2025 Mercedes-AMG E 53 First Drive: The Trouble With Greatness

• The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class adds its first AMG variant: the E 53.
• The AMG E 53 uses a plug-in hybrid powertrain to produce 577 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque.
• It's a great car, but other E-Class models might be better buys.

On the other hand, this battery works in tandem with an electric motor and a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six to pump out 577 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque — increases of 202 hp and 184 lb-ft compared to a six-cylinder E 450. A nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive round out the drivetrain, and Mercedes says this results in a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds, making the E 53 half a second quicker than the E 450. Opt for the AMG Dynamic package and your E 53 will come with Race Start launch control, which unlocks a maximum 604 hp via an overboost function, reducing that 0-60 mph time to 3.7 seconds.

Feel like the AMG E 53 should be quicker considering how much more power it has compared to an E 450? You aren't alone. Just remember, hybrid batteries weigh a ton. In fact, Mercedes says the E 53 tips the scales at 5,280 pounds, which is 832 pounds heavier than the last E 450 4Matic Edmunds tested.

Starting at $89,150, including $1,150 for destination, the AMG E 53 comes standard with fancy things like an electronically adaptive suspension, rear-axle steering, 20-inch wheels, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and 14.4-inch central infotainment screen, a 360-degree camera system, wireless phone charging, and a laundry list of other creature comforts. I'd say it's basically a fully loaded E-Class, but amenities like a Burmester sound system, sport seats, a head-up display and — weirdly — a whole mess of driver assistance features (blind-spot warning, lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control and more) are all extra-cost add-ons. Optioned like my test car, the AMG E 53 can stretch beyond $115,000.

Left lane on the autobahn

It's about a five-hour drive from Stuttgart, Germany, to Hochgurgl, Austria, depending on how lucky you get with traffic on the unrestricted sections of autobahn — and how many tries it takes before you correctly input "Hochgurgl" in your car's navigation system. With a clear fast lane and no speed limit to speak of, the E 53 absolutely devours mile after mile with power and poise. This car is just so smooth, effortlessly fast and immensely comfortable.

Driving in the E 53's Sport and Sport+ settings will use the engine's supplemental power to recharge the battery on the go. Regenerative braking helps, too, though beware: In Comfort mode, the E 53 defaults to an adaptive setting that uses GPS data and information from the forward-facing cameras and sensors to automatically increase or decrease the amount of regen on the fly. This can be a little weird, especially at higher speeds, and unfortunately, you can't turn it off. Driver-selectable regenerative braking levels are only available when you're using the fully electric mode, which shuts off above 87 mph — not very autobahn-friendly.

Oh, those Austrian Alps

Climbing up through Austrian ski towns, the E 53 is still perfectly pleasant. The instant torque from the electric motor is there whenever you need it, like when you're quickly exiting a hairpin turn, and the rear-axle steering virtually shortens the wheelbase, making the E-Class feel more nimble and agile than you might expect. The electronically adjustable suspension works a treat, too, smoothing out little blemishes in the road and mitigating the occasional speed bump that I'll undoubtedly miss because I'm way too distracted by all the people dressed as demons walking around Austrian towns on Krampusnacht.

On the Timmelsjoch mountain pass between Austria and Italy — which is usually closed in December — heavy snow and ice are no match for Mercedes' 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, which shuffles power forward and backward as well as side to side in order to keep things moving in sloppy situations. Extra credit goes to the Michelin Pilot Alpin winter tires fitted to my test car, which are a must-have for a drive like this. With the E 53's stability control turned off, it's easy (and fun!) to drift around the many 180-degree turns that wind up the pass to the Austrian-Italian border. Even in these less-than-ideal conditions, the E 53 keeps it copacetic, speaking to the E-Class' prowess as a car for all seasons.

But is it worth it?

There's no denying the appeal of the E 53 — more power and usable electric driving range are both good things, indeed. But all the things I love about the E 53 — the inline-six power, the refined ride, the great cabin, the excellent tech — are also things I love about the E 450. And there aren't enough unique interior or exterior flourishes to really give the AMG a proper sense of occasion that'd set it apart from lesser E-Class trims.

As good as the E 53 is, I'd be just as happy day to day with a similarly optioned E 450. Something tells me you would be, too.