This AMG does have more than four cylinders.
Broad shoulders, a cooling vent in the heavily arched hood, enormous brakes and wheels: for a ‘mild’ AMG, the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 looks remarkably brutal. There is also good news under the hood, because this AMG does have more than four cylinders.
Will there also be an AMG CLE 63?
Strange actually: Coupés are sportier than sedans and station wagons, and yet the last Mercedes-Benz E-class Coupé was not delivered as a brutal AMG E 63. The new CLE Coupé, which has both the E-class coupé and the C-class coupé follows, about 63 will be there. At least an even more camouflaged, but visibly more heavily decorated AMG version has already been spotted, with a charging port in the rear bumper. The arrival of this version emphasizes the position of the CLE 53 as the ‘mild’ AMG, the first step into the world of sporty CLEs.
Is the CLE 53 a real AMG?
It is remarkable that AMG has made the effort to widen the 53, which is usually a privilege for the absolute top version of the series. The 53 also looks and feels special on the inside. The 75 millimeter wider rear is clearly visible in the rear-view mirror and the fine, ultra-sporty sports seats grip our bodies just as firmly as our hands grip the thick, suede-like microfiber-covered steering wheel. Although the dashboard itself is completely C-class, the CLE in AMG trim moves more emphatically towards E-class level.
What lies under the hood of the CLE 53?
While the E-class has a four-cylinder under the hood regardless of the version, the CLE is available with a six-cylinder even as a non-AMG. The 3.0-liter, double-blown inline-six from the CLE 450 is also in the 53, but with a reinforced cooling system and 449 instead of 381 hp. Although the transmission here is coolly called ‘AMG Speedshift TCT 9G’, a developer confided to us that here too it is software that distinguishes it from the regular 9G-Tronic automatic transmission. In addition, the power is also safely distributed over four wheels.
And what is the experience like?
Pressing the start button shows that the experience is also very different than with the 450 engine. While the car is mainly civilized and modest, it immediately gives a sporty, powerful rumble. With that sound you can play around with the still super handy AMG buttons on the steering wheel, which, through the combination of a mini touchscreen and a physical button, place almost every desired driving function within immediate reach. The sound clearly suffers from the presence of turbos and environmental restrictions, but it does sound ‘real’. This is unmistakably the sound of the six-cylinder, and not the fake, exaggerated sound that we increasingly hear in the car world.
How does the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 drive?
The heavier steering and the sturdy chassis make it palpable, even in Comfort mode, that this is not just any CLE. The sporty experience goes to a considerably higher level when we turn the other knob on the steering wheel with the right thumb, and from Comfort, Sport and Sport+ we ultimately arrive at ‘Race’. With every step things become noticeably more focused, the drivetrain becomes fiercer and the chassis tighter. In addition to four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering is also standard, which ensures that the CLE 53 maniacally maintains the set course. Especially when downshifting, the gearbox in this car is not the fastest, but we still enjoy pinballing and steering. To increase the festive spirit, in the sportiest modes there is a palpable thump through the car when switching gears. The amount of power is actually just right. The CLE is seriously fast, but not so fast that it is of no use to you. There is an incredible amount of grip and the very large and heavy car – 1,900 kg – can be positioned very precisely. It is not as sharp and light-footed as the more compact BMW M440i, but it does have much more power and feels more exotic and brutal. Brutal, but not as brutal as the biggest AMGs of the past. Not surprising, because as mentioned, it is still coming for the CLE.
Where should we place this CLE 53?
However, the 53 is a big step up compared to its ‘mild’ predecessors and is somewhere between mild and brutal. This puts it in a rather unique position not only within the Mercedes range, but also compared to its competitors. For example, the aforementioned M440i has 75 hp less power, but an M4 is much more powerful. An Audi RS5 is comparable in terms of power, but is only available in the Netherlands as a five-door Sportback. A Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4Matic+, as it is fully called, costs at least €134,330 in the Netherlands. That is almost 35 grand more than a CLE 450, but the difference in character is unmistakable and enormous. To make that difference as big as possible, it is important to dig a little deeper into our pockets. The Race mode mentioned in this article, the seats mentioned, the microfiber steering wheel, dynamic engine mounts (!) and an increased top speed are all options, but that’s just how it goes in AMG land.