Mercedes-Benz Reveals the All-New GLA With Electric and Hybrid Powertrains

Mercedes-Benz just pulled the wrapper off the all-new GLA, and there’s a lot of new information to unpack before it reaches Canadian showrooms. If you’re weighing an electric or hybrid compact SUV for your next vehicle, here’s what’s actually confirmed right now.

This isn’t a rumour roundup. The reveal details below come straight from the manufacturer’s own release, and they lay out real powertrain numbers, real design changes, and real technology, well ahead of the vehicle’s Canadian arrival.

What’s Confirmed Now

The 2028 GLA is a clean-sheet redesign, not a refresh. It rides on a longer wheelbase, wears a lower, wider stance, and introduces two distinct powertrain paths: all-electric and high-tech hybrid.

The electric GLA is the first Mercedes-Benz compact model to wear the brand’s new iconic grille, a chrome-framed panel with a smoked-glass mesh structure holding 608 backlit light points, optionally animated and paired with 158 micro-LEDs. The hybrid keeps a more traditional star-pattern grille with 150 hot-stamped chrome stars and an illuminated central star.

Overall length grows to 4,565 mm and the wheelbase stretches to 2,790 mm, changes that show up directly in cabin space. The new SUV also posts a 0.27 drag coefficient, a meaningful aerodynamic gain that helps both wind noise and electric range.

Lineup and Key Specs

The electric side of the lineup splits into two models. The GLA 250+ Electric is the rear-drive entry point at 268 hp, while the GLA 350 4MATIC Electric adds all-wheel drive and 349 hp, enough for a 5.4-second 0-100 km/h sprint. Both share an 85-kWh NMC battery on an 800-volt architecture.

The hybrid takes a different approach: a newly developed 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder paired with a 30-hp electric motor built into an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, drawing from a 48-volt, 1.3-kWh battery.

The electric GLA can add up to 270 km of range in about 10 minutes on an 800-volt DC fast charger, with a standard converter that also allows 400-volt charging. The hybrid trades that plug-in routine for familiar refuelling, while still driving on electric power alone in city conditions when demand stays under 30 hp, and coasting with the drivetrain disengaged above 100 km/h.

What Matters for Shoppers Now

The distinction that matters most right now: this is confirmed reveal information, not a launch-ready comparison. Trim-by-trim pricing and Canadian configurator details will follow closer to market launch, so treat the specs above as the foundation, not the final word.

Inside, the redesign brings a genuinely different cabin. A standard fixed panoramic roof and the extra wheelbase translate into more headroom and legroom in every seat, plus a frunk and versatile trunk space that add practical flexibility for gear, groceries, or weekend loads.

The optional MBUX Superscreen spans the dashboard with a 10.25-inch driver display flanked by two 14-inch screens, and the standard system still runs the MBUX Virtual Assistant, a generative-AI voice assistant capable of multi-part conversation and short-term memory. Google-based navigation adds route guidance that factors in traffic and, on the electric models, charging stops.

On the driver-assistance side, the GLA ships with eight cameras, five radar sensors, and 12 ultrasonic sensors feeding a control unit built for over-the-air updates. Optional parking packages add automated reverse manoeuvring and improved spot detection, useful for tight urban parking and unfamiliar lots alike.

Alberta driving covers a lot of ground: daily commutes, weekend trips out of town, and gravel roads that don’t care what powertrain you chose. The available 4MATIC all-wheel drive on the GLA 350 adds a TERRAIN drive program tuned for dirt and gravel, along with a “transparent hood” camera view for tricky terrain, while the rear-drive 250+ suits buyers focused on maximizing range and keeping things simple.

The hybrid gives buyers not ready to go fully electric a way to still drive on electric power around town without changing their refuelling habits.

Getting Ready for the 2028 GLA in Alberta

The 2028 GLA is arriving at Canadian dealerships in the second half of 2027, bringing a redesigned interior, two electric variants, and a new hybrid option to the compact SUV segment. Full Canadian trim and configuration details will follow as the launch date approaches.

Visit Mercedes-Benz Country Hills in Calgary to learn more about the 2028 GLA and to get on the list for Canadian product walkarounds and updates as they become available.