- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
3.0TeC, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
320kW, 520Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (98) 8.8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2019 Mercedes-AMG E53 Coupe review – First Australian drive
Aggressive looks, thunderous exhausts and a bad temper: the Mercedes-AMG package is well understood in Australia.
But there is more to it than that. Mercedes’ go-fast division was once renowned for V8 and V12-powered coupes and sedans designed to cruise at 250km/h without breaking a sweat. Then came high-riding SUVs, followed by significantly more affordable but no less fierce compact weapons such as the A45 hatch.
The house of AMG is an increasingly broad church, one which has welcomed lesser versions of its performance heroes in the form of the upcoming A35 hatch and V6-powered C43.
Each has its own character, a trend which continues in the new Mercedes-AMG E53 coupe.
- Suave looks
- Silky six-cylinder engine
- Lush interior
- Not cheap
- Sub-V8 performance
- Heavy
Is it right for me?
Positioned as the Goldilocks option, the E53 coupe occupies the middle ground in two key areas. First, it’s based on the E-Class coupe which is a little larger than the C-Class two-door, and at least one size smaller than the yacht-like S-Class. It also bridges the divide between relatively pedestrian E-Class models and insane, twin-turbo V8 E63 sedans.
The result is a machine with four usable seats and more than enough punch.
Beyond that, the E53 exudes a character of its own, representing an understated approach to AMG performance which starts with clean styling that does without snarling grilles, smouldering black wheels, oversized exhaust tips and ostentatious badges.
It only gets better from there.
Can I afford it ?
Priced from $172,729 plus on-road costs, the E53 coupe isn’t a particularly cheap car. It’s also short on direct rivals, as Audi and BMW do not currently offer two-door versions of the A6 and 5-Series sedans. You could argue that Audi’s RS5 ($156,600) and the Alpina B4S ($149,900) six-cylinder coupes offer a similar package, though neither can match the Benz’ roominess in the rear.
What do you get for your money?
Standard equipment for the E53 includes 20-inch wheels in a machine-faced finish, hooked up to air suspension and a four-wheel-drive system, big brakes, a nine-speed automatic transmission and glorious 3.0-litre, six-cylinder engine - more on that in a moment.
The interior is home to a 13-speaker Burmester stereo, Nappa leather-trimmed sports seats with memory adjustment, twin 12.3-inch interior displays hooked into Apple CarPlay and more. Naturally, Mercedes’ extensive suite of driver aids is part of the deal, bringing adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assistance and other key features.
Multibeam LED headlights also feature alongside a head-up display system, high-resolution sat-nav system, 360-degree camera and more.
Key options include metallic paint (such as the Hyacinth red hue spotted here), three-zone climate control and a choice of alloy wheels. You really don’t need to spend more to get hold of the best-possible car.
How much does it cost to maintain?
Mercedes supports its cars with a three-year, 100,000-kilometre warranty. While servicing costs for the new E53 have not been published, it should sit between the discontinued E43 V6 and range-topping E63 S which cost $3380 and $4860 to service for the first three years or 60,000 kilometres of ownership.
Is it well built?
There’s a noticeable step up in quality from the smaller C-Class to this larger E-Class coupe, and another one which takes the two-door into range-topping AMG territory. It’s a beautifully finished machine which melds high-tech features such as twin 12.3-inch widescreen displays and 64-colour ambient lighting with traditional materials in soft-touch leather and open-pore wood.
This is a genuinely special place to be.
What are the Standout features?
Mercedes’ driver aids are among the best on the road. Even if you discount the potential life-saving abilities of its systems (which would be unwise), you can appreciate the way its active cruise control and steering assistance systems take the pressure out of heavy traffic or long motorway drives. Though you still need to watch the road and keep a hand on the steering wheel, the safety features deliver much more than crash avoidance, helping minimise fatigue to keep you fresh throughout a journey.
What does it have that others don't?
A key styling element for the big coupe surrounds a pillar-less body and frameless doors which do their bit to lend suave looks and an airy sense of openness to the cabin. Find a favourite road, drop all four windows and let the silky tones of its straight-six engine meld with the smells and sounds of your environment.
How practical is it?
There’s a surprising amount of room in the back seat, which is definitely designed to accommodate adults (unlike an Audi TT or Porsche 911). Boot space is average for a car of this size at 425 litres, but that’s part of prioritising the car’s silhouette and being something of a slave to fashion. Mercedes will happily sell you a sedan, wagon or SUV with larger cargo areas, but they won’t look like this.
Is it comfortable?
Supportive sports seats with a broad range of adjustment mesh seamlessly with a tactile perforated leather steering wheel, metal-look gear shift paddles and outstanding ergonomics for driving duties and key functions throughout the cabin.
Easy in, easy out?
Then again, there are more practical options on the road. The coupe’s long doors can make tight parking spaces a little tricky, and rear-seat access requires a spot of gymnastics from passengers who need to work their way past forward-folding seats.
Space and versatility?
We’ve spent plenty of time riding in the front and back of the E-Class coupe, which offers a surprising amount of room for all four occupants, even for larger-than-usual occupants.
But the best feature is under the bonnet.
What's the engine like?
Mercedes’ new in-line six is a gem. So much smoother than the coarse V6 formerly found in the E43 sedan, this beautifully balanced motor spins freely throughout its rev range. Singing a sweet tune as it delivers up to 320kW of power and 520Nm of torque, the coupe can rip to 100km/h in just 4.4 seconds before reaching a top speed of 270km/h.
Yes, those figures fall short of what you can extract from V8-powered AMGs. But this is a less overt machine, one which won’t embarrass you with a flatulent roar when leaving a dinner party. You could argue that the E53 is classier than some of its siblings, and more pleasant too.
Trading the bombastic approach of big brothers for a more sophisticated approach, the 53-series engine offers impressive if not earth-shattering grunt mated with an in-gear flexibility that makes it feel effortless in most circumstances.
The engine has a fine partner in a nine-speed automatic transmission which delivers crisp shifts accompanied by the odd burp and crackle in sports mode, as well as an all-wheel-drive system serving up a surplus of traction in dry conditions.
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How much fuel does it consume?
An electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission helps keep fuel use to a claimed 8.8L/100km in mixed running, delivering up to 22kW and 250Nm of electric thrust when required. The hybrid system is seamless - there are no uncouth spaceship sounds or overly obvious processes underway. It just works.
Is it enjoyable to drive?
Of course, all of the above would be wasted if the E53 was horrible to drive.
I wasn’t blown away by the car on first impressions, possibly because the international test drive for the car took place in the suburbs of Austin, Texas, shortly after we were thrashing AMG’s most potent V8 model around a grand prix track. In that context, the E53 felt unremarkable, anonymous and something of a non-event.
But my opinion of the car changed dramatically after a long weekend and more than 600 kilometres of driving in mixed conditions, mainly on country roads.
Back in familiar territory, the E53 brings an impressive level of composure thanks to air suspension tuned for comfort as opposed to 200km/h-plus cornering speeds. Bringing a far more supple ride than V8 cousins, the E53 glides across the landscape with none of the kidney-pummelling punishment the larger E63 serves up.
Crisp, well-weighted steering, progressive brakes and sure-footed traction makes it easy to hustle the two-door along a favourite stretch of tarmac. Ultimately, the E53 feels more like an accomplished gran turismo than a red-blooded performance car. It’s too heavy, too broad of focus to deliver the ultimate thrills of V8 models.
But unlike its brothers, the six-cylinder machine is equally at home around town when dawdling along in traffic. It’s the car you might choose to drive every day.
Does it perform as you expect?
Ultimately, the E53 is more cruiser than bruiser. It’s not a fire-breathing, power-sliding anti-social machine like the C63 AMG - you won’t find a “drift mode” within the dashboard computer. This is a different type of car, one with broader appeal.
Mercedes-AMG E53 specifications
Price: $172,729 plus on-road costs
Engine: 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo petrol hybrid
Power: 320kW at 6100rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1800-5800rpm
Hybrid boost: 22kW, 250Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed auto, all-wheel-drive
Fuel use: From 8.8L/100km