Mercedes-Benz E Class E53 4Matic+ Premium 4dr TCT

Ten Second Review

This E 53 takes over the mantle of Mercedes' answer to the BMW M5 super saloon. It's now a very different proposition in this shatteringly fast PHEV form and, unlike its E 63 predecessor, can make some sort of real world sense too. Plus, as with that Beemer, you can also have it as an estate.

Background

On the face of things, there's grounds for quite a bit of disappointment here. The fieriest E-Class, the classic V8 E 63 AMG, a model which has duelled with BMW's M5 since 2006, is no more, finally abandoned by Mercedes as a sacrifice on the altar of electrification. And its successor is to be the erstwhile prince to that king model's throne, the E 53, launched as a mild hybrid AMG E-Class model back in 2016 and a car that's never done very much to get the enthusiast heart beating. You might think that adding a further 290kg weight to what was already a rather bloated recipe would be unlikely to help things But stay with us because this is a very different kind of E 53 - and a very different kind of top AMG-fettled E-Class. Like the latest G90 BMW M5, it's become a Plug-in Hybrid, with performance gains that out-weigh the weight deficit; and its total system output is very little different to that of the old V8 E 63. But is it all enough to take on that standard-setting M5, a task that even the E 63 struggled with? Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

This is very different to the last E 53 we drove in 2020 (at the launch of the facelift W213-era MK5 E-Class). Then, this model was a 48V mild hybrid. This replacement design still has six cylinders, but just about everything else about it is different from its predecessor, including the switch to Plug-in Hybrid tech. What a browsing potential M5 customer might want to know about though, is ultimate power. The straight six engine's 449hp output isn't much different from before, but now it's boosted by a 163hp electric motor positioned, not on the rear axle (as it is in the current C 63) but sandwiched between the engine and the AMG Speedshift TCT 9G auto gearbox. That brings things up to 585hp, which can be further improved to 603hp (the same as the old E 63 S) if you've got a variant with the 'AMG Dynamic Plus' package fitted. This brings revised engine software which releases a further 26hp during short bursts of acceleration and allows for a 'Race Start' launch function. Even with that fitted, the 0-62mph sprint figure (3.8s) is still half a second down on the old E 63's stat (but just 0.3s behind the 727hp V8-engined G90 M5). Without the max-attack 'Race Start' system activated, it's 4.1s. All these are of course fractional differences; what you might fret more about as a Mercedes-AMG customer is the absence of the old E 63's wonderful full chat V8 howl. Sure, you don't get that with its PHEV six cylinder replacement, but there's still lots of exhaust crackle charisma. And some financial compensation - not in the price of course (though that's a chunk less than an M5) but more in the seismically-lower BiK tax figures you'll be paying thanks to the 28.6kWh battery inserted beneath the boot floor. When fully charged, this allows for a 59 mile EV range and, more surprisingly, a better balanced weight distribution (47:53 front-to-rear).

Design and Build

If any mistake's been made here, it probably lies with not calling this car an 'E 63'. It certainly can look like an E 63, differentiated from lesser E-Class models by larger cooling ducts in the bespoke front bumper, an AMG-specific illuminated front grille and front wings widened by 11mm on either side to accommodate this top variant's wider track. There are also unique sills with black under-door highlights, a rear spoiler and a bespoke rear bumper housing a deep diffuser and four round exhaust pipes. Wheel sizes can vary between 19 and 21-inches and there's a choice of saloon or estate body shapes. The indoor experience depends quite a lot on whether you're prepared to pay Mercedes more for its vast SuperScreen. This covers the fascia with one huge expanse of screen tech made up of three displays, including one for the front passenger, who can thus see how fast you're going - or try and forget how fast you're going by watching YouTube instead. There's lots of aluminium, leather, satin chrome and carbon fibre trimming. Plus semi-bucket front AMG sports seats and an AMG three-spoke wheel with fiddly touch-sensitive buttons and rotary knobs for quick drive mode changes. Obviously, there's decent room for a couple of rear-seated adults, but you'd struggle to comfortably accommodate a third. The problem though, is the luggage area. Thanks to that PHEV drivetrain, you're well down on luggage space, reduced from 540-litres in an ordinary E-Class saloon to just 370-litres here. Even the estate can only take 460-litres (down from 615-litres normally).

Market and Model

Expect pricing for this AMG 53 model in saloon form to start at around the £91,000 mark (almost £20,000 less than the equivalent BMW M5). There's a £2,250 premium if you want the estate body shape. Either way, there are three trim levels 'Premium', 'Night Edition Premium Plus' and 'Edition 1'. If you don't stretch to that top trim level, you'll probably want to budget the extra £1,500 Mercedes wants for its MBUX Superscreen package, which provides three digital displays across the fascia. Even the standard 'Premium' model after all, includes plenty. There are 20-inch AMG alloy wheels, plus 'Digital Light' LED headlamps, a panoramic glass sliding roof and keyless entry. Inside with 'Premium' trim, you get a Burmester 4D surround sound system, an AMG Performance steering wheel, augmented reality navigation, a parking package, AMG sports seats with called acclimatisation, ambient lighting Thermatic climate control and illuminated door sills. Upholstery is in AMG black nappa leather. 'Night Edition Premium Plus'-spec adds the 'AMG Night' styling package, and inside you get the brand's 'Air Balance' and 'Energizing Plus' packages, plus active ambient lighting and multi-contour massaging seats with heated armrests. The top 'Edition 1' version though, is the one you'll need for the fastest E 53. This adds the 'AMG DYNAMIC PLUS' package, which boosts output to 603hp and includes a 'RACE drive' programme and AMG dynamic engine mounts, plus an AMG electronic rear axle limited slip differential and an AMG high-performance compound braking system. This top variant is set apart by 21-inch AMG alloy wheels with the cross-spoke design and black-painted calipers, plus carbon fibre exterior mirrors and special MANUFAKTUR magno paint.

Cost of Ownership

In contrast to the C 63 and other models in the first generation of AMG high-performance PHEVs, the Plug-in Hybrid system here does actually translate into some useful running cost savings, though you'll still be keeping your local service station in Tiger tokens if you drive this car as the Affalterbach engineers intend. The combined cycle claimed fuel consumption is 31.7mpg (or 30.7mpg for the estate), but if you get anywhere close to that on a regular basis, then you really shouldn't have bought this car in the first place and it deserves a better home. You know where we are. The CO2 figure is 21-23g/km (compare to 32g/km for an M5), meaning a surprisingly affordable BiK tax rate of just 8%. The EV range is up to 59 miles (57 miles for the estate). Service intervals for this E 53 will depend on how far you drive and under what conditions - but Mercedes does offer 'ServiceCare', which allows you to spread your bills into manageable payments, guarantees the price of parts and labour for up to four services, and covers the cost of recommended service items such as brake fluid, spark plugs, air filters, fuel filters and screen wash. Another thing we'll need to tell you is that the comprehensive three year unlimited mileage warranty is built upon by Mercedes' Mobilo scheme which delivers breakdown cover for up to thirty years, as long as you continue to have your car serviced at a Mercedes main dealer.

Summary

Some in search of the ultimate executive segment super saloon will dismiss this rejuvenated E 53 against its BMW M5 arch-rival on account of this Merc's power deficit and lack of a V8 up-front. That would be a mistake. This AMG model is a match for that Munich rival in most of the areas that really matter. And its use of a six cylinder powertrain rather than the old E 63's thundering V8 needn't necessarily be seen as an issue. After all, BMW's M3 model line went from straight six to V8 and back again and nobody seemed to much mind that. True, an E 53 isn't the track car a G90-era M5 can be, but it's probably a better road car, which you might rightly argue is more important. You'll like the ride quality and the EV range from the PHEV system is better than the BMW, so your taxation will be cheaper. Perhaps the fact that we're talking about taxation and EV range as key attributes here is a bad sign. But even super saloon customers have to live in the real world. And with an E 53, it'd be a very fast world indeed.