Motor Trend E53 Wagon test
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From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
The E-class didn't win this time but I guess you can't win every year. The fact that the E53 wagon was a finalist is pretty good in my book. Side note: I got my son an Golf R 20th anniversary edition, the last of the 6-speed manuals, I guess I know how to pick them :-)
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Here's a comparison of Motor Trend Test Results
- 2023/2025 Audi S6 Sedan: 0-60 4.5 seconds | 60-0 110 ft | roadholding 0.84 g | figure 8 lap 26.0 sec @ 0.74 g (avg)
- 2025 Mercedes E53 Sedan: 0-60 3.3 seconds | 60-0 102 ft | roadholding 0.93 g | figure 8 lap 24.1 sec @ 0.84 g (avg)
- 2026 Mercedes E53 Wagon: 0-60 3.5 seconds | 60-0 108 ft | roadholding 0.94 g | figure 8 lap 24.1 sec @ 0.83 g (avg)
- 2025 BMW M5 Touring: 0-60 3.2 seconds | 60-0 105 ft | roadholding 0.95 g | figure 8 lap 23.8 sec @ 0.88 g (avg)
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Here's a comparison of Motor Trend Test Results
- 2023/2025 Audi S6 Sedan: 0-60 4.5 seconds | 60-0 110 ft | roadholding 0.84 g | figure 8 lap 26.0 sec @ 0.74 g (avg)
- 2025 Mercedes E53 Sedan: 0-60 3.3 seconds | 60-0 102 ft | roadholding 0.93 g | figure 8 lap 24.1 sec @ 0.84 g (avg)
- 2026 Mercedes E53 Wagon: 0-60 3.5 seconds | 60-0 108 ft | roadholding 0.94 g | figure 8 lap 24.1 sec @ 0.83 g (avg)
- 2025 BMW M5 Touring: 0-60 3.2 seconds | 60-0 105 ft | roadholding 0.95 g | figure 8 lap 23.8 sec @ 0.88 g (avg)
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From: NH
26 E53 Wagon
I can't speak to the BMW, but i would guess the E53 difference between 0-60 and 5-60 is that you can't engage launch control to get the extra power for the rolling start?
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Car and Driver also reports their 0-60 times net of one foot of rollout, which represents 0.3 seconds for both the M5 and E53.
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From: Chicago
2025 AMG E 53; 2018 GLC300 4Matic; 2003 360 Modena
Great results across the board. The drivetrain of the E is very impressive, especially when compared to the BMW V8 with more power. Well done MB.
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From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
I drive an Audi RS e-tron GT. The pull is not worth the price... Sure it's fun but you'll only do it a few times. In 4 years of ownership I probably did a full pull/launch 100 times? At $30k that'd be $300 a pull. I get way more thrill out of my full motion sim rig if I want to be honest.
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From: New York, NY
2026 E53 wagon
I drive an Audi RS e-tron GT. The pull is not worth the price... Sure it's fun but you'll only do it a few times. In 4 years of ownership I probably did a full pull/launch 100 times? At $30k that'd be $300 a pull. I get way more thrill out of my full motion sim rig if I want to be honest.
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From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
Doug DeMuro kind of soured on these wagons as well:
To each their own, for me the biggest allure of the E53 is the EV range and the luxury and comfort of a Mercedes that no M5 can touch even if it's faster from 5 to 60.
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^ ...and the M5 is very hard to look at, at least IMO.
Doug's take is interesting, considering he has had AMG wagons in the past, and the headline of his E450 AT purchase video was "I bought a new car, and it's very boring". Personally, I prefer not to drive boring cars.
Doug's take is interesting, considering he has had AMG wagons in the past, and the headline of his E450 AT purchase video was "I bought a new car, and it's very boring". Personally, I prefer not to drive boring cars.
Last edited by Alan Smithee; Dec 4, 2025 at 09:58 PM.
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From: New York, NY
2026 E53 wagon
^ ...and the M5 is very hard to look at, at least IMO.
Doug's take is interesting, considering he has had AMG wagons in the past, and the headline of his E450 AT purchase video was "I bought a new car, and it's very boring". Personally, I prefer not to drive boring cars.
Doug's take is interesting, considering he has had AMG wagons in the past, and the headline of his E450 AT purchase video was "I bought a new car, and it's very boring". Personally, I prefer not to drive boring cars.
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^ Just went back and watched the driving portion of his E53 sedan video. He raved about it and I lost track of how many times he said it was comfortable…and it was a First Edition the perf seats and 21s. Only complaint was tire noise.
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From: NH
26 E53 Wagon
The wagon is really the perfect "compromise" for me. Very efficient most of the time, serious smile generation when needed, a fantastic, comfortable interior, and i can fit some stuff in it when needed. (My dogs are small...their carriers will fit! 
)
)
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From: New York, NY
2026 E53 wagon
thank you for cutting off the one dude who always complains about the loss of a few inches
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From: New York, NY
2026 E53 wagon
Car and Driver's 5-60 acceleration test is a better indicator of how the car performs when we drive them. In the 0-60 test, Car and Driver will clutch dump. In a manual car, this is pressing the brake and clutch pedals, then revving the engine with the accelerator pedal followed by a quick engagement of the clutch (releasing the clutch pedal.) It is hard on the drivetrain and wears the clutch. People usually don't beat up their own cars that way, but it is the fastest way to go 0-60.
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In the 2025 E53 sedan review, Motor Trend said the E53 did 60-0 in 102 feet with mechanical brakes and 120 kW of regenerative braking. The prior generation E63 S sedan took 109 feet for 60-0.
Motor Trend attributed the short stopping distance to regenerative braking. Regenerative braking will help in the time when your right foot is going from the accelerator to pressing the brake pedal down, but I would guess that newer tire technology is helping the stopping distances more. Any braking system will allow you to lock the brakes. Once the brakes lock, the car takes longer to stop. The tires and weight of the car are the usual limiting factors in stopping distances. I am guessing that tires or improved ABS is allowing the heavier E53 to stop shorter than the E63 S. Whatever the reason for the short stopping distances on the E53, it is impressive.
Motor Trend attributed the short stopping distance to regenerative braking. Regenerative braking will help in the time when your right foot is going from the accelerator to pressing the brake pedal down, but I would guess that newer tire technology is helping the stopping distances more. Any braking system will allow you to lock the brakes. Once the brakes lock, the car takes longer to stop. The tires and weight of the car are the usual limiting factors in stopping distances. I am guessing that tires or improved ABS is allowing the heavier E53 to stop shorter than the E63 S. Whatever the reason for the short stopping distances on the E53, it is impressive.
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I think Nissan had to beef up the rear axles after launch control was breaking them in the GTR.
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True, but in the real world how often to people actually engage launch control (or do a brake torqued launch so that the car is starting with the engine already revving and in the boost)? The 5-60 time has some value as a more realistic measure of acceleration in normal conditions.
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The engineers have to decide, "Do we engineer launch control so it results in the fastest magazine review times, or do we dial it down so it is easier on the mechanical bits of the car?" The purpose of launch control is to launch, so they are probably going emphasize going fast without breaking anyting. It's in your car, so you have to try it!
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^ ...and the M5 is very hard to look at, at least IMO.
Doug's take is interesting, considering he has had AMG wagons in the past, and the headline of his E450 AT purchase video was "I bought a new car, and it's very boring". Personally, I prefer not to drive boring cars.
Doug's take is interesting, considering he has had AMG wagons in the past, and the headline of his E450 AT purchase video was "I bought a new car, and it's very boring". Personally, I prefer not to drive boring cars.
Mercedes tends to make the suspension stiffer in the AMGs. I find Audi's and BMW's use the adaptive suspension better in allowing for comfort while also having good body roll control. Mercedes-AMG could make the suspensions more comfortable, but they think their customers associate stiff suspensions with sportiness.
To me, the E63 is a performance car that can be driven daily. The E53 is a daily driver that has enhanced performance. The E450 is a comfortable luxury car that performs very well. The E350 is the same luxury car at a lower price and lower performance. Depending on your priorities, any of the E-class options might be your preference.
It would be interesting if Mercedes released an E55 with the E53 engine, a larger electric motor like in the C63 and a smaller battery. Due to the increased performance, the E55 might sell more than the E53, but for the E53's mission of a daily driver with enhanced performance the E53 drivetrain is a great choice.
