2022 Mercedes AMG E53 Review, Road Test

The last time when we drove an AMG, we recommended it and it was an SUV. The GLE 43 AMG! Today, when a successor for that comes along, Mercedes also gave us the saloon version of it. Going out of the way and offering two E-Classes with AMG engines in it, Mercedes not only expanded its portfolio but made it lethal and something that competition is yet to take notice of or already lost the battle years ago. The new approach of Mercedes when it comes to perfecting powertrains and cylinder aliginement has grabbed attention worldwide. On the inside and outside too, Mercedes has taken the game forward by leaps and bounds. It comes very close to its rivals when it comes to offering the best of both worlds. The E53 AMG is the short wheelbase format over its commercial cousin, the LWB E-Class which offers everyday powertrains. You already think it has promise right? We find out and tell you how!

On the outside, the flush and very long tail lamps are a great addition to the E-Class. Given the fact they have dynamic stoplights and turn indicators, it makes it even cooler to look at. The new angular LED DRL at the front with two additional DRL gives this new generation E-Class its own distinctive look. The simple, large and bold grille makes the car look one of the best saloons to come out of the Mercedes design room. The short wheelbase E-Class profile makes it sporty to look at and instantly recognizable as the AMG version is on the prowl!

A fairly simple and short bumper on both ends makes the E-Class look like a proper fast European saloon. The build quality on the outside seems and sounds great and it scores high on crash tests like any other Mercedes. The elements on the car, such as a unique set of alloy wheels, quad exhausts, and AMG sticker (is an optional extra) clean and very tastefully done design make the E-Class stand out in every color, even in this pearl white scheme!

On the inside, the build and quality are good and so is the expansive feature list we have explained time and again in our launch report. The interior looks dated, especially the lower half of the dashboard resonates with the outgoing E-Class design. The AMG steering wheel looks great and fresh. The slab-inspired screen on the dashboard looks very futuristic with contrast stitching. You get features such as automatic lights and wipers to reversing cameras, front and rear parking sensors, wireless charger, ambient lighting, and powerful LED lamps with high beam assist along with great spread and illumination. Mercedes cars continue to be void of Wireless Apple Car play and Android Auto. MBUX does make up for the technology part, but not the personalization that people look forward to now.

The one thing we don’t like is going through music where the cursor is missing and using the touchpad on the steering wheel, you need to find it first and then navigate it to the track button, and then use it. The long tedious process can be fixed by using a tap on the touch screen or using the buttons below. Something Mercedes should fix by just initiating the swiping of the pad on the steering, which should change by assuming it is a track change command and changing the track at first go! After this, once you do sample the sound system with the high insulation from road and traffic, you will find it quite impressive despite there being a fruity inline-six engine on offer.

The car has two sunroofs, electric and leather-equipped seats with red seat belts on offer. There are a good amount of buttons on offer, unlike the new generation Mercedes which has only 10 buttons to operate. The instrument cluster has three screens to choose from and they look great and are very sci-fi too! The screen also shows all service-related parameters including oil and Adblue level. MBUX system has been updated and works quite well and the connected system is good too when you have cell coverage. Mercedes offers Mercedes ME, concierge service, and all other connected features to make the E53 AMG a completely connected car. Voice recognition is on offer and our everyday commands were easily understood.

Space is generous with enough shoulder and knee room you expect, is here. Leg and headroom continue to be in good supply but as always it is a strict four-seater. A car that can seat your family in comfort with this performance is already sounding like a bargain! The boot space is good enough at 500 liters and so is the overall practicality of the interior. Road and wind noise inside the cabin is also well-controlled thanks to good insulation all around. However, like any other Mercedes, it is still a pleasant place to be thanks to multi-level filtration. The safety kit continues to be high with electronic stability control and eight airbags, Hill Hold Assist, ABS and EBD, Active Brake Assist, and more.

Mercedes AMG engines are smooth, free-revving, and low on NVH and the one on the E53 AMG is the same. It is cool and calm when you want it to be and hot and furious when you ask it to be. All this is possible because of the drive modes on offer. The 3.0l motor with a mild hybrid system (EQ boost offers 20 BHP and 250 NM of the line) offers neck-snapping off-the-line acceleration. It reaches the double ton in no time! The front lifts up on hard acceleration just like a muscle car! Low and mid-range are good on the motor and are instantaneous. The engine makes a 400 PS and 520 Nm (770 on boost) of torque going through a very quick-shifting, smooth, and seamless 9-speed automatic. With four-wheel drive and EQ boost, the powertrain behaves at its absolute best!

The engine rumble and shove you get while accelerating is truly special. 0-100 km/hr in 4.5 seconds is quick and it has an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/hr is on offer. Top-end is great as always the engine can cruise at legal speeds and higher than that, quite easily. This makes it good enough for city and highway duties and makes driving comfortable. We saw 7 km/l in the city and 10 km/l on the highway. The tank range is quite high too delivering almost 500 km in one tank if you keep the right foot in check.

The ride quality is quite good for our roads. This is clearly the best setup for our roads to date. It isn’t outrightly uncomfortable like big AMG’s or sports cars. There is compliance which makes it so apt for our roads. Even the ground clearance is not a problem with three people on board. The steering feedback is in abundance, the E53 AMG offers some serious fun to drive as you can push it harder without losing confidence.

High-speed stability is spot on thanks to the ideal balance of underlying stiffness and compliance. The brakes were good too with great pedal bite and a lot of performance on offer. Body roll barely makes its presence felt while changing lanes at any speeds. Overall, a very easy-to-drive car despite maniac performance hides away in plain sight.

2022 Mercedes AMG E53 Review, Verdict

Like we told you, the E53 AMG is promising in every regard, It is the best saloon we drove all year and it deserves a special place in every enthusiast’s book. The pricing if you ask me is just right considering its got practicality, speed, looks, a plush interior, and enough technology to keep you busy along with the fruity exhaust to entertain you. Mercedes got the steering and powertrain tuned so well, that one test ride at the dealership will impress you. After spending over 600 km on it, we are ready to buy it, only if someday, magically, the amount to buy this car appears in the bank account! Until then, we urge you to full fill your dreams if you can and get the E53 AMG because it just fits the bill right for you and your family!