Mercedes A-Class 2028

Mercedes-Benz had actually planned to kill the A-Class in 2025. The idea was to focus on higher-end, more profitable models and quietly let the entry-level hatchback go. But global EV demand slowed down faster than expected, and that plan changed. The A-Class is now confirmed for a full fifth-generation redesign, arriving in 2028.

Mercedes development board member Jörg Burzer officially confirmed the new generation recently, and Autocar UK has since published detailed information about what the car will look like, how it will be built and what powertrains it will offer.

Still a Hatchback Not an MPV

There had been a lot of speculation in recent months that Mercedes was going to turn the new A-Class into an MPV or a crossover, possibly bringing back the boxy one-box shape the original A-Class had in the late 1990s.

That is not happening. Insiders told Autocar directly "We have a compact crossover with the GLA. We were also previously present in the compact MPV market with the B-Class. But with the introduction of the GLA and GLB, we now offer far more contemporary alternatives."

The new A-Class stays a five-door hatchback. The design is described as "traditional in form but modern in detailing." Evolution rather than reinvention. The front may adopt the same shark-nose fascia already seen on the new CLA and GLC. The sides will use framed doors unlike the frameless doors on the CLA and the roofline slopes toward the rear.

One visual change worth noting: the ride height will be slightly raised across all variants to accommodate the taller floor of the EV version. Mercedes may also add subtle wheel arch cladding to reduce the visual gap at the rear wheels on electric models.

New Platform Same as the CLA

The biggest change under the skin is the platform. The current A-Class rides on the Modular Front Architecture which dates back to 2011. That is getting replaced by the newer Mercedes Modular Architecture MMA for short the same platform that underpins the new CLA.

The MMA is built to handle both petrol and electric powertrains on the same production line. That flexibility is exactly what Mercedes needs for a model it wants to sell in multiple powertrain versions across different markets.

The switch to MMA should also give the new A-Class a longer wheelbase and wider tracks compared to the current car. More wheelbase means more rear legroom which has always been a weak point of the outgoing model.

Suspension gets an upgrade too. The rear will move to a new five-link setup on higher variants. Lower ICE versions may keep the current torsion-beam rear setup.

Petrol Hybrid and Electric Both Confirmed

The new A-Class will offer three main powertrain options.

The hybrid version is expected to use a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine paired with an electric motor. Power outputs should range from 156hp on the base variant to 212hp on the top petrol hybrid. Front-wheel drive is standard and AWD will be available as an option.

The fully electric version uses an 800-volt electrical architecture the same system already in the new CLA Electric. Two battery options are expected: a 58kWh LFP pack and an 85kWh NMC pack. The base EV will produce around 221hp in rear-wheel drive. The top AWD EV variant is expected to make around 354hp.

Both petrol and electric versions will offer optional four-wheel drive, with a key difference in the standard setup the EV will come with rear-wheel drive as standard while the petrol variants use front-wheel drive.

AMG Version Could Make 500hp

Mercedes-AMG is expected to develop performance variants of the new A-Class as well. The AMG version of the electric variant could push output beyond 500hp. This would put it in serious AMG A 45 S territory on paper, but through an electric powertrain.

Whether AMG retains the A 45 name or adopts the new CSA naming convention remains to be confirmed.

The Name Might Change Too

The A-Class name has been around since 1997. Mercedes is now considering whether to keep it or rename the car to align with the brand's three-letter naming format used for the CLA, GLA and GLB.

If the name changes, the new car could be called the CSA — Compact Sports A-Class. Nothing is confirmed yet and Mercedes has not made a final call on this.

Where Will It Be Made

Production is confirmed for Mercedes' Kecskemét plant in Hungary, where the CLA and GLA are also built. The MMA platform line is already operational there, which means the factory is ready for the new A-Class the moment it goes into production.

What About India

The current A-Class in India is only available as the A-Class Limousine, priced from Rs 44.45 lakh ex-showroom. The hatchback version has not been sold here in standard form only the AMG A 45 S was brought in briefly.

Whether the new fifth-generation A-Class hatchback will come to India is not confirmed. If Mercedes brings the electric version here, it would fit well below the CLA Electric in the lineup. Given that India is one of the fastest-growing premium car markets globally right now, Mercedes will likely evaluate it seriously. No timeline has been announced.