2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe Built to Tackle All Roads
With sharp styling and an innovative mild hybrid system, the newest Mercedes-AMG coupe looks poised for success.
While some continue to decry the use of the word “coupe” in relation to an SUV, Mercedes-AMG (and every other automaker on the planet) is happy to slap the badge on anything with a sloping rear roof line. And why wouldn’t they? SUV coupes are selling like hotcakes these days as folks look to add a little sporty nature to their utilitarian vehicles. And now, Mercedes-AMG is adding yet another one to their burgeoning lineup – the 2021 GLE 53 Coupe.
Like its existing brethren, the 53 aims to combine sporty design with exhilarating performance and strong off-road capabilities. And it does so by providing a significant power upgrade over the existing GLE 43 Coupe and its 385 hp, 384 lb-ft of torque coming from a bi-turbo 3.0-liter V6. The 53 uses the same powerplant, but generates 429 hp and the same 384 lb-ft. But that’s not all. Mercedes-AMG has also added a mild hybrid setup, utilizing Mercedes’ EQ Boost starter generator to generate an additional 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque for short periods.
The EQ Boost starter-generator combines the function of a starter and an alternator in an electric motor, which is located between the engine and transmission. As an added bonus, it also feeds the 48-volt onboard electrical system, which increases the overall vehicle battery capacity, enabling the supply of more electrical energy.
All of that power flows through a quick-shifting SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. As a result, performance is rather impressive. Reaching 60 miles per hour takes only 5.2-seconds. And the GLE 53 tops out at a governor-limited 155 miles per hour. No word on fuel economy figures yet, but Mercedes-AMG promises that this new setup maximizes efficiency as well.
Styling changes are more evolutionary than revolutionary, but the new GLE family is rather attractive in our opinion. The revised front fascia is aggressive, the wheel arches larger to accommodate 21 or optional 22-inch wheels. Out back, a completely redesigned rear section is more pronounced and less rounded than before. And personally, we’re digging it.
So sure, folks will continue to hate on the SUV coupe trend. But it’s quite clear that it isn’t going away anytime soon. The masses seem to be rather content with trading cargo space for style, after all. SUVs will always hold a distinct disadvantage in terms of performance when compared to passenger cars. But that won’t stop people from buying them, either. For those reasons and more, we’re betting the new GLE 53 Coupe will sell quite well when it hits showrooms next year.
Photos: Mercedes-AMG
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