2026 Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4MATIC Review Road Test

Mercedes-AMG E 53 is an absolutely incredible motorcar–makes us wonder why they even bother with the E 63.
 

This Mercedes-AMG E 53 makes 600 Race Start horsepower and 553 maximum system foot-pounds by blending its 440 HP 3-litre turbo straight-six engine with a high-power density 160 HP 413 lb.-ft permanently excited internal rotor E-synchronous motor. A reprogrammed higher 1.5 bar boost pressure twin-scroll exhaust gas turbocharger also gains an additional front and wheel arch cooler for better, more spontaneous throttle response.
 
The electric motor-generator integrated into the AMG Speedshift TCT 9G transmission is fed by its 400 volt 28.6 kWh traction battery sitting beneath the boot floor. While E 53 boasts up to 175 HP recuperation on the go, available via various single pedal modes, there’s also an 11 kW AC charger on board. A 60 kW DC home fast charger will boost from 10 to 80 percent in just 20 minutes. Electric-only range is about 60 miles.
 
AMG promises that E 53 will accelerate from rest to 0 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. It’s actually quicker. The Auto Test did the trick in 3.6 seconds. Which means this car kicks the 2018 6-litre turbo V12 BMW M760 Li out of the top 20 quickest cars Auto has ever tested. Something that guy with the Turbo S in the Cape Winelands now knows full well, up close and personal!
 
E53 Has Clear Supercar Cred
So, while it may not be the top E class, this second-division 53 certainly has clear supercar credentials. Benz also tells us that top speed is electronically limited to 175 mph and that E 53 will reach up to 90 mph on electric power only.
 
It’s not just about straightline speed, however. Packing fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive, E 53 reverts to steel spring suspension. The electronically controlled locking rear differential is also complemented by rear wheel steering to vary the aft toe angle from 0.7 degree parallel to 2.5 degree opposite, depending on the cornering situation.
 
A significantly tauter shell and stiffer elastokinemetics to mount its independent control arms to the axle support, ensure greater tracking and camber stability. Reprogrammed ESP further enhances confident driving experience, while E 53 also benefits newly developed and tuned AMG Ride Control adaptive damping suspension. So, it rides, handles and hides its heft well.
 

Balances Electric Slick, AMG Aggro
Sporty two-valve adjustable damping brings a fine balance between silent pure electric driving and a sporty AMG character in three comfort, sport and sport-plus modes. The regular comfort, sport, sport-plus, smooth and individual AMG Dynamic Select programs furthermore gain hybrid-specific electric and battery hold modes.
 
The Mercedes-AMG E 53 is also a treat to behold. Its lit, vertically slatted AMG-specific grille, A-wing AMG apron, aggressive grille vents with vertical fins and 22 mm wider front fenders to accommodate wider axle track width and the neat wheel arch cooler vents, set it apart. Add an AMG boot spoiler tab and rear apron punctuated by a diffuser and twin double round tailpipes.
 
AMG skirt panels enhance the sides where this car’ metallic aquamarine hue is also marvelously offset by chrome rimmed black 21 inch forged alloy wheels framing red brake calipers. This Dynamic kitted unit gets electromechanically boosted four-piston fixed single-piston floating calipers grabbing internally ventilated 390 x 36 mm front and 360 x 26 mm rear rotors.
 
E 53 elephants in the room
Stepping aboard, the cockpit could have been so harmonious. Its red contrast topstitched power Artico microcut leather microfiber AMG sports seats complement quality mood lit grey open-pore ash wood with all the AMG logos. This one’s AMG Dynamic Plus package even wraps the performance steering wheel in Nappa leather.
 
But this is where two elephants step into the room. One is easy to eliminate. Just don’t tick the MBUX Superscreen option box when ordering yours. Overpriced, heedless and unnecessary in its own right, it seems the team that invented that hideous screen has never even met the guys who designed and developed this E Class.
 
Not sure why the passenger needs their own screen on the dash when their smartphone will do the trick far better, but this particular Superscreen application looks terrible. The driver instrumentation that should be part of it, seems a hatchet job. And then the whole panel sits way too low in the car. Causing unnecessary issues with legroom for the driver and passenger. Rather spend the money on a rac horse. Or a dirt bike.
 

Otherwise, E 53 is absolutely incredible
The other elephant pertains to Mercedes’ insistence on eliminating buttons and knobs from its cabins. So, whatever you need to do, be that turn the audio up or the climate down, it needs two or three stabs at the screen to even bring the required menu up. Something you cannot even begin to do if the wrong screen, like the camera view happens to be up.
 
It’d be half-OK of the steering wheel buttons worked. But those idiot sliders don’t. Mercedes reckons the typical AMG E 53 owner is likely a discerning and affluent late-Boomer. My generation. Spawned in post-War glee. I demonstrated this knobless car to some of my affluent late-Boomer type pals. The exact target market.
 
To a man and woman, they all hated its button-free ways. Which is why, we suppose, that VW, Hyundai and others already fled buttonless cabins like the plague.
 
So sure. It’s a few buttons short if absolute brilliance. And make sure you do not get the Superscreen. But for the rest, the Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4Matic is an absolutely incredible motorcar. So much so that it makes us wonder why they even bother with the E 63.
 
ROAD TESTED: Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4Matic
Engine: 443 HP 413 lb.-ft 3-litre petrol I6
Motor: 161 HP 413 lb.-ft permanently excited
System Output: 603 HP 553 lb.-ft
Drive: 9-speed automatic AWD
Battery: 400-volt 28.6 kWh lithium-ion
 
TESTED:
0-40 mph: 1.73 sec
0-60 mph: 3.61 sec
0-80 mph 4.84 sec
0-100 mph: 8.04 sec
¼-mile: 11.7 sec @ 119 mph
50-75 mph: 2.23 sec
75-100 mph: 3.20 sec
 
CLAIMED:
VMax: 175 mph
Fuel Average: 235 hybrid, 26 petrol mpg
 
LIST PRICE: $89,600