The next-gen GLA subcompact luxury SUV will lead with an EV, but a hybrid variant will follow. As goes the Mercedes-Benz CLA, so goes its crossover sibling, the GLA. The baby Benz sedan just emerged from a redesign and is now offered in EV and hybrid form; the GLA is about to follow suit.
Like its sedan sibling, the first GLA out of the gate will be the electric version. It will be available as the GLA250+, with a single electric motor driving the rear wheels; the dual-motor GLA350 has all-wheel drive. Mercedes hasn't yet shared any horsepower figures, but if we look to the CLA for guidance, we can figure they'll come in at or close to 268 horsepower for the GLA250+ and 349 horses for the GLA350.
The GLA350 is the performance model, and Mercedes claims a zero-to-60-mph time of 5.3 seconds for that version. The GLA250+ will boast the longer driving range of the two, and we're told it should be good for about 350 miles.
View Price on AmazonBuilt on the MMA platform, like the CLA and the GLB, both versions feature an 800-volt architecture and use an 85-kWh battery. They can recharge at up to 240 kW, should you find a sufficiently powerful charging station.
The hybrid model will be offered as the front-wheel-drive GLA220 and the all-wheel-drive GLA250. Like the CLA hybrid, it uses a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Either variant is larger than today's GLA. The wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer, and the body stretches six inches longer overall. It's fractionally lower, however, by 0.8 inch, and the tracks are wider. Up front, the headlights get the brand's new star-shaped lighting elements, and the newly enlarged grilles—each version with its own design—can also be illuminated. Behind the EVs' grille is a frunk that's slightly larger than the one in the CLA.
Inside, the upright dash is entirely given over to digital displays. The optional Superscreen adds a 14.0-inch passenger screen to the 14.0-inch central touchscreen and 10.3-inch driver's display. Naturally, the MBUX system includes a virtual digital assistant, which incorporates Google Gemini and ChatGPT. The camera system includes a transparent-hood view, and automated parking is available.
A glass roof is standard, and the optional Sky Control can vary its opacity in sections. It also adorns the glass with a constellation of 172 light-up stars.
Source: caranddriver.com
