- Highs: Silky-smooth inline-six, luxurious interior, refined and capable dynamics.
- Lows: Character is tame for an AMG, interior is too glitzy for some, no wagon option.
- Verdict: Powerful, comfortable, versatile, and luxurious, the E53 is an overly competent vehicle.
Overview
The
Mercedes-AMG E53 is a successful exercise in multiple personalities.
All three body styles—sedan, coupe, and convertible—share a velvety
turbocharged inline-six with electric assist. Not only is this
powertrain smooth and efficient, but it sends up to 429 horsepower
through an equally competent nine-speed automatic transmission. Some
might find the silky inline-six too tame to wear the AMG nameplate, but
we’re sold. Behind the engine sits a luxurious cabin anointed with
premium materials and myriad options such as massaging seats and
semi-autonomous driving ability. All of this rides on a standard air
suspension that adjusts for supreme comfort or firm handling depending
on the driving situation. Few cars on the market can impress in as many
ways as the E53—if you have the means, we highly recommend picking one
up.
More Model Years
2019 Mercedes-AMG E53
What's New for 2020?
With very little to improve upon, Mercedes-AMG
is keeping changes simple for 2020. The E53 and all other AMG models
receive a standard Emotion Start feature, which prompts the vehicle to
elicit a louder exhaust note on startup. A Slippery mode is added to the
drive modes, and illuminated doorsills are now standard. Matte
fiberglass trim, two new performance steering wheels, and buttons to
adjust the drive modes are newly optional.
Pricing and Suggestion
- E53 sedan: $74,795
- E53 coupe: $75,945
- E53 cabriolet: $82,645
The
E53 strikes a peculiar balance between the rip-snorting E63 and the
docile E450. We would select the cabriolet and save the hard-top coupe
and sedan for those concerned more with raw performance. Standard air
suspension, 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, and all-wheel drive make
most options superfluous. Having our way with color choice and some
premium add-ons such as massaging front seats, cabin-fragrance system,
and a performance exhaust, we would leave the dealership for $92,760.
It's a steep price for sure, but we challenge you to find a more
comprehensive package for less than six figures.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The
E53's engine is well mannered at idle and cruising speeds. We're most
impressed with its sharp response to every prod of the throttle and the
virtual absence of turbo lag. Of the several drive modes, Eco and
Comfort—as their names suggest—are best suited for efficiency and
relaxation; Sport and Sport+ activate more aggressive throttle and
transmission characteristics, plus a snarling exhaust note. Manual
swapping of the gears is available at any time via paddle shifters on
the steering wheel. We tested an E53 coupe and it sprinted from zero to
60 mph in 4.1 seconds.
The standard air
suspension seamlessly makes the switch from twisty-road demon to
comfortable freeway cruiser. Swapping drive modes subtly changes the
sedan's road-damping demeanor without becoming either pillowy or
punishing. The steering—as with the other dynamics—is crisp, sweetly
responsive, and well balanced, blending feedback and precision.
2020 Mercedes-AMG E53 Coupe – High-Tech Grand Tour
2020 Mercedes-AMG E53 Coupe
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The
sedan and coupe model are each rated for 28 mpg highway, but the EPA
expects the convertible to be less efficient in that metric by 2 mpg. We
haven't yet had the chance to test any of the E53 variants on our
200-mile highway fuel-economy test loop, so we can't speak to the
accuracy of these ratings. Then again, how concerned with fuel economy
can you be if you're buying a 429-hp performance car?
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The
E53 earns top marks for interior build quality and the ability to make
its passengers feel as if they have just walked into a fine high-end
pastry shop in Paris. The sporty, upscale cabin is completed by a
collection of deluxe standard and optional features. The standard
interior is plenty fancy, but deep-pocketed buyers can elevate the
experience further with exotic wood trims, a fragrance atomizer, and
massaging front seats. Flashy red seatbelts are standard fare but can be
replaced with black belts for free, which we would choose to do. The
only thing that irked us was the column shifter, which is awkward to use
at first, looks out of place in a sports sedan, and feels fragile.
The
E53 sedan has the smallest trunk volume among most rivals, yet we
managed to fit a comparable number of carry-ons in it; with the rear
seats in place we managed to fit five suitcases inside. Coupe and
convertible models are less practical. Interior storage space is
significantly better than the competition, with a commodious center
console and a massive underfloor trunk compartment.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Digital
instrumentation is the norm in this class, but the E53's huge, dazzling
dual-screen setup would've impressed Steve Jobs. An extended list of
top-notch features such as a 12.3-inch wide-screen instrument cluster,
wireless charging, and a premium Burmester surround-sound system are
standard.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Preemptive-safety
tech, semi-autonomous driving, and further futuristic features are
available on the E53. Excellent crash-test ratings and several standard
assists stand out on this modern performance sedan. The Mercedes-Benz E-class sedan,
on which the E53 is based, was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and earned five stars from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Key safety features
include:
- Standard automated emergency braking
- Standard blind-spot monitoring
- Available semi-autonomous driving mode
- Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Mercedes-AMG provides
competitive limited and powertrain warranties. However, its corrosion
coverage is one of the shortest among its rivals, and the E53 doesn't
offer complimentary scheduled maintenance—something that some vehicles
costing one-third of the E53's price provide.
- Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
