Review Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4Matic+: the Right Choice

The AMG CLE base version of the coupe positioned between the C and E-Class coupes drops the AMG C 63’s 4-cylinder engine-based PHEV system in favor of a second-generation mild hybrid inline-6. In the test, the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4Matic+ with 449 PS.

Photo: Christian Bart

Someone at Mercedes made the right decision and stopped the forced electrification based on a 4-cylinder-only engine because quite simply, the P3 Hybrid system with electrified rear axle in the AMG C 63 and AMG GLC 63 was not to the customers’ liking. Thus, the CLE coupe that replaced both the C-Class and E-Class coupe took over the interior from the C-Class and got the 3.0-liter inline-6 with electric supercharger, turbo, and second-generation 48V mild hybrid technology in the base AMG CLE 53, while it’s already official that the future AMG CLE 63 will get the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8.

But let’s return to the AMG CLE 53 4Matic we had on the test. The first thing that catches the eye is the gorgeous silhouette when viewed from the side with a long hood with two power domes, the passenger cell which is set far back, the strongly sloping windshield, and the flat rear window that ends in a short rear. From the front, the forward-sloping ‘shark nose’ front end with its A-shaped radiator grille flanked by flat LED headlamps is striking. But the most eye-catching view is from the rear with the wide body shoulders framing the flat rear window that are reminiscent of a Porsche. The front and rear fenders are more flared than the standard version as the front and rear track are 58 and 75 mm wider respectively. This emotional and sleek design was made possible because the new CLE is 10 cm longer and 3.5 cm wider than the former C-Class Coupe, which made for more pleasing proportions.

Top engine with superb response, a lot of torque and explosive power above 4,500 revs

But let’s leave the design details behind and climb aboard the AMG seats with their excellently contoured seat backrests and a long cushion that could have been better configured. Press the start button and the first thrill is already there. Our hearing is sensitized by the AMG engine’s traditional baritone gurgle that intensifies when you shift into Sport or Sport+ and shift gears manually. A small proportion of the sound is also heard through the speakers but most of it is through the exhaust flap system, the four exhaust pipes being real and not fake.

We start up in Comfort mode and getting off the line is extremely smooth because before the turbine starts up, it receives support from two sources: once from the electric motor developing 23 PS and 205 Nm which is integrated between the gearbox and the combustion engine, effectively contributing to propulsion, and once from the electrically driven compressor which ‘blows’ with a boost pressure of between 0.4 and 1.5 bar.

Acceleration is extremely smooth and there’s always an impressive reserve of torque that generates colossal thrust. Shift into Sport+ and the engine response is almost spontaneous. From 4500 rpm, it feels like you’re preparing for a space launch, and from 5500 rpm you’re taking off. The maximum torque of 560 Nm, which in Sport+ with over-boost reaches 600 Nm for 12 seconds, is constant from 2200 to 5000 rpm, so the thrust is omnipresent regardless of the gear you’re in. The gears can also be shifted manually, but it’s worth doing it just for the pleasure of driving because in automatic mode the shifts are already very fast and become extremely fast in Sport+ mode.

In addition to the driving modes that can be changed from the multimedia screen or the rotary knob on the bottom right of the steering wheel, the driver can adjust steering and suspension response in Individual mode and ESP and all-wheel drive response in Basic, Advanced, and Pro from the rotary knob on the bottom left of the steering wheel.

Firm suspension even in Comfort mode

In Comfort mode, the suspension is already tuned quite firmly and the steering already has consistency and very good feedback. In Sport and Sport+, the steering and suspension have even sportier settings, the steering response is very direct and the body roll is very low even without active stabilized bars which are not available in this model. The AMG CLE 53 slices through corners with precision, aided by the standard all-wheel steering in which the rear wheels steer in the opposite direction to the front wheels by 2.5 degrees up to 100 km/h and in the same direction by 0.7 degrees above 100 km/h.

The interior is inspired by the AMG C-Class with an 11.9-inch portrait display for the multimedia system and a 12.3-inch display for the digital instrument cluster that features a specially dedicated AMG Supersport layout in addition to the Sport layout. In contrast, the navigation map is totally outdated and the decision to switch to Google starting with the new CLA is more than welcome.

Interior space is decent and the increased wheelbase over the C-Class Coupe is reflected in more knee room in the rear and acceptable headroom. The 410-liter trunk is enough for a vacation for two but no more.

Given the driving pleasure, superb sound, and sleek silhouette, the €93,433 price tag seems like a bargain compared to the €115,000-plus for the AMG C 63 AMG limo, which accelerates to 60mph with 0.8 seconds quicker. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how fast you get to 60mph, but the way you get there.