A lot of times these “AMG lite” models don’t get the respect they deserve because they’re not V8 or they’re not hand built in Affalterbach

But yanna what a V8 brings that this inline 6 doesn’t? Weight.

We’ll get into this more as we talk about dynamics, but this E53 just FEELS a bit lighter, a bit sharper than it’s big V8 brother. The inline 6 is packing a twin-scroll turbo along with a 48 volt mild hybrid system. There’s a lot of engineering to cover there, but what you need to know is it makes 429hp and 384 lbft

All htat power goes through a Mercedes designed and built 9 speed “speedshift” automatic transmission that’s SUPER sharp

It bangs off shifts and is really quick to respond giving you a really rewarding feeling on downshift

From there the power goes to all 4 wheels via Mercedes 4Matic Plus

And what that results in is 0-60 is over and done with in barely over 4 seconds

No wasted traction is a benefit of AWD for launches, but this 4Matic system is packing the “plus” which means, depending on your mode selection you can send all the power to the rear if you wanted to get a little slidey

Now, in order to slide you need power and RWD, but it also helps to have a really solid chassis to do it safely and predictably

This 2022 E53 is still part of the W213 generation of E Class that we saw first in 2017, but since then the chassis has been revised, stiffened, and lightened

You’ve got additional bracing, the suspension is made of aluminium so it’s lighter, and you have a clutch-based rear differential.

All of these things make this E53 feel way sharper than you’d expect from a mid-size luxury sedan

So that’s a lot about the AMG part of this car, but the other half is Mercedes so it still needs to be luxurious

And behind the wheel it is. The interior is quiet, the visibility is great, and underneath you have, sort of, a 2-piece air suspension. You’ve got an air spring with an AMG shock and long story short that set-up allows the car to do tighten up and drive hard just as well as it can relax and cruise comfortably

This car has a shocking amount of personality .Something you don’t see from German mid-size luxury sedans these days.

Dynamically it feels pretty true Mercedes, but with a big ol’ shot of AMG to give you the fizz

The car feels sharp, quick and responsive when I want it to, but it also can fade into the background and just get me from A to B in comfort when I need it
Yanno how I said behind the wheel this thing had character? Well it does inside too
When you’re spending $100,000 on a luxury car you want to feel like you’re getting a $100,00 experience
You get that here in this E53 more than probably any other german competitor
The dash is dominated by 2 12.3 inch screens for your gauge cluster and infotainment
Those screen and the rest of the cabin is wrapped in a gorgeous mixture of leather, stitching, and carbon fiber
You’ve got chrome Burmester speaker covers which are very opulent
You’ve got 64 options for your ambient lighting and it’s done better than anything else I’ve been in
The design is amazing and it definitely feels like you’re getting your moneys worth in here
The technology is very advanced too
You’re running MBUX for your infotainment which you can control through the track pad, the steering wheel, or the screen itself is touch
There’s a seemingly unending list of ways you can customize your experience through the MBUX system, but if that overwhelms you there are pre-programmed “moods” which will also adjust how the car behaves
Performance mood changes colors to red and puts telemetry on the scree
Then there’s lounge which does 2 tone ambient lighting and puts you in comfort
Of course you get things like Apple car play and android auto
Wireless charging
Heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel
But the nice thing is they’ve integrated the technology with the user in mind
You still have hard buttons for the stuff you use most like climate controls
It’s a very useable, comfortable, and nice place to spend time up here
This being the coupe, obviously the rear seats are as accessible as they would be with the sedan body, but space-wise they’re still useable for adults
Still get chargers adn ambient lighting back there
In the rear seats is where the no b pillar thing is the coolest
Finally you have a very roomy trunk