53 Mercedes-AMG E 2021 Review: Coupe

The E53 range broke new ground for Mercedes-AMG with its debut in 2018. It was not only a new "entry level" performance option for large E-Class cars, but also the first Affalterbach model to combine an inline-six engine. with a mild hybrid system.

Needless to say, the E53 was an intriguing prospect at the time, and is now back in the frame after a midlife facelift, which doesn't seem to contradict what turned out to be a fairly successful formula.

And with the flagship performance of the E63 S still unavailable in the two-door E-Class lineup, the E53 is about as good as it gets. But as you'll find out when you read this coupe body review, it's actually great news. Enjoy reading.

2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: E53 4Matic+ EQ (hybrid)
Safety Rating
engine's type	3.0 L turbo
fuel type	Hybrid with premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	9.3l / 100km
Landing	4 Places
Price from	$129,000

Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10

The E53 coupe already had an attractive appearance, but in the updated form it looks even better.

The big change has come up front, with the E53 Coupé now sporting the signature Mercedes-AMG Panamericana grille with the layered aesthetic that used to be the back-office of its '63' models.

In fact, the entire front fascia has been redesigned, with the grille turned upside down and the Multibeam LED headlights flatter and therefore angrier. Naturally, the hood and bumper have been modified to match each other, with the former having powerful domes.

The E53 coupe already had an attractive appearance, but in the updated form it looks even better.

On the steep sides is a new sporty set of black 20-inch alloy wheels to match the window trim, while the only difference at the rear is the fresh LED taillight graphics.

Yes, the E53 coupe still has a subtle trunk lid spoiler and a prominent diffuser insert that integrates the four round tailpipes of the sports exhaust system.

Inside, the midlife facelift really makes itself felt with a new flat-bottomed steering wheel, capacitive buttons and haptic feedback. This setup is... awkward, taps are often confused with swipes, so it's not exactly a step in the right direction.

And it's especially annoying because those controls are used for the portable 12.3-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, which now runs on Mercedes' MBUX infotainment system, which teams up with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

The big changes have touched the front of the body, where the E53 coupe now has the signature Mercedes-AMG Panamericana grille.

While this configuration is already familiar, it remains a benchmark in almost every way and is therefore a brilliant upgrade for the E53 Coupe thanks to its speed and breadth of functionality and input methods, including always-on voice control and touchpad.

In terms of materials, Nappa leather upholstery covers the seats and steering wheel, as well as armrests and door inserts, while Artico leatherette finishes the upper dash and door sills.

Conversely, the lower door panels are adorned with hard, shiny plastic. Considering cowhide and other soft-touch materials are used on most other surfaces, it's unusual that Mercedes-AMG didn't go all the way.

Elsewhere, open-pore wood trim is visible, while metallic accents brighten things up along with stainless steel sports pedals and smile-inducing ambient lighting.

Nappa leather upholstery covers the seats and steering wheel, as well as armrests and door inserts.

How practical is the interior space? 8/10

At 4835mm long (with a 2873mm wheelbase), 1860mm wide and 1430mm high, the E53 Coupe is a really big car, which is great news for practicality.

The trunk has a nice cargo capacity of 425L, but can be expanded to an unknown volume by removing the 40/20/40 folding rear seat with handy manual-opening latches.

What's really impressive is the amount of space inside.

It's worth noting that while the opening is wide, it's not tall, which can be a problem for bulkier items along with a tall loading edge, although there are two attachment points handy for attaching loose items.

However, what is really impressive is the amount of space inside. While the front sport seats are comfortable, the two rear passengers are in for more fun, with ample space, thankfully ending the argument over who's stuck in the uncomfortable second row.

There's two inches of legroom behind our 184cm driver's seat, as well as an inch of headroom, though there's almost no legroom.

Being a four-seater, the E53 coupe separates its rear passengers with a tray with two cup holders, and also has access to two side bins and a small center pod with two USB-C ports. This compartment is located between the air vents at the rear of the center console.

While the front sport seats are comfortable, the rear two passengers are in for more fun.

And yes, even child seats can be installed with two ISOFIX anchor points and two top cable anchor points if required. In fact, the long front doors make this task less of a challenge, although those large doors become problematic in tight parking lots.

All of this isn't to say that front-row passengers are being mistreated, because they are, with a center console compartment with two cup holders, a wireless smartphone charger, a USB-C port, and a 12V outlet.

Other storage options include a decent-sized center compartment that holds two more USB-C ports, while the glove box is also a decent size, and then there's a top-mounted sunglasses holder.

The center console has two cup holders, a wireless smartphone charger, a USB-C port and a 12V outlet.

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

Starting at $164,800 plus travel expenses, the updated E53 coupe is a staggering $14,465 more affordable than its predecessor.

But if you're not a fan of its body style, the E162,300 sedan is also available for $53 (-$11,135) and the E173,400 convertible for $53 (-$14,835).

In any case, standard equipment that hasn't been mentioned yet includes metallic paint, dusk-sensing lights, rain-sensing wipers, power and heated folding side mirrors, keyless entry, rear privacy glass and a power trunk lid.

The facelifted E53 coupe is a staggering $14,465 cheaper than its predecessor.

Inside, push-button start, panoramic sunroof, satellite navigation with live traffic feed, digital radio, Burmester 590W surround sound system with 13 speakers, Augmented Reality (AR) head-up display, power steering column, power-adjustable heated front seats , dual-zone climate control and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

There are no direct competitors for the E53 Coupe, with the closest being the smaller and therefore much more affordable BMW M440i Coupe ($118,900) and Audi S5 Coupe ($106,500). Yes, this is a unique offer on the market, this Merc.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 9/10

The E53 Coupe is powered by a 3.0-liter inline-six petrol engine that delivers 320kW at 6100rpm and 520Nm of torque from 1800-5800rpm.

The unit in question has a single traditional turbocharger and an electrically driven compressor (EPC) that is available at engine speeds up to 3000 RPM and can rev up to 70,000 RPM in just 0.3 seconds for an instant hit.

The E53 Coupe accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds.

But that's not all, because the E53 Coupe also has a 48-volt mild-hybrid system called EQ Boost. As the name suggests, it has an integrated starter generator (ISG) that can provide up to 16 kW and 250 Nm of temporary electric boost.

Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission with torque converter and redesigned paddle shifters, as well as a fully variable all-wheel drive system, the Mercedes-AMG 4Matic+ Coupé accelerates from zero to 53 km/h in a comfortable 100 seconds.

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

The fuel consumption of the E53 Coupe during the combined cycle test (ADR 81/02) is 9.3 l/100 km and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are 211 g/km.

Considering the performance on offer, both claims are pretty good. And they're made possible by the E53 Coupe's 48V EQ Boost mild-hybrid system, which features a coasting function and an extended idle stop function.

The fuel consumption of the E53 Coupe in the combined test cycle (ADR 81/02) is 9.3 l/100 km.

However, in our actual tests we averaged a more realistic 12.2L/100km over 146km of driving, although the starting test route only included high-speed country roads, so expect higher results in metropolitan areas.

For reference, the E53 Coupe has a 66 liter fuel tank and it will only take more expensive 98 octane premium gasoline.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 9/10

ANCAP gave the fifth-generation E-Class sedan and station wagon the highest five-star rating in 2016, though this does not apply to the E53 coupe due to different body styling.

However, advanced driver assistance systems still extend to autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keeping and steering assistance (including emergency situations), adaptive cruise control with stop and go functions, traffic sign recognition, driver warning , high security. beam assist, active blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert, tire pressure monitoring, parking assist, surround view cameras, and front and rear parking sensors.

In 2016, ANCAP awarded the fifth generation E-Class sedan and station wagon the highest five-star rating.

Other standard safety equipment includes nine airbags, anti-skid brakes, and conventional electronic traction and stability control systems.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10

Like all Mercedes-AMG models, the E53 Coupé is backed by a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, which is currently the benchmark in the premium car market. It also comes with five years of roadside assistance.

What's more, the E53 Coupe service intervals are quite long: every year or 25,000 km - whichever comes first.

It's also available with a five-year/125,000km limited-price service plan, but it's expensive at $5100 overall, or an average of $1020 per visit, with the E53 coupe's fifth ride costing $1700. Ouch.

What is it like to drive? 8/10

If the E53 Coupe were your daily driver, you would be very happy because its balance of comfort and performance is as good as it gets.

Insert the trunk and the engine responds with the kind of enthusiasm that only electrification can provide. Not only does the ISG deliver just-in-time traction, but the EPC helps the E53 coupe reach peak torque even though it has to work harder to reach peak power.

However, despite the addition of EQ Boost and EPC, the E53 Coupe still feels like a true Mercedes-AMG model, staying true to the high performance mantra while offering a different approach.

It's critical that all the drama is here as it rushes towards the horizon with intent as the transmission shifts gears smoothly, delivering relatively quick shifts and downshift revs when needed. All this creates an exciting drive.

However, it's the E53 Coupe's sports exhaust system that's likely to grab all the attention with its crackles, pops, and overall booming soundtrack in sports mode. It can also be turned on manually in any mode by pressing a button on the center console.

If the E53 Coupe were your daily driver, you would be very happy.

And given that the E53 Coupe 4Matic+ system is fully adjustable, it provides good traction when accelerating hard and listening to the soundtrack, but its rear end can still protrude briefly when cornering.

Speaking of handling, the E53 Coupe turns surprisingly well, defying its large size and significant curb weight of 2021kg with strong body control.

When entering corners, the E53 Coupé can also rely on its sports brakes, which pull with absolute confidence.

And when you're driving the E53 Coupe on winding roads, the electric power steering comes to the fore with its speed sensitivity and variable gear ratio.

However, the steering setup is somewhat disappointing at times, as the feedback isn't quite up to par with a performance car.

On well-groomed highways and city roads, it has a sufficient level of ride.

However, it's fairly straight forward and feels beefy in the hand - two traits that are essential to success - with that weight upped in sport driving mode. However, if you ask me, comfort is where it is.

However, the E53 Coupe's suspension uses air springs and adaptive dampers, making it a comfortable cruiser.

Sure, on poor-quality country roads, this setup sounds a bit harsh when passengers feel most of the bumps and bumps, but on well-groomed highways and city roads, it has a fair level of ride.

Befitting that luxurious feel, the noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels of the E53 coupe are damn good, and tire roar and wind whistle are easy to miss while enjoying the aforementioned Burmester sound system.

Verdict

As it turns out, the automotive world doesn't really need an E63 S Coupe because the E53 Coupe really gives you everything you'll ever need.

Simply put, the E53 Coupe's balance of performance and luxury is flawless, while the E63 S Coupe arguably favors one over the other.

Indeed, if you're interested in a "relatively affordable" grand tourer that can get up and go when needed, you could do a lot worse than the E53 Coupe.