Mr. Personality! The Mercedes-Benz GLA facelift is here!

Has it come a long way from the first time it saw the light of day back in 2013! The GLA shaped up the sales of the company, adding spice and personality to the compact range. Dynamic and sporty, the GLA was the first compact SUV from the Stuttgart-based company. A breath of fresh air in markets like China, the US, Germany and Great Britain. Now here comes Mr. Personality himself, the new Mercedes-Benz GLA facelift.

Currently, no other rival offers a larger selection of engines in the segment – from the Mercedes-Benz GLA 180 d base model with 109 HP all the way to the 381 HP Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 4MATIC. The GLA proudly keeps its position as the only model series in this market segment to offer new comfort and safety features such as the 360‑degree camera or HANDS-FREE ACCESS.

A new addition to the engine range is the GLA 220 4MATIC. With an output of 184 HP and a torque of 300 Nm, it closes the gap between the two petrol engines with 156 HP, 211 HP respectively. The GLA 180 d diesel model is the efficiency champion of its segment with CO₂ emissions of only 103 g.

The wide range puts in front of the very eyes of customers a wide area of selection: the standard the GLA features a comfort suspension, with the lowered suspension available on request (with the AMG Line or the Dynamic Handling package).

For those who want to challenge the rough surfaces, there is the off-road comfort suspension (optional), which puts the car 30 millimetres higher.

Modified bumpers, additional light-alloy wheels and the new magnetizing paintwork “canyon beige” are all included in the 2017 GLA’s options list. The previous optional bi-xenon headlamps have stepped out, making way for the LED headlamps, with a colour temperature similar to daylight and an energy consumption reduced by 60%, available upon request. At the tail end of the new GLA LED, High Performance taillights with a multi-level function are used, together and brake lights and indicators controlled in three intensities. Full brightness by day, medium by night and a lower level when at a standstill in dark areas, so it does not dazzle the incoming traffic.

The interior of the new GLA brings an exclusive addition in the market segment: the 360-degree camera records the direct surroundings of the car, which can be displayed either as a full-image or in seven different split-screen views on the media display. There is also a virtual top view of the car – produced from the data supplied by four cameras located at the front, rear and one camera in each of the exterior mirrors.

The restyled interior of the GLA provides high-quality material and the company’s typical crafting, bringing new seats covers for the design lines Style and Urban, and trim parts, but also chromed control panels. The Exclusive package offers luxury seats in black leather and a choice of trapezium-grain aluminium, light brown satin-finish poplar wood, plus high-gloss brown walnut. The focus falls on the free-standing 8-inch media display, but also on the new dials with red needles.

Always a champion in terms of aerodynamics, the new GLA now holds an even lower Cd value of 0.28 from the 0.29 of the previous model. The air flow is highly improved by the A-pillar geometry and aerodynamically optimised exterior mirror housings and an elaborate roof spoiler lip.

Always a priority, the safety level has been upgraded by the presence of the “Active Brake Assist” as standard, a system that warns the driver if there is not sufficient distance to the vehicle in front and if required, delivers situation-appropriate braking. The GLA also has the “ATTENTION ASSIST” as standard, detecting signs of drowsiness via the steering behaviour and warning the driver about an impending microsleep.

The Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 4MATIC adds more spice to the range

The GLA 45 4MATIC goes full speed ahead into a new dynamic realm. A restyled front apron and the spoiler lip on the roof spoiler guarantee increased aerodynamics and stability possible.

A sharpened front section, new air intakes, a front splitter insert in silver chrome plus flics in high-gloss black visually highlight the personality of the AMG model. The LED High Performance headlamps, optional for other models, are standard for the performance variant. The twin louvre on the AMG Twin Blade radiator grille is now in silver chrome, as are the inserts in the side sill panels.

A multi-spoke 20-inch light-alloy wheel is available for selection in two colour variants: painted matt black with high-sheen rim flange or painted titanium grey with a high-sheen finish.

The interior has been aligned to the standards of AMG. The dashboard is covered with ARTICO man-made leather and has been given exclusive highlights with red contrasting topstitching.

The instrument cluster bears a new number design and the speedometer is divided into 30 km/h stages. The speed is indicated by black needles inside a chrome frame.

Together with the AMG DYNAMIC PLUS package (optional extra), with the AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension, performance steering wheel and an additional drive program “RACE”, the mechanical front axle locking differential is available.

With a minimum output of 381 HP and a minimum torque of 475 Nm, the Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 4MATIC puts its best foot forward as one of the most powerful cars in the segment. Powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine, it takes the AMG-made GLA 4.4 seconds to hit 100 km/h from a standstill.

All this power is transmitted to all wheels via the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7‑speed sports transmission, with shorter ratios selected in gears three to seven, giving the driver an even more emotively appealing acceleration experience in all speed ranges.

The Yellow Night Edition

With the A 45 4MATIC, CLA 45 4MATIC, CLA 45 4MATIC Shooting Brake and GLA 45 4MATIC models, Mercedes-AMG has paved the way into new customers groups, all thanks to their super sporty character and shaped up looks. Now the Affalterbach-based performance house is celebrating the best-sellers with an exclusive Yellow Night Edition, which is available for all four compact cars and includes a particularly sporty host of equipment.

The special models are painted exclusively in night black or cosmos black and with their unique combination of matt graphite grey and yellow appliqué sections. They come with light-alloy wheels in matt black with yellow rim flanges and the black painted AMG twin louvre in the radiator grille. Yellow highlights are present in the front apron, the exterior mirror housings, the inserts in the side skirts, the rear diffuser and the rear wing (on the A 45 4MATIC and GLA 45 4MATIC).

The special character is additionally emphasised by the AMG sports stripes in matt graphite grey (foiled) on the bonnet, roof, boot lid and sides of the car.

The Mercedes-Benz GLA facelift is available for sale starting today!