The AMG GT 53 Is a More Accessible Version of Mercedes' Not-So-Pretty EV Sedan

The Mercedes-AMG GT 53 is less powerful than the flagship model but just as tough to look at

written by Jake Sundstrom
edited by Nick Yekikian
8/6/2026
Share:

What's new: The entry-level version of Mercedes' electric sports car has been unveiled, and it's here to go head-to-head with the Porsche Taycan and Audi E-tron GT.
Why it matters: The AMG GT 53 has about half the horsepower of the flagship model, but it will also have a lower price of entry.
Edmunds says: We don't know how it drives just yet, but we do know we still don't like how downright ugly it is.

A couple months ago, we wrote about the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door EV. It's the kind of vehicle you might politely call "polarizing," like the Ferrari Luce or any number of BMWs to debut this century. Well, we've got good news and bad news.

The good news is that Mercedes unveiled a less powerful and, we assume, much less expensive version of the vehicle. The AMG GT 53 comes in with 536 horsepower and a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 3.4 seconds. That's half of the flagship GT (1,153 hp), but Mercedes says it can go more than 500 miles on a single charge. That's a big figure, but it has yet to be tested by the EPA. It's worth noting that's on the more generous WLTP testing cycle, and when the EPA gets its hands on one, we think that number will more likely be between 400 miles and 425 miles.

See 3 2026 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT vehicles for sale near you

See All for Sale

The bad news is looking you square in the face. This is a truly heinous-looking automobile. Our director of editorial content, Steven Ewing, put it best: "It sort of looks like a fish. A neon yellow fish. With glowsticks in its mouth. And a weird butt." I don't have much to add to that, other than I agree it looks like it once tried to eat Marlin and Dory in an animated Pixar movie twentysomething years ago.

What about the rest of the car? Its 800-volt electric architecture means it should charge quickly. Mercedes says more than 300 miles can be added to the AMG GT 53 in as little as 10 minutes provided you find a sufficiently powerful charger. If true, that is incredibly rapid. We'll put both this and the range to the test when we get our hands on one.

A standard active rear spoiler and an optional rear diffuser are meant to improve handling and efficiency, a nice combo for an electric sports car. The adaptive suspension should translate to a more comfortable ride over long distances, something this electric vehicle seems poised to do. And if you really, desperately miss the sound of the AMG six-cylinder engine (why not the V8, Mercedes?), fear not. Mercedes has given you the ability to turn on some canned noise with the touch of a button.

We'll have more to say about the Mercedes-AMG GT 53 when we get one to our test track. But for now, we're intrigued to see if the performance and efficiency are enough to get us to come around to its, uh, polarizing design.

Consider These Recommendations

by Jake Sundstrom

Jake Sundstrom has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. He has written hundreds of car-related articles. Jake is currently a features editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to National Hot Rod Association publications. When he's not driving cars, he's eating takeout inside of them (probably burgers, burritos or pizza).

edited by Nick Yekikian

Nick Yekikian has worked in the automotive industry since 2019. He has written close to a thousand car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 200 vehicles over the course of his career. Nick is the Senior News Editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Automobile Magazine and Super Street. When Nick isn't zipping around town in his latest used-car find, he's probably making digital art in Photoshop or playing disc golf with friends.

Get More Edmunds Car News in Your Inbox