2025 Mercedes-AMG E53: Good Enough to Make Us Forget About the E63?

By Brett Foote - April 8, 2025

While we await the rumored arrival of the next E63, it’s worth wondering – is the 2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 already the more reasonable option?

As enthusiasts are already well aware, there is no E63 model in the current Mercedes-AMG lineup, which is a shame, given how good that particular model has been in the past. However, the 2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 currently sits atop that particular lineup, offering up plenty of performance in its own right, thanks to its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder gas engine making 433 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque – or 577 hp and 553 pound-feet combined with the addition of an electric motor, which is capable of churning out 604 horsepower in Race Start mode.

Given how potent the 2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 is, it raises an important question – is the E63 even necessary at this point? It’s a topic that mega-popular YouTuber Doug DeMuro touches on in this recent video review, along with rumors that the E63 is indeed on the way packing more than 700 horsepower – though nothing has been officially announced as of yet. With standard all-wheel drive, the E53 is plenty capable in its own right, however, with 0-60 coming somewhere in the mid-three second range.

What makes the 2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 even more intriguing is that one can also drive it a fairly long distance – 40 miles – on electric power alone, meaning that it’s perfect for saving money on the daily commute, too. It isn’t often we see this type of combination, as PHEVs are generally reserved for other types of vehicles like crossovers – not a performance-focused sedan, for certain.

This particular model is fitted with the optional Edition 1 Package, which adds some nice blacked-out touches, but at a stiff cost of $25,000. However, the 2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 starts out at a bit under $90k, which is quite reasonable given its sheer performance and capability. This example has some nice touches inside the cabin as well, including yellow seat belts and other accents, lots of carbon fiber, a track pace app, a massive screen (which can take selfies, if you’re into that kind of thing), and supportive sport seats up front – perfect for spirited drives in the canyons.

In terms of the driving experience, well, DeMuro admits that he’s a huge fan of the E-Class in general, as he finds it to offer the perfect balance between size, comfort, performance, and luxury. Thus, it’s no surprise that he rather enjoys driving the 2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 – he notes that it’s quite comfortable even with the large wheels and smaller diameter tires, though there is a bit of noise from that rubber that permeates through the cabin.

It may not be packing a V8, as some might hope, but DeMuro also notes that this particular powertrain feels like one – it has great low-end power, and it sounds rather nice, too.

It “checks all the boxes” in his opinion, and given the fact that the forthcoming E63 will likely cost a lot more and perhaps not be as well-suited as a daily driver, it’s also a perfectly reasonable target for anyone that wants a bit more performance in their luxury sedan without compromising comfort.