Benz’s jacked-up A-Class, called the GLA, is set to be given a bit of a refresh as we settle into 2017 and so far we have just a dark image to establish what has been changed - relegated to the hood and the front fascia, evidently.
The current version has been in production for roughly 3 years so far and would outwardly not in dire need of an update, though the impending one is welcome. It would appear Mercedes-Benz isn’t too concerned about making dramatic sweeps but rather to plug the imperfections the original had to better compete with all-new Audi Q2 and existing second-generation BMW X1.
Additionally, the A-Class’ mid-cycle facelift is also more reason to make sure the GLA stays consistent with its less rugged looking twin, both visually and in terms of feature parity. For example, both will feature a newer infotainment system with larger touchscreen and support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.
An updated list of engines are also on the cards, retaining their displacement and variant hierarchy but will offer improved fuel efficiency and power, depending on the specific version.
The exterior is due to receive only minor alterations but is suspected to receive a raised ride height to further accentuate its place as a more adventurous crossover to the A-Class’ strictly road-only characteristics.
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