- As it enters the fourth year of its current generation, the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is getting a minor facelift.
- Dual 10.3-inch screens with the latest generation MBUX now come standard.
- The more powerful 2024 GLA35 also gets new styling along with additional standard equipment.
Spring has sprung, and Mercedes-Benz is celebrating by offering incremental improvements to the 2024 GLA-Class SUV. The luxury small subcompact gets improved powertrains, a tech update and a minor facelift.
The revised styling starts at the corners, with new headlights and taillights. The front bumper and grille have also been revamped. A new Spectral Blue Metallic paint and three optional wheel designs have been added, limiting the exterior styling changes.
Inside, a set of dual 10.3-inch screens, previously part of the Premium package, is now standard, with the infotainment system running the latest generation of MBUX software. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now available, and Mercedes has added an additional USB-C port with more charging power. The GLA-Class comes with two interior color choices: Black and Macchiato Beige, although the more luxurious AMG GLA35 offers four interior colors to choose from.
Highbeam Assist, the Parking package, the Mirror package and the Keyless Go package are now all standard. Pricing for the new GLA-Class with its added content has not been released.
New Hybrid Power
The 2024 GLA-Class is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that drives the front or all four wheels and produces 221 horsepower; it is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. A new 48-volt hybrid system and belt-driven starter-generator bolster the powerline and should bring a bit more athleticism to the new GLA. (We previously managed a 60 mph time of 6.3 seconds in an all-wheel-drive 2021 GLA250 4Matic.)
Updates for the brawnier Mercedes-AMG GLA35 largely follow those of the standard model. The AMG adds the same 48-volt hybrid system. The headlights and taillights have been similarly redesigned, and the dual screens have the latest MBUX software. On the GLA35, the Mercedes-Benz badge on the hood is replaced by a Mercedes-AMG badge to help differentiate the models. The GLA35 also gets an AMG Performance Steering wheel.
The GLA35 comes with a slew of standard performance features, including all-wheel drive and a tuned-and-adjustable suspension that pumps up the driving excitement compared to the regular Mercedes-Benz GLA250. However, Mercedes seems to have dropped the 382-hp GLA45 from the lineup, leaving only the 302-hp AMG GLA35.
Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his still unwavering addiction to Formula 1.
After a short stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in car writing to follow. Chasing his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin looking for stories in the automotive world before landing his dream job. Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
