Next Mercedes-Benz GLA cabin previewed

A second tease of the Mercedes-Benz GLA has been posted ahead of the small SUV's full unveil on December 11.

In the latest tease of the second-generation Audi Q2 or BMW X1 alternative we get our first glimpse of the door card, air vent, steering wheel and dash. All look virtually identical to the larger more expensive GLB, which can only be a good thing.

Sharing the same air vents, steering wheel, buttons and blind spot warning system, like the A-Class it's based on the GLA gets the MBUX dual-screen virtual instrument cluster that is set to vary in size, with the bigger system reserved for more expensive models.

The use of Alcantara, leather and premium materials seem to dominate on what will be the cheapest SUV Benz offers.

From an earlier tease of the GLA's exterior, the baby Benz SUV clearly features shorter front and rear overhangs and is around 15mm shorter overall than the model it replaces.

That said, by standing 100mm taller, the second instalment of the GLA is claimed to offer both significantly more head room and legroom.

Thanks to the higher roofline, both the driver and passenger also get a higher driving position to provide a more commanding view of the road ahead.

Based on the same MFA platform as the latest A-Class hatch and A-Class sedan, as well as the CLA four-door ‘coupe’ and Shooting Brake, plus the B-Class people-mover, the GLA will benefit from a raft of new tech previously unavailable.

This includes new driving assist technology comprising not only semi-autonomous cruise control but active emergency braking that detects pedestrians.

Under the bonnet the Audi Q2 and BMW X1 rival will feature the same turbocharged 1.33-litre and 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engines as the A-Class. A small 1.5-litre diesel will also be available in some markets.

Later on, the frenetic Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 with at least 310kW of power is expected, along with a new GLA 35 AMG variant that will push out 225kW. Both will offer all-wheel drive.

A plug-in hybrid version is also likely to be in the pipeline after the new GLA goes on sale in Europe early next year.

It’s not yet clear where the new GLA will be positioned relative to the current model (from $44,700), but it could undercut the A-Class ($42,900) to make room for the upcoming GLB. Currently the smallest SUVs from rival German brands start at $41,950 (Q2) and $44,500 (X1).

Australians will have to wait until later next year for the 2020 GLA, which will be revealed on December 11.