Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid review finds EV power isn’t for fuel savings
Mercedes-AMG delivers a triple whammy courtesy of electric, hybrid and petrol power in the E53 Hybrid.
Aura is a standard feature on a Mercedes-Benz.
Throw AMG into the mix and it flexes the prestige muscle, combining performance with luxury.
Now the athletic arm of Mercedes is throwing efficiency into the mix … well, sort of.
The current E-Class AMG is exclusively a plug-in hybrid. Although it’s not an appeal for the thrifty – prices start from just below $200,000.
Electric power is designed to complement combustion engine brawn. It can travel for about 90km on electric power, but this is an AMG. Does that really work? Our family put it to the test to find out.
What do you get?
From the moment you open the door it oozes luxury.
Three screens create an expanse of digital wizardry across the dash, including a 14.4-inch central display, 12.3-inch passenger and driver instrument screens. During darkness the interior comes alive, with LED strips circumnavigating the cabin.
Meeting expectations in this price bracket is a lengthy features list, among the highlights are soft nappa leather trim, sports seats with heating and cooling functions, AMG steering wheel with haptic buttons and mode dials, 17-speaker Burmester stereo and four-zone aircon.
Externally it has side skirts, an AMG-specific front and rear design with twin tailpipes and a small carbon spoiler to differentiate it from your run-of-the-mill E-Class, and also boasts 20-inch alloys with low profile rubber and red brake calipers. But there are various 21-inch options.
Buyers rarely have their AMG stock-standard. Mercedes offers various packages, including one featuring carbon fibre mirror caps and internal trims for $6000, or the performance seat version we sampled which offers various electric adjustments of the bucket seats to pin you in place for $5000.
There are prepaid servicing plans available for three ($4225), four ($5650) or five ($8030) maintenance visits.
Various metallic paint options are on the palette, including silver, brown, blue, black as well as a flat white. There is also a bright white and red metallic which cost another $2000, an alpine grey is $2300, while a special “opalite” white is just over $9300.
How was the drive?
Starting silently, old-school AMG fans would be disappointed with the start button result.
The E53 moves silently by default and will travel about 90km on pure electric power on a full battery.
Using the steering wheel button dials to shift through the various modes, the Sport and Sport+ capture the sporting essence of AMG and come with a throaty soundtrack … some of which is amped up through the cabin speakers.
Despite measuring 4961mm in length, the classy saloon corners and hunkers down with impressive dexterity.
Rapid changes in direction are aided by rear axle steering, with the rubber biting into the bitumen for rail-like performance in the bends.
Like the majority of modern hybrids, it shifts between electric and petrol power seamlessly. Unless you want to maintain power in the battery, all the hard technical work is done for you by AMG.
Cruising in electric mode is exactly that and the acceleration and performance uphill can be underwhelming without engine intervention.
The turbocharged straight-six provides ample motivation to all four wheels, and when race start is engaged the electric and petrol systems work in tandem to propel the sedan from standstill to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds. That’s four tenths slower than the former 2024 model 4.0-litre V8-powered E63.
There is an E63 derivative on the horizon, although that’s not set to debut until next year.
Those hardcore performance variants don’t appeal to all buyers, whereas the E53 is more mature and combines sense with an ounce of silliness.
Most plug-in hybrids have a reasonable recharge time, but we found the E53 slow. Some overnight charges only delivered about 30km of electric range using a standard power point. Use a DC public charger and it would take about 20min to reach 80 per cent from near empty.
Would you buy one?
Kel: There was so much to love … particularly the spectacular interior with the lighting and screens across the dash. I’d have to avoid the performance seats, while they were great once you were in place I found them challenging to get over the side bolsters depending on my attire – heels and skirts were a real battle. The electric performance was also the reverse from what I’ve experienced before as sometimes the acceleration was lacking, and my default was to always opt for Sport+ mode purely for the sound. There hasn’t been an AMG I don’t like, and my opinion hasn’t changed.
Grant: Prices have gone up for the E53, but this new variant comes with the plug-in hybrid functionality, while it’s also at least $50k less expensive than the previous V8 E63. Hybrid is certainly popular at the moment and this does offer a triple whammy of electric, hybrid and performance benefits. It is great to have the pure electric option for urban cruising, but I’m still infatuated with the theatre of the old models. I’d sacrifice all the latest functionality for the bellowing 6.2-litre V8. Sadly, those days are long gone.
Originally published as Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid review finds EV power isn’t for fuel savings
