. An MBUX Virtual Assistant will incorporate AI from Google, MicroSoft, and ChatGPT. The passenger screen will incorporate all the functionality of the center screen and allow passengers to access audio and video conferencing apps, as well as from video streaming from platforms like Disney+ and Sony RIDEVU. The navigation system will also hook into AI.
The standard audio system hasn’t been announced, but Mercedes said the optional Burmester system will have 16 speakers and 850 watts of power.
