Mercedes-Benz calls its facelifted 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLA a “significant upgrade” but visually, you’ll have to squint very hard to find what’s different with the pre-facelift.

The three-pointed star of Stuttgart said that the updated GLA gets a new radiator grille design, redesigned headlights and taillights, a reworked front bumper, and new wheel designs.

Moving on to the inside and the most significant upgrade is the free-standing double screen which includes a 7-inch instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch multimedia screen as standard. Two 10.25-inch widescreen displays are also offered as an option.

Also read: Review: CKD 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 – Lower price, even more want

The updated baby Benz SUV also features the latest generation of MBUX that now allows wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The voice assistant also gets an upgrade in the form of a Tourguide feature initially exclusive to the German market. As the name suggests, this feature turns the GLA into a personal tour guide that reads out interesting facts about places of interest around Germany.

Not only has the GLA facelift turned into a travel nerd, but it has also become a mobile game console. Don’t expect something like Minecraft or Asphalt like on the Tesla as the games offered on the SUV are mini-games like Sudoku, Match 3, Pairs, and a quiz game.

In terms of powertrains, all petrol units on the GLA facelift are electrified. The mild hybrids are equipped with an additional 48-volt onboard power supply for the belt-driven starter generator. This gives an extra 10 PS of power boost with power output for the petrol engines ranging from 136 PS to 224 PS.

Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid GLA 250 e gets more power with the electric motor power output increased to 109 PS while the engine power output remains at 163 PS. Additionally, the 11.5-kWh battery also now supports DC fast charging of up to 22 kW. Under electric power alone, the GLA PHEV ranges between 62 and 70 km under WLTP ratings.

Prices for the updated 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLA have not been announced yet. The pre-facelift GLA is locally-assembled (CKD) and available in Malaysia in two variants:

• GLA 200 Progressive Line – RM 254,888
• GLA 250 AMG Line – RM 287,888

Also read: Review: Your first Benz? We take the Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 for a scenic road trip to Johor