Mercedes-Benz GLA EV revealed: Up to 657km range, 320kW charging and next-gen 800V tech. BMW iX1 and Audi Q4 e-tron beware!
Mercedes-Benz has pulled the wraps off the GLA EV that will become one of the German luxury brand’s most important electric vehicles.
The new compact SUV comes with aa longer-range and faster-charging and is underpinned by the same next-generation technology as the recently revealed CLA EV.
Locked in for an Australian arrival during 2027, the new GLA will be offered with both hybrid and fully electric powertrains, but it is the battery-electric models that headline the line-up, boasting up to 657km of WLTP driving range, 320kW DC fast charging and an advanced 800-volt electrical architecture.
The new model effectively replaces the EQA as Mercedes-Benz’s compact electric SUV, while also succeeding today’s combustion-powered GLA on the brand’s all-new Mercedes Modular Architecture (MMA).
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That makes it the second production model to adopt the new platform after the CLA EV and signals the beginning of Mercedes-Benz rolling its latest electric vehicle technology across multiple body styles.
Australian pricing and specifications are yet to be announced, although the new GLA is expected to become Mercedes-Benz Australia’s entry point into the brand’s next generation of premium electric SUVs. It will rival the BMW iX1, Audi Q4 e-tron and Volvo EX40.
EQA pricing currently starts from $80,700 plus on-road costs.
Three electric variants will be available from launch.
The entry-level GLA 200 Electric develops 165kW and 335Nm from a rear-mounted electric motor powered by a 58kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, delivering a claimed WLTP driving range of between 394km and 447km.
Above it sits the GLA 250+ Electric, producing 200kW and the same 335Nm, while using a larger 85kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery to achieve a maximum WLTP driving range of between 577km and 657km.
Topping the range is the dual-motor GLA 350 4MATIC Electric with 260kW and 515Nm, a claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.4 seconds and between 555km and 643km of WLTP driving range.
Mercedes-Benz says the GLA has been engineered to make long-distance electric driving easier than ever.
Thanks to its 800-volt architecture, the larger-battery models can accept DC charging at up to 320kW, allowing between 240km and 270km of additional WLTP driving range to be added in just 10 minutes under ideal conditions.
An optional converter also enables charging compatibility with older 400-volt public fast chargers, while AC charging is supported at up to 22kW.
The GLA also introduces a significant step forward in packaging and practicality.
Compared with the outgoing model, the wheelbase has increased by 61mm, creating noticeably more rear legroom and headroom, while boot capacity grows to 410 litres.
Electric versions also gain a 107-litre front storage compartment, providing additional space for charging cables or luggage.
For buyers wanting to tow, Mercedes-Benz says the dual-motor GLA 350 4MATIC can haul up to two tonnes with a braked trailer, making it one of the most capable battery-electric SUVs in the compact premium segment.
Inside, the GLA adopts Mercedes-Benz’s latest digital cabin, dominated by the optional MBUX Superscreen stretching almost the full width of the dashboard.
Running the company’s latest MB.OS operating system, the system incorporates a generative AI-powered virtual assistant capable of drawing information from ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing and Google Gemini to answer natural-language questions and assist with navigation, entertainment and vehicle functions.
Navigation is based on Google Maps and includes Mercedes-Benz Navigation with Electric Intelligence, which plans charging stops automatically while continuously adjusting routes based on traffic conditions, driving style and charging availability.
The exterior also marks a significant departure from today’s GLA.
Electric models become the first compact Mercedes-Benz SUV to feature the brand’s new illuminated grille, first seen on the CLA EV, while a lower roofline, wider rear track and flush-mounted wheels give the SUV a noticeably sportier stance despite its increased practicality.
Mercedes-Benz says customers will have greater opportunity to personalise the GLA than before, with four equipment grades, new AMG styling packages and a broader choice of colours, wheel designs and interior finishes.
While the electric versions take centre stage, Mercedes-Benz has also confirmed a new generation of 48-volt electrified petrol models.
Powered by an all-new 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an integrated electric motor and an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, the mild-hybrid GLA will be capable of driving on electric power alone at urban speeds, coasting with the engine disengaged and recovering energy through regenerative braking.
Those models are expected to join the line-up from early 2027.
The all-new GLA also reflects Mercedes-Benz’s broader sustainability strategy.
The company claims the battery-electric model reduces its carbon footprint across the entire value chain by around 40 per cent compared with today’s combustion-powered GLA, thanks to lower-carbon battery production, greater use of recycled materials and renewable-energy aluminium throughout the vehicle.
