News

New Mercedes GLA revealed: premium family SUV goes fully electric for the first time

Next-gen premium SUV will offer 408 miles of range in its most efficient electric form, with mild hybrids on the way

Mercedes GLA Electric front driving

On sale Early 2027 Price from £45,400

Everything has to change at some point: the seasons, your haircut, the layout of your local supermarket. Now it’s time for the Mercedes GLA to change, and it’s doing so in a pretty drastic way – by going fully electric.

scroll for more

Indeed, much like many of its stablemates have been doing recently, Mercedes’ family SUV is taking on all-electric power for the first time. Based on the German brand’s new MMA technology, the next-gen GLA is closely related to the Mercedes CLA and GLB, which have also recently entered new electric eras. But fear not – if EVs aren’t for you, there are also combustion-powered variants on the way.

Mercedes GLA Electric rear driving

First, let’s tackle the electric models. There's two variants to pick from: the the GLA 250+ and the GLA 350 4Matic. GLA 250+ models are powered by a 85kWh battery alongside a 268bhp electric motor. That battery should be good for a range of up to 408 miles, which is longer than any version of the Audi Q4 e-tron and Kia EV6. Indeed, it’s the most efficient version of the electric GLA.

Eleanor Cooper

Updated: 29 July 2026

Car reviews

Mercedes C-Class front dynamic

Mercedes C-Class

Star Rating Red Star Rating Grey

Mercedes C-Class Electric front dynamic

Mercedes C-Class Electric

Star Rating Red Star Rating Grey

Kia EV6 front dynamic

Kia EV6

Star Rating Red Star Rating Grey

View all new car reviews

Range-topping GLA 350 4Matic models get the same 85kWh battery as the 250+, but use a dual-motor set-up for four-wheel drive, pumping out 349bhp. That allows it to sprint from 0-62mph in 5.4sec, which is on par with the Q4 e-tron quattro Performance, but the Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD is speedier. Due to its dual-motor set-up, it is slightly less efficient than the 250+, with 381 miles of range.

scroll for more

Mercedes GLA hybrid front driving

Charging should be pretty quick thanks to the GLA’s 800-volt architecture, which means it can charge at speeds of up to 320kW. That translates to a top-up of 172 miles in around 10 minutes, according to Mercedes. That’s only if you can find a suitable public charger though, and those are rare in the UK. To charge at a more common 400V station, you’ll need to opt for an additional DC converter.

Later down the line, the GLA will be offered with a 71kWh battery option, plus two mild hybrid options, using a 1.5-litre petrol engine alongside a small 30bhp electric motor and 1.3kWh battery. There’ll be front- and four-wheel-drive variants, and according to Mercedes, they’ll be able to run on electric power alone at low speeds around town. Official technical details have yet to be revealed, but for reference, the CLA has three combustion options, with 134bhp, 161bhp and 188bhp (with 4Matic four-wheel drive).

One of the first things you’ll notice about the new GLA is how much on the outside has changed. Indeed, the new model is larger than the previous version, sitting 20mm lower, and having grown 31mm in width and 61mm between the wheels. Still, that should mean there’s more space inside for passengers to stretch out.

scroll for more

Mercedes GLA Electric interior

The new GLA also gets fresh styling to bring it in line with Mercedes’ other new electric models, such as the GLC and C-Class Electric, including bright LED headlights and a striking illuminated grille with more than 600 LEDs in it. Its silhouette is sleeker compared with the previous generation, too, with a lower drag coefficient of just 0.27.

Inside, the GLA again gets similar treatment to its newly-electric siblings, with two large screens dominating the dashboard in entry-level versions. You can also choose the optional ‘MBUX Superscreen’, which combines a 14in infotainment touchscreen, 10.25in digital instrument display and 14in passenger touchscreen.

We’ve tested the Superscreen in the new GLA, and found it to have sharp graphics, intuitive menus and quick responses – which is good, because you pretty much control everything through it. There are few physical controls, save for a couple of buttons on the steering wheel, with even climate settings being controlled through the touchscreen.

scroll for more

Mercedes GLA Electric front seats

The passenger touchscreen comes equipped with entertainment apps like YouTube, which might be a cause for concern when it comes to safety – but Mercedes has fitted a camera which can sense when the driver is looking over at the screen and, if it does, it will turn it off. You can, of course, opt out of having this screen, in which case it’s replaced by a star pattern across the dash.

Thanks to its longer profile, space in the rear of the GLA is said to have grown by 38mm, which is good news for taller passengers. When we sat in the back of the GLA, we found it offered enough leg and head room even for six-footers to get comfortable – even with the standard-fit panoramic glass roof.

Every GLA Electric comes with a 410-litre boot space, which is 70 litres more than the previous model, but smaller than the rival Q4 e-tron and Volvo EX40. However, you do get a frunk, which adds 107 litres of storage space under the bonnet and is big enough to fit a carry-on suitcase. The rear seats fold in a handy 40/20/40 split.

scroll for more

Mercedes GLA Electric front end

Exact UK specifications have yet to be confirmed, but trim levels are expected to largely mirror those of the CLA and GLB. That means there’ll likely be five trims to choose from: Sport, Sport Executive, AMG Line Executive, AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Premium Plus. Standard kit will likely include 18in alloy wheels, LED headlights and heated seats. AMG models will bring sportier styling and larger 19in and 20in alloys. There will also be a Night Edition trim for the first time, which gets all the same kit as AMG Line trim with special darker styling.

The first examples of the new Mercedes GLA are expected to arrive early next year. Prices start at £45,400 – slightly cheaper than an Audi Q4 e-tron, but pricier than a Volvo EX40.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here