Mercedes-Benz has just revealed the all-new GLA. The German brand's smallest crossover now has a slightly smaller footprint, more interior room, more tech, and one seriously powerful new four-cylinder engine.
The second-generation GLA is taller than the old model, gaining 22 mm of headroom in the front (though losing 6 mm in the rear). It's shorter in overall length, though, down 14 mm to 4,410 mm, giving it a smaller footprint. Thanks to a wheelbase 30 mm longer than before, rear legroom is up a whopping 116 mm, and cargo capacity is up by 14L to 435 with the seats upright. The rear seat can slide 114 mm fore and aft, letting users trade knee space for cargo as needed.
Inside, the new GLA gets the new MBUX infotainment system as standard, offering a pair of 7-inch screens - one for the infotainment and one for the instrument cluster. A pair of 10.25-inch screens are available. Optional driver aids include active distance assist Distronic with braking for stationary vehicles and fuel-saving glide mode, active steer assist with active lane changing, route-based speed adjustment, evasive steering assist, blind-spot assists, and rear impact detection. There's also a new car wash function that folds the mirrors, closes the windows, and turns off the automatic wipers.
All Canadian GLAs get 4Matic all-wheel drive standard. The power transfer unit is integrated into the dual-clutch gearbox and the rear differential has an electro-mechanical clutch pack to control how much torque is transferred between the wheels. Included in the Premium Pack is an Off-Road Engineering Package that adds an off-road drive mode with revised power delivery and ABS activation. It also comes with an animation to show pitch, roll, and other technical settings and gives you downhill speed control.
The standard GLA gets a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 221 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. That model is badged the GLA 250 4Matic and comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The quick one is the Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 that gets Merc's more powerful 2.0L turbo-four putting out 302 hp and 295 lb-ft.
Behind that engine is an eight-speed dual-clutch box, and an AMG version of the all-wheel-drive system. They're bolted into a chassis that's been reinforced with a new aluminum plate and diagonal braces for increased stiffness to help the AMG-specific suspension with optional Ride Control active damping do its job.
The AMG GLA 35 gets bigger brakes front and rear and a special steering rack, along with an AMG exhaust to let you hear that engine sing.
Exterior changes to help you spot the hot one include the AMG Panamericana-style grille, vents that are more in quantity and more in size, larger wheels, and a special diffuser insert. Inside are new carbon trim pieces, different leather and trim options, an AMG steering wheel, and AMG modes for the digital dash.
The new Mercedes-Benz GLA is set to arrive in Canada early this summer.
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