Is The Electrified Mercedes-AMG E53 Better Than The Original Petrol-Only Saloon?

Last chance saloon? The plug-in Mercedes-AMG E53 is the ultimate E-Class but may be the final model with a petrol engine. Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby take a test drive.

Long-Term Test: Mercedes-AMG E53

Jeremy Taylor: The venerable Mercedes E-Class has a timeline dating back to the 1950s and is famed for its reliability and robustness. Bomb-proof build and supreme comfort are two qualities that follow this distinguished saloon everywhere.

Older models were the taxi of choice in Germany for decades. Many ended up on the African continent, running as dependable workhorses trouble-free for hundreds of thousands of miles.

Indeed, if you are currently watching hit series The Night Manager on BBC1, watch out for these old Mercedes in the back streets of Cairo, as Tom Hiddleston’s character Jonathan Pine tracks down the bad guys! Looks warmer there than in icy England this week.

Current versions of the E-Class are rather more advanced, with a mind-boggling array of equipment in the cabin to pamper driver and passengers alike. However, as EV usage continues to increase, the new E53 may be the last performance model that uses a petrol engine.

Fast and comfortable, the E53 we are driving is the ultimate version of Mercedes’ long-distance cruiser, made in collaboration with the brand’s in-house performance division AMG. This one features a 3.0-litre petrol engine mated to an e-motor, together producing a punchy 577bhp.

Former AMG versions of the E-Class just used a powerful V8, one that roared into life and sounded sensational. Capable of up to 57 miles on battery power only, can our new, electrified E53 come close to those kinds of thrills?

First impressions from our long-term test car are mixed. Mercedes has tried to make the E53 grumble like a V8 by pumping exhaust noise into the cabin via speakers. Lots of other marques do this too but a five-year-old on the back seat could make a better impression of engine sound.

Thanks to a weighty battery pack, the E53 also feels heavy on the road and nowhere near as nimble as its main rival, the BMW M5. Both cars are roughly 2.3 tons but the M5 saloon uses a superior suspension system to sharpen the steering and offer a more enjoyable drive.

And while the pop-up door handles can be infuriating, plus the technology overload has occasionally had me slapping my head in frustration (more on that in our next report), the E53 is slowly becoming the car of choice on our freezing driveway. It has its foibles but as a comfortable, long-distance cruiser, this is a handsome performer oozing refinement.

The E53 may not boast the charisma of former AMG models but plug-in battery power has benefits – not least the ability to run silently on everyday commutes. It also offers tax breaks to business buyers trying to keep running costs to a minimum.

The E53 also looks the part, with muscular wheel arches, an aggressive front end and 20-inch alloy wheels. Equipment levels are off the scale too. Our Patagonia Red test car cost just over £100,000, although strangely, the paintwork was a £695 option.

There’s lots to unravel in the E53 – apart from the complicated technology! This may not be the most exciting AMG offering but the electric motor does add a new kind of appeal.

Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby: You don’t need to be a car nerd to enjoy driving this Mercedes but it might help. The E53 may infuriate those who loved previous, petrol-guzzling AMG models but once you’ve mastered the screen controls, the low carbon emissions and plug-in technology make this an executive car for the modern age. Effortlessly quick on the road and efficient around town, the electric-only mode just adds to the air of sophistication and refinement.

Our test car also features the complex MBUX touchscreen system, which sweeps across the dashboard and offers both driver and front seat passenger tons of information at their fingertips. The software is fast and intuitive, but an alternative is the ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice system, which puts an AI assistant beside you in the car to answer all your ‘must-ask’ questions!