Mercedes-Benz’s smallest and most affordable crossovers, the GLA and GLB, are both getting a round of updates inside and out for the 2024 model year. Changes made include minor design changes, more technical features in the cabin and a longer list of standard equipment. Positioned at the bottom of the company’s crossover line-up, the GLA will enter the 2024 model year with a subtly updated front end characterized by a redesigned grille, new-look bumpers and a new signature programmed into the standard LED headlights. Spectral Blue Metallic joins the color palette, and buyers will have three additional wheel designs to choose from, ranging from 18 to 20 inches. Inside, the dashboard is dominated by a large screen that houses a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch display for the latest generation of the MBUX infotainment system. The list of standard features includes a leather-upholstered steering wheel, a parking package and a keyless-go package, and buyers who choose the AMG Line interior can now pay extra for a heated steering wheel. Active Steering Assist makes lane keeping assist technology more comfortable to use by bundling it into the optional Driver Assistance Package. Mercedes-Benz has dived deeper into the technology department, claiming that it has improved the performance of its MBUX software. It also added wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, highlighted all USB ports and integrated an additional USB-C outlet. Finally, buyers who pay extra for a Burmester surround-sound system benefit from the Dolby Atmos technology that was showcased at CES 2023. Power still comes from a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. , but a new 48-volt mild-hybrid system provides a 13-horsepower boost off the line while enabling the coasting function. Front-wheel-drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission are standard, while Mercedes-Benz’s 4Matic all-wheel-drive system is available at extra cost. Everything you just read about, including the visual tweaks and mild-hybrid system, also applies to the 2024 GLB (shown above). The AMG-branded GLA 35 and GLB 45 also went under the knife. Here again, the aesthetic improvements are minor: eagle-eyed car-spotters will notice that the AMG emblem has reached the hood, and the driver faces a redesigned steering wheel. Don’t expect to find a significant bump in power. The only engine available is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged with 302 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, figures that remain unchanged from the 2023, but the same mild-hybrid system provides the same 13-horsepower boost. Mercedes-AMG quotes a zero-to-60-mph time of 5.1 seconds for the GLA 35 and 5.4 seconds for the GLB 35. Details about the GLA 45 have not been released. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA will arrive in US dealerships after 2023. Pricing has not been announced.
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