2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 review: The inline-six engine is stunning
The story may have been apocryphal, along the lines of this: In 2020, ·Tobias Moers, the former head of Mercedes' acceleration division AMG and known for his vitriol, was told by the board that the next-generation C 63 high-performance coupe would have to abandon its exaggerated 4-liter V8 twin-turbo engine in favor of a more environmentally friendly four-cylinder plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
Morse was such a principled man that he apparently quickly got up and left the room, saying, "Goodbye, I'm going to Aston Martin." ”
Of course, he didn't say that, and Morse and AMG's breakup may not be as simple as this story, but the end result is the same. The reason for his departure was that he was said to be unwilling to compromise on what he thought was the "suitable" Mercedes-AMG should have a V8 engine.
Seeing the lukewarm criticism that the bulky plug-in hybrid C 63 has received, Morse is clearly right to be outraged by AMG's four-cylinder decision. But maybe he'll be more recognizant of the car you're seeing here, and perhaps this is the second time Mercedes-AMG has tried to properly build a model of comparable size and performance levels to the older C 63.
Dubbed the CLE 53 4Matic+, it was a machine that tried to replace the C-Class and E-Class coupe series in one go.
But unlike the current C 63, which uses a four-cylinder powerplant and has a more practical body style, the CLE 53 Coupé has a 3-litre inline-six engine at the front and is equipped with some Mercedes EQ hybrid assist technology.
Note that it doesn't produce as much power as the C 63, with the CLE producing 443bhp and 413lb ft of nominal torque (torsional force) from its engine alone.
The Mercedes-AMG Coupe can boost torque to 443 pound-feet in a limited-time overboost phase, and it also has an additional 22 horsepower and 151 pound-feet to assist from a 48-volt electric motor.
But while it's not as powerful as the C 63, it's 111kg lighter, which means it can accelerate precisely from 0-62 mph in just four seconds, although that's using the optional Race Start feature as part of the kit; In my opinion, the standard CLE 53 of 4.2 seconds is fast enough for most people.
Outwardly, CLE 53 is a success. It boasts a massive arched design found in any AMG model, as well as four exhaust pipes and large, aggressive air intakes and front radiator grille styling.
However, its visuals aren't exaggerated, and it doesn't have a terrible large aperture on the nose like its main competitor (the BMW M4, we're keeping an eye on you) does, and there's enough balance between the C-Class and E-Class styling features to make it fully functional.
Questions have been raised with its slightly sagging rear, which comes with a light bar that looks more like an electric EQ model from Mercedes than a sports coupe with nearly 450 horsepower.
But certain details, such as the delicate 20-inch alloy wheels on the Night Edition Premium Plus, should win over onlookers – they look like they were taken straight from a competition-spec Germany station wagon.
The interior space is very spacious, both in terms of materials and high-tech equipment, and the rear seat space is enough for two adults of average height to sit comfortably. The trunk capacity of 420 liters in the rear should not be underestimated.
However, Mercedes has certain characteristics in terms of ergonomics, which means that if you've owned many of the company's models before, you'll be fine, but if you move from a model like BMW or Audi to the CLE, everything you operate will have that strange and unusual feel.
Typical examples of this unconventional approach include a lever post on the left side of the steering wheel that controls all functions (wipers, high beams, indicators), while the gearbox is controlled by another lever that protrudes from the right side of the steering wheel.
The front power seat adjuster is mounted on the door card, which is somewhat of a smart move if you think about it, as you can know which part of the seat is being adjusted.
AMG's two-spoke steering wheel has plenty of buttons and switchgear for you to familiarize yourself with, most of which are touch-based, with haptic feedback, so they can be activated with just the touch of a finger – sometimes unintentionally.
Still, it looks and feels pretty high-quality, and once you get used to it, you'll start to get used to the CLE's cockpit more than you did when you first got to know it. The driving position was also great.
When the 3-litre engine is started, it starts quietly and almost immediately via an electric starter generator, without hearing the noise of a conventional starter motor.
The six-cylinder engine is paired with one of AMG's nine-speed gearboxes, as well as a 4Matic all-wheel drive system, so except for the few cases where the gearbox needs to temporarily consider what gear ratio is needed based on the weight of throttle input, power usually flows quickly and efficiently to the wheels, resulting in almost impeccable traction – at least on dry land.
This makes the CLE 53 unsurprisingly a very fast car, but without feeling crazy fast and scary. It also sounds good, although there is a hint of false five-cylinder boost in its tone at the most concentrated setting "dynamic" – and most curiously, its selling point is that it's a modern Mercedes-AMG with more than four cylinders.
Other than that, our only complaint we have about the way the AMG CLE drives has to do with its steering.
Controlled by a microfiber-wrapped steering wheel, the steering wheel is unusually heavy, but the two-ton car turns with almost exceptional agility.
This makes it difficult for the system to build rapport in the initial stages, as the car is too agile when cornering, and judging how many steering locks are needed is not the most natural thing in the world.
But when you get familiar with it and realize that you only need a small steering input, the CLE 53 is a very good machine. It has a strong grip, impeccable traction, and excellent body control.
Okay, it might not be as exciting as the BMW M4, but as a 53-brand car, it's not positioned that way – it should be a comfortable car that can go fast when you need it, not one that only runs fast when it feels comfortable occasionally.
It does succeed in epic ride comfort and rolling refinement, as it is able to cover bumps well at the softest of its three shock settings, even on potholed roads around town.
On the highway, however, the car's improvements over the old AMG are most noticeable. One of the distinguishing features of the older model, which used large tires, was the excessive cavitation of the road roar at the rear of the cabin.
CLE 53, however, doesn't have that. When driving on the highway, it looks very dignified, and the way the suspension keeps the car moving is very satisfying. It's a better GT than any AMG before it, with the exception of some S-Class spin-offs.
So, while Mercedes-AMG equipping the C 63 with a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid drivetrain with 671 horsepower is a noble move in itself, fitting a smooth six-cylinder engine to an all-rounder like the CLE Coupé is undoubtedly still very appealing.
We have to think that Tobias Moers would love the CLE 53 4Matic+ despite the fact that there is no bloody V8 engine under the hood. As a car that straddles two different market segments, it is a car that is surprisingly focused and talented.