ROARING FIFTIES (some text hidden) --NONE--
By Jonathan Crouch
The CLE coupe and cabriolet models get the Mercedes-AMG treatment in this relatively accessible 53 form. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.
Ten Second Reviewword count: 77
The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ is a rare kind of performance sporting car. Not only can it sprint to 62mph in 4.2s to the accompaniment of an emotive soundtrack but it also has a relatively efficient mild hybrid engine and can properly seat four people. It all delivers a pretty special and rather different GT Coupe or Cabriolet experience. There's a sense of class, quality and style here that makes this car unique at its price point.
Backgroundword count: 137
It's been a long time since we've had a compact Mercedes coupe or cabriolet without a V8 that was a proper AMG-fettled serious driver's car but this, we're told, might be it, the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+. It's not a full fat Afalterbach-fetted AMG model; for that in a CLE, you'll need the 585hp 63 variant. Instead, the engine here is an updated version of the straight six in the standard CLE 450. It's a big step forward though, from the C43 C-Class coupe that was this car's direct predecessor. Here, you sense that Mercedes' Afalterbach luxury division has got a lot more serious about developing a car of this size. From the 381hp you get in the CLE 450, there's a power hike to 449hp. Enough for performance that's almost BMW M4-like. Let's take a look.
Engines and Tech Specword count: 186
This does at first glance seem like a serious kind of Mercedes-AMG model, though in reality, it's something of a halfway house between the standard CLE 450 and the manic Mercedes-AMG CLE 63. The twin turbo M 256M straight six 3.0-litre engine is an uprated version of the '450' unit, with 449hp (68hp more) and turbo boost increased from 0.4 bar to 1.5 bar; alongside an electrical compressor which, like the 22hp electric motor in the 9-speed torque converter automatic gearbox, is powered by this engine's 48V mild hybrid system. 62mph from rest is dispatched in just 4.2s. Like the '450', this '53' has 4MATIC 4WD; and AMG Ride Control, which brings AMG-tuned adaptive dampers. And there's 2.5-degrees of rear-wheel steering. Add the expensive optional Pro Performance Pack and you also get dynamic engine mounts, a more rear-biased 4WD setting, an extra 'RACE' drive mode and a rear wheel drive-only 'drift' mode for tail slides on circuits. On all variants, fat 265-section Michelin S5 tyres offer ample traction for times when you don't want to drift; and there's a quick-reacting steering rack with a variable ratio.
To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227
Pictures (high res disabled)
![](https://ssl.caranddriving.com/f2/images/New/big/mercedesamgcle534maticplus0724.jpg)
![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||
![]() |
![]() |
Statistics (subset of data only)
Min |
Max |
|
Price: |
£73,075.00 (At 19 Jul 2024) |
£78,825.00 (At 19 Jul 2024) |
CO2 (g/km): |
217 |
|
Max Speed (mph): |
155 |
|
0-62 mph (s): |
4.2 |
|
Combined Mpg: |
29.4 |
|
Length (mm): |
4853 |
|
Width (mm): |
1936 |
|
Height (mm): |
1435 |
|
Boot Capacity (l): |
420 |
Scoring (subset of scores)
Category: Sporting Cars
Performance | |
Handling | |
Comfort | |
Space | |
Styling, Build, Value, Equipment, Depreciation, Handling, Insurance and Total scores are available with our full data feed. |
![](cdimages/password-pic.jpg)
![](cdimages/cd60.png)