When a sports sedan enters the market or is newly redesigned, enthusiasts should be celebrating. As consumers purchase crossovers at a rampant pace, this market is shrinking. Thankfully, Mercedes-Benz has risen to the challenge and their car portfolio continues to offer a wide range of car options no matter what your budget. This 2022 Mercedes-AMG E 53 4MATIC+ has some new tricks up its sleeve to prove that that there is still life in the sedan segment .
Mercedes-Benz have stuffed a truly wonderful engine under the hood. Buyers will find a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine, paired to a mild hybrid motor and an electric supercharger. The power comes through fast and as smoothly or as vicious as drivers desire. The supercharger and mild hybrid system focus on providing off-the-line torque and urgency, while the turbocharger steps in when needed higher up in the range.
While the E 53 does not bring with it the delightful sound of a high-strung V8, it does extremely well on its own. The active exhaust sounds wonderful with 429 horsepower at 6,000RPM and 384 lb-ft. of torque between 1,800 and 5,800RPM. Power is delivered to all four wheels using Mercedes 4MATIC+ system and the nine-speed AMG Speedshift transmission. Note that with 4MATIC+, 100% of power can be sent to the rear wheels. Paddles behind the steering wheel feel wonderful and change gears quickly, with plenty of response.
Expect a 0-100km/h run in around 4.5 seconds, which is more than respectable. It’s worth noting that the BMW M550i xDrive, a direct competitor, will do this exact same sprint in more than a second faster, a substantial margin, thanks to its boosted V8. Ride comfort and chassis balance are major highlights in the E 53, because at the end of the day, the E-Class is a midsize luxury benchmark. Turn the dial to Sport or Sport+ for a more dialed-in ride. An adaptive air-based AMG Ride Control system brings forward another level of comfort and adjustability.
Once you step inside, drivers realize where a good chunk of their money has been spent. Mercedes-Benz has normally been the benchmark when it comes to technology and design and in the 2022 E 53, this still rings true. While smaller Mercedes cars cater more towards a sporty design, the E 53 looks more mature and sophisticated. The two highly configurable 12.3-inch displays are equally crisp and clear. The MBUX infotainment screen can be controlled via the buttons on the steering wheel, touchpad on the center console or touchscreen. We could do without the haptic-feedback buttons on the wheel, because they’re easy to accidentally hit.
Comfort for occupants is one of the reasons buyers choose an E-Class sedan above all others. The AMG E 53 steps it up another level with a design that moves towards sport but doesn’t forget where its origins lie. Wonderfully bolstered seats hold drivers tight up front and look fantastic. Seats are both heated and cooled, and Mercedes-Benz has gone a step further with a heated armrest on the door and center console. Configurable ambient lighting further enhances the interior design and ambiance.
Just look at the design of this car; it is simply stunning. The fascia is aggressive and sophisticated at the same time. The Mercedes-Benz waterfall grill on the E 53 differentiates itself from lesser models and superb LED headlights do a dance during startup to let owners know they’re in something truly special.
With the loss of the V8 typically associated with AMG E-Class, what has been improved and quite significantly has been its fuel economy. With the combination of the mild-hybrid and straight-six powerplant, we achieved an astounding 10.3L/100km. Considering the performance this car offers, this is impressive. Of course, the E 53 requires 91-octane premium fuel.
The E 53 sedan starts at $87,700, a bit of a reach from the the starting price for the E 350 sedan at $65,700. Pile on the various options and the price balloons to $101,500. Things worth having are the Burmester Surround Sound system for $4,800, the AMG Night Package for $1,500, and AMG Carbon Fiber Trim for $2,500. The BMW M550i is similar money, with a bigger engine and 523 horsepower under the hood. It boils down to preference, because the Mercedes offers more tech and slightly more comfort.
While the BMW will blow rivals away with its performance, it does lack the luxury punch found on the 2022 Mercedes-AMG E 53 4MATIC+. Yes, the lack of a V8 will have some buyers drop this off their purchase list but we recommend not to knock it before a test drive. This performance luxury sedan makes it up in spades with its interior and exterior design, technology and overall driving dynamics.
