And now for a completely different kind of Mercedes-AMG plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Hard on the heels of our time in the GLC 63 E Performance SUV, comes the E 53 sedan. No, it’s not different just because it’s a large sedan: it’s a whole different kind of PHEV, because Mercedes-AMG has never been shy about making things complicated.
The 63-badged models use a “P3” hybrid system with an electric turbo, axle-mounted electric motor and a tiny battery that’s there primarily for extra power (EV range is just 12km).
The E 53’s “P2” system is closer to a conventional PHEV: turbo-petrol 6-cylinder with an exhaust-driven turbo, big 28.6kWh battery (21.2kWh usable) that gives 100km claimed range and a single electric motor sandwiched in the gearbox.
It wears an AMG badge primarily because it was developed by the performance division (reason enough, granted) from an E-Class base and well, because it’s crazy-fast: 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds.
The twin-scroll turbocharger is unique to the AMG model, with higher boost pressure, and there’s additional cooling built into the body work.
And now for a completely different kind of Mercedes-AMG plug-in hybrid electric vehicle - at least to the last one we drove.
But if you come to this car with Nurburgring-tinted glasses, you might be disappointed. Yes, it’s an AMG; but it’s also supposed to offer the comfort and refinement you expect of an E-Class. Which is, let’s face it, the brand’s most… sedate model.
Once you get your head around that hybrid-character, you’ll probably quite enjoy the E 53.
The sports front seats were trimmed in an alarmingly bold Nappa leather combo of black-and-white in our test car.
It does look the part. The E-Class is handsome but quite trad; the AMG version wears the toothy AMG grille and a big blacked-out section (a bit EV-ish in fact), with fatter front guards to accommodate the 11mm-wider track.
It gets a package of AMG interior stuff, including a multifunction steering wheel and sports front seats - trimmed in an alarmingly bold Nappa leather combo of black-and-white in our test car.
AMG Performance Sound is an unconvincing V8-ish soundtrack that you don’t really want or need.
Our car carried a few options, including the Energising Package Plus ($5300), which brings treats such as cabin fragrances, more shapely front seats, extra-special seat-heating functions front and rear and the company’s signature armrest warmers. True luxury, but weirdly no steering wheel heating. None. Come on Mercedes, we’re not animals.
The big battery makes this an excellent executive-commuter. Mercedes-Benz New Zealand quotes an NEDC figure of 100km, which is an easier cycle than the Kiwi-standard 3P-WLTP. But we found 80-90km per charge easily achievable in city running.
You can choose between the various modes on the steering wheel-mounted controller (a blue “EL” for electric-drive, red for the performance stuff). Comfort and Sport are still pretty low-key, with the petrol engine quite muted; in Sport+ you get AMG Performance Sound, which is an unconvincing V8-ish soundtrack that you don’t really want or need. Not sure how AMG thinks it can move forward with new powertrains when it keeps including features that seem to suggest its cars should apologise for not being V8s.
Even in the more aggressive modes, the powertrain remains fairly relaxed. In Sport+ the gearbox will punch through ratios with a little thump, but it’s still pretty gentle. Even a flick of the paddles means a conspicuous pause until the 9-speed does its thing.
None of the above stops the 450kW E 53 being staggeringly fast in a straight line, with Race Start standard for NZ. But it’s all achieved with surprisingly little drama.
Same for the chassis, which boasts AMG Ride Control adaptive dampers (steel springs) and 4-wheel steering, the rear wheels turning the opposite way to the front under 100km/h and the same direction over.
It all helps the E 53 combine a surprisingly supple ride (except for the occasional urban thump that's so typical of heavy EVs) and parkability with incredible high-speed cornering prowess. Sporty? Not really. But so quick and effortless at extreme velocity.
If you think we’re gearing up to say the E 53 is a bit dynamically disappointing, we’re not. It might not deliver AMG thrills in the conventional sense, but does the world really need that from an E-Class?
If the aim is to combine comfort with significant performance capability, this car is a success.
The real disappointments are practicality and packaging niggles. We found the large, sloping A-pillars were in the way in city intersections, especially when looking left to turn right. And the E 53 has an absurdly shallow boot for such a large car: the battery hardware eats up 170 litres, leaving just 370. That’s a big deal in a big car.
But for the most part the E 53 is a very quick and really nice E-Class - even if it isn’t a truly exciting AMG.
How much is the Mercedes-AMG E 53?
In an apparent bid to make all of its family cars the same price, Mercedes-AMG has made the E 53 $199,990 (the GLC 63 we just tested carries the same sticker).
What are the key statistics for the Mercedes-AMG E 53?
The AMG-enhanced turbo-petrol inline-6 engine is matched with a single electric motor and 21.2kWh battery. Combined outputs are 450kW/750Nm.
Is the Mercedes-AMG E 53 efficient?
Despite the extreme power and torque, the E 53 has the potential to be very efficient indeed: an 80-90km real-world EV range means you could drive it exclusively on electric power and save the petrol engine for trips… or when you want to go really fast.
Is the Mercedes-AMG E 53 good to drive?
Extremely quick and astonishingly capable in corners thanks to all that chassis tech, but not necessarily exciting. If you think an E-Class should be exciting (we don’t, really).
Is the Mercedes-AMG E 53 practical?
It’s a large sedan with a spacious and super-luxury cabin front and rear - some might say it’s even superior to the current (but older) S-Class. But the shallow 370-litre boot is a bit of a disappointment (blame the PHEV hardware underneath).
What do we like about the Mercedes-AMG E 53?
You cannot argue with the speed and cornering capability, it’s quiet and supple like an E-Class should be, and it’s absolutely loaded with comfort and convenience equipment.
What don’t we like about the Mercedes-AMG E 53?
If you’re expecting a bit of AMG thunder you’ll be disappointed, what thunder there is from the fake noise in Sport+ is pretty lame, the boot is absurdly shallow for such a big car.
What kind of person would the Mercedes-AMG E 53 suit?
Somebody who appreciates that even a super-fast E-Class should be a dignified experience; probably not somebody who wears their AMG logo on their sleeve.
