Mercedes' latest AMG coupe is a blast to drive — but I couldn't stop wishing for a real V8
The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 is the high-performance variant of the brand's new CLE luxury coupe.
I was impressed by CLE 53's aggressive looks, legit AMG performance, and luxurious cabin.
However, the AMG trades some of the CLE's comfort and refinement to achieve driving excellence.
Mercedes-Benz introduced the CLE in 2024 to fill the space in their lineup once occupied by the defunct C-Class and E-Class coupes.
I had the chance to drive the CLE450 Coupe last year and was wowed by the grand tourer's elegant styling, luxurious cabin, and powerful mild-hybrid powertrain.
Alongside the standard CLE, the German automaker also launched a souped-up version tuned by its AMG performance division, the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53.
It's effectively a CLE450 but turned up to 11 with sleeker aerodynamics, more power, and a laundry list of performance upgrades meant to help the big Benz conquer corners with ease.
I recently had the chance to spend a week behind the wheel of a 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe.
The base four-cylinder Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 4Matic starts at $58,000, while the six-cylinder CLE450 4Matic starts at $67,450.
The Mercedes-AMG CLE53 starts at $74,300. More than $13,000 of luxury, performance, and styling options, including $3,250 for the stunning matte Starling Blue Magno paints, pushed the as-tested price on my test car to $87,640.
The car features a modified version of the aerodynamic 'shark nose' front end shared with other CLE models and the current C-Class.
Instead of the CLE450's three-dimensional chrome grille, the 53 comes with an AMG grille featuring black vertical slats. It's a look that evokes the brand's vintage Silver Arrows race cars.
Out back, the CLE450s's faux exhaust tips have been replaced by a set of working quad exhausts.
The coupe features prominent front and rear wheel arches to accommodate its sticky 20-inch Michelin performance tires.
As a result, the CLE 53, 2.3 inches wider up front and three inches wider at the rear wheels compared to the standard CLE, looks more like a brawny muscle car than a svelt grand tourer.
Under the hood is an AMG-tuned mild-hybrid turbocharged six-cylinder engine.
The 3.0-liter, turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine is similar to the one found in the CLE 450 but tuned or, as Mercedes calls it, "enhanced" by AMG.
Redesigned intake and exhaust channels, new piston rings, optimized injection, and a new electric supercharger and exhaust gas turbocharger result in 443 horsepower and up to 443 lb-ft of torque. (That's up from the CLE 450's 375 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque.)
Like all CLEs, the 53 is helped by Mercedes' 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which uses an integrated starter generator to contribute an additional 23 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. It's designed to mitigate the effects of turbo lag and quicken the response of its auto start/stop system.
My test car boasted EPA fuel economy figures of 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined, which is about 3 mpg less than the last CLE450 I drove.
AMG has transformed the CLE's driving experience from a laid-back luxury coupe to a performance monster.
The CLE450 drives with the smoothness and refined power of a true grand tourer. The CLE 53 feels very different. It's aggressive and athletic. The AMG tuning eliminates some of the CLE's niceties, as the cabin is noticeably louder and the ride more harsh.
But that's the trade-off you make for the gains in handling and performance you get.
With a 0-60 time of 4.0 seconds, according to Mercedes, the CLE 53 is just 0.2 seconds quicker than the CLE450.
That isn't much and makes me miss the brute horsepower and noise of the handbuilt AMG V8s that once powered the old C63 coupe.
But AMG's work on the CLE's adaptive suspension, all-wheel-drive system, and rear axle steering really shines.
Despite its hefty curb weight of 4,400 lbs, the 53 felt remarkably nimble and confident through the winding mountain roads of North Georgia.
The Mercedes' stylish interior elegantly integrates modern tech with classic design.
Its interior is an elegant blend of modern design and callbacks to classic Mercedes-Benz of days gone by, like the giant 11.9-inch touchscreen sitting below the trio of vintage turbine-design air vents.
Material and build quality are excellent. My test car came with elegant metal weave design trim pieces that not only look great but are also less susceptible to the unsightly smudges and scratches that plagued the shiny piano black lacquer trim found on the other CLEs I've driven.
Despite having years of experience using them, I still find the capacitive touch controls found throughout the cabin to be a bit clumsy and less precise than physical controls.
The 11.9-inch touchscreen features the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system.
The system is pretty well sorted at this point. It's responsive and easy to navigate, and the graphics look terrific. The system's overeager voice assistance is also far less intrusive than in past iterations.
The car comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The CLE 53's special AMG steering wheel comes with a pair of round drive mode and performance setting controllers.
Instead of a traditional gauge cluster, the CLE has a 12.3-inch digital display. It's highly configurable, with layouts ranging from a traditional dual analog gauge look to a full-page navigation map.
My test car's black nappa leather seat looked great and offered good support, especially when cornering.
The CLE is a true 2+2 with a pair of bucket seats in the back, suitable for quick trips around town.
The CLE comes standard with some safety and driver-assistance tech, but adaptive cruise control costs extra.
That's a shame because the Mercedes-Benz Distronic system is excellent. It's about as close as you can get to a legitimate hands-free system without being one.
My verdict: The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 is an outstanding high-performance luxury coupe that makes me miss the company's old V8.
The CLE 53 is objectively a great luxury sport coupe. Its suspension and steering are beautifully tuned, and its cabin is a wonderful place to be.
Despite all the joy I derived from driving it, I couldn't help but think how the true excellence of AMG's tuning work might shine even brighter with the brute force of a V8.
Do it, Mercedes. Give us a CLE 63.
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