Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Is a 2-Door Weapon With the BMW M3 in Its Sights
An inside-out review of the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 reveals a better match for the BMW M3 than the now-four-cylinder C 63.
Motor1 made a bold claim. They say the best tool at the three-pointed star’s disposal to dethrone the BMW M3 isn’t the C 63. No, it’s the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53, the lesser-seen AMG in the mix.
“You drive a modern G-chassis, G80 M3, and it’s just got the C 63’s number,” Motor1’s Chris Rosales said. “You drive this, and it feels like a legit M3 fighter.” After feeding the hardtop CLE 53 a few canyon corners, he concluded that the CLE 53 is better than the M3 at one of its original bragging points. “This steers better than an M3,” he claimed. “This thing screams ‘real AMG’ more than the real AMG, the C 63,” Rosales gushed.
Rather than the outrageous 671-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder in the C 63, the CLE 53 packs a 443-horsepower turbocharged inline six and a 48-volt mild hybrid system. “This engine is so much better than the four-cylinder,” the reviewer said. “In every way.”
Although the Motor1 reviewer added a caveat, “Except for higher-RPM throttle response.” Therein lies one of the CLE 53’s party pieces. It’s fun below felony. Torque is the name of the game. You can enjoy sufficient, even smile-inducing corner exit thrust without revving the engine out.
However, the mild hybrid system and electric turbo aren’t enough to paint a difference in Rosales’ eyes. He likens the turbo lag you can find at a 4,000 RPM stab of the throttle to, well, any other turbocharged inline six.
Form & Function: The Two-Door Does Both
On the outside, the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 is all wide, aggressive business. Flared arches, proportion highlighting vents, and deep-looking, albeit complicated wheels present a muscular aesthetic.
In the cockpit, vital controls are accessible via a fast, communicative center screen that Rosales calls “pretty usable.” And a glance around the screens, cheese-grater speakers, and material appointments confirms that it’s a quintessential modern Mercedes-Benz interior.
That said, Rosales had his reservations. For starters, the gearbox isn’t overly permissive of revving the inline six up to the redline. Instead, the CLE 53 will build up to its max revs and cut out power, taking fun-sapping seconds to build back up.
What’s more, he says the hyperactive rear steering might be something of a learning experience. Finally, if you want physical buttons, look elsewhere. This is still a screen-centric affair. However, with a starting price of $75,450, the CLE 53 is a whole lot more of a luxury performance bargain than the C 63. And a better-looking, better match for the M3, for that matter.
Photos: Motor1
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