New Mercedes GLA facelift unveiled with electrified power across the range

The second-generation Mercedes GLA was only launched back in 2020, but the German brand has already brought out the small SUV’s mid-life facelift. For the update, the GLA gains an exterior redesign, but big changes have come to the powertrain options - which are now electrified through the range. 

In terms of design, the revised GLA is a modest update over the old car. There’s a new headlight signature, the reshaped lower bumper has more body colour and the wheelarches are also finished in body colour. The rear is unchanged, aside from a new rear light display. As standard the GLA comes on 17-inch wheels, but 18 and 20-inch rims are optionally available. 

The interior layout hasn’t changed all that much. Standard models get a seven-inch instrument cluster and 10.25-inch display for the central touchscreen with the twin 10.25-inch screens an option. The latest Mercedes steering wheel now features with touch controls buttons. The infotainment system uses the latest MBUX software with the updated versions of the “Classic”, “Discreet” and “Sporty” menu configurations. 

Sitting on the MFA2 platform, the GLA now benefits from electrification features through the updated engine range, which continues to offer seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions. Kicking off the petrol choices is the GLA 180 which uses the same 1.3-litre four-cylinder unit as before, but now it’s mated to a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, providing an extra 13bhp during brief moments and allowing for engine-off coasting. In the 180 there’s a total of 134bhp, the 200 gets the same powertrain but offers 161bhp. 

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The GLA 220 and 250 are both badged as ‘4MATIC’, which is Mercedes’ four-wheel drive system. Both come with a 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder which results in 188bhp and 300Nm of torque for the 220 and 221bhp and 350nm of torque for the 250 version. 

All diesel models get the same mild-hybrid system with a 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder. This ranges from the 114bhp 180 d up to the 188bhp 220d 4MATIC. 

As before there’s one plug-in hybrid model - the 250 e. It uses a 1.3-litre, turbocharged petrol unit combined with a 11.5kWh battery. That’s slightly bigger than the old car and as a result electric only range has increased from 37 to 43 miles. Despite more power coming from the battery, total power for the 250 e stays the same at 215bhp and 450Nm of torque. The plug-in hybrid GLA’s charging is unchanged with up to 11kW of charging speed available.  

The outgoing GLA costs from £37,645 for the entry-level 200 Sport Executive. Mercedes hasn’t revealed pricing for the facelifted model yet, but as the firm looks to cement its position as a premium car manufacturer, we could see the standard GLA top the £40k mark with more equipment as standard. 

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