New Mercedes GLA SUV to launch in 2026 with cutting-edge hybrid and EV powertrains

The new Mercedes GLA will arrive before the end of 2026, the brand’s CEO Ola Källenius has confirmed. It’s part of an ambitious plan to launch no fewer than 40 new models within the next two years.

The all-new compact SUV will also become Mercedes’ entry-level model. That’s because the A-Class hatchback is being axed by the end of next year, and it has been confirmed to Auto Express that there are no immediate plans for a successor.

The third-generation GLA will use the same underpinnings as the new Mercedes CLA, including its cutting-edge MMA platform and hyper-efficient electric or hybrid powertrains.

Speaking at the reveal of the new electric Mercedes GLC, Källenius said: "BEV or ICE, there will be a zero-compromise Mercedes for every customer. Our goal has always been to provide the most desirable vehicles in every segment we serve."

When the new GLA arrives, we expect it will cost from around £40,000 in hybrid form, or £45,000 as an EV. Its chief rival will be the BMW X1, which is currently available through our Buy A Car service from just under £37,000, while the all-electric iX1 starts at over £43,000. The new Audi Q3 that’s arriving soon will also be a competitor, similarly priced from around £38,000.

What will the new Mercedes GLA look like? 

Despite the heavy camouflage on the new GLA prototype we’ve spotted testing, we can see it will borrow lots of design elements from the new GLC EV that was revealed at the Munich Motor Show. 

Specifically, that includes its gigantic illuminated grille and sleek headlights. The rear end will also feature dramatic new lighting, likely connected by a thin lightbar with three-pointed elements at the centre of each unit. 

The current GLA is just over 4.4 metres long, and we expect the new model will grow slightly to around 4.5 metres. Inside, it’s likely to borrow the cabin design from the CLA, including its glossy black monolithic dashboard with a 14-inch touchscreen, 10-inch driver’s display and new user interface. 

Advanced new platform and EV tech

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Merc’s new MMA architecture has brought the German brand’s EVs right up to the cutting edge of technology. This platform features things such as an 800V electrical architecture for ultra-rapid charging capabilities, plus a new e-motor that the company developed in-house and uses a two-speed transmission, which benefits both performance and efficiency.   

The CLA250+ saloon pairs all that with an 84kWh battery for a range of more than 480 miles. However, we don’t expect the GLA to hit a figure quite that high due to its loftier driving position and extra drag, but it won’t be far off if fitted with the same battery and electric motor. 

But this will be just one option in a range that includes dual-motor, all-wheel-drive variants, as well as a more affordable version with a smaller 58.5kWh battery pack. AMG will also likely get involved and produce a high-performance variant.

Hybrid options

If you’re not into EVs, the new GLA will also be available with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid powertrain, driving the front wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. A plug-in hybrid will also be added to the range later on to give buyers a wide range of options to suit their circumstances. 

As the final confirmed bodystyle within the MMA family, the GLA will join the CLA saloon and Shooting Brake that are on sale now, plus the new seven-seat GLB, which is due to be revealed towards the end of the year.

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