2025 Mercedes-Benz E 53 Hybrid will get faster due to electrification

• The 2025 E 53 Hybrid has as much as 604 hp with 6 cylinders

• The E 53 Hybrid has 4 ranges of regenerative braking

• The E 53 Hybrid prices EQE and Lucid Air cash: $89,150

The Mercedes AMG E 53 has returned, however this time it swaps some cylinders for a cost port and batteries, extra energy, and much more weight.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz E 53 Hybrid is arriving in U.S. sellers now, and it’s faster and considerably extra highly effective than earlier than. Nevertheless it’s heavier, lacked the loud and offended AMG bark in an all too transient winter driving journey, and it prices a fairly penny.

I spent two days with the newest E 53 on the chilly streets of Stuttgart and moist, snowy, and ice-covered mountain roads of the Austrian Alps. The AMG E 53 triggers lots of questions—the most important of which is, what would you like it to be?

2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid

Mercedes AMG E 53 Hybrid: extra energy, no further fury

I pushed the cease/begin button to the suitable of the steering column within the Euro-spec E 53 Hybrid however no drama ensued. No engine got here to life. Simply silence. 

Welcome to the brand new AMG, even when there’s a gasoline engine beneath the hood. It’s a bizarre period.

The automotive was working, however the engine didn’t fireplace. It was working off the 21.2-kwh (usable) battery pack that powers the 161-hp and 354 lb-ft of torque electrical motor. Mercedes mentioned that the battery can cost at a fee of as much as 60 kw when hooked to a DC quick charger (a normal CCS port is on the motive force’s aspect). That’s good for a 10-80% recharge cycle of 20 minutes, in response to Mercedes. A 9.6-kw onboard charger kicks in when hooked to a Stage 2 AC charger, and might recharge the E 53 battery from 0-100% in 2.8 hours.

Consumers who can hold their foot out of the facility might even see as much as 42 miles of all-electric vary in response to the EPA score. My check automotive confirmed a complete vary of 44 miles at 100% state-of-charge regardless of an ambient temperature of 30 levels.

All within the 3.0-liter turbo-6 and electrical motor are good for 577 hp and 533 lb-ft of torque, however an elective AMG Dynamics Package deal can quickly enhance complete system output to 604 hp. That’s as a lot because the fire-breathing outgoing V-8-powered E 63, however with two fewer cylinders.

2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid

Easing out of the Mercedes’ Heart of Excellence car parking zone in Stuttgart–the house of the Mercedes Manufaktur supply presentation and extra–the 9-speed automated transmission the electrical motor’s sandwiched in behind the engine shifted by means of its gears—though the automotive was in EV electric-only mode with a full cost. The automated transmission can shift in electrical mode as a result of it’s designed to work in tandem with each the gasoline engine and electrical motor to ship clean energy supply and efficiency, in response to the automaker. Mercedes mentioned the automotive’s able to going as much as 87 mph in electric-only mode, however I didn’t check that.

After just a few activates aspect streets, I blasted the sedan onto the Autobahn. Even on efficiency Michelin Alpin 5 winter tires, the AMG E 53 has zero stability, management, or consolation points hurtling down the freeway at 121 mph, for the hours it takes to achieve the Austrian Alps. Mercedes limits the E 53 Hybrid’s high velocity to 155 mph, however it may be unlocked to 174 mph with the AMG Dynamic Plus Package deal for $3,150. I didn’t check the E 53 Hybrid’s high velocity. I swear.

The ability’s right here, however the fury has evaporated. After slowing for visitors–it’s as if individuals didn’t notice that is the Autobahn and we have been in no velocity restrict zone, let’s go–I mashed the thin pedal to the ground. The automotive shoved the small of my again into the seat again, however with out the brutish violence of the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing—and even the E 63. The final E 53 had this similar problem; I mentioned it wanted to be uncorked. The brand new E 53 Hybrid simply moved ahead with extra urgency with artificial inline-6 sounds being piped in from the dashboard.

It’s not sluggish by any means. Mercedes quotes a 0-60 mph time of three.7 seconds when utilizing launch management. That’s 0.4 seconds slower than the outgoing E 63 and 0.6 seconds faster than the outgoing E 53.

2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid

The E 53 Hybrid received pudgy

Weighing in at 5,280 kilos the E 53 Hybrid’s gained 904 kilos over its predecessor. That’s not only a weekend bender, that’s some midlife disaster weight acquire.

It’s not weight you possibly can see. It is hidden beneath the metallic pores and skin in that hybrid system’s electrical motor and battery pack.

On the freeway it’s onerous to really feel the burden acquire due to the well-sorted adaptive dampers. In consolation mode it’s nonetheless coordinated and by no means undulates just like the EQE SUV. Sport and Sport+ modes appropriately ratchet up the firmness with out changing into overly harsh, although the German Autobahn isn’t precisely damaged midwest U.S. pavement. These adaptive dampers pair with firmer metal springs and Mercedes AMG’s Energetic Experience Management system, which makes use of a hydraulic system to interchange conventional anti-roll bars. Rear-wheel steering is commonplace as nicely, that helps shrink the automotive because it goes round corners.

Snow lined the switchbacks that snake up the Austrian Alps, and black ice laid over that. I ascended with none noteworthy velocity.  We’ll need to report again later about how the E 53’s weight acquire interprets round tight corners.

2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid

2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid

2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid

Mercedes E 53 Hybrid’s lacks one-pedal driving 

Mercedes gave the E 53 Hybrid 4 modes of regenerative braking, however none actually glad me, and one pissed off me.

In EV mode–electrical solely mode–the paddle shifters mounted to the steering wheel morph into regenerative braking controls. The three ranges of regenerative braking in EV mode embody D-, D, and D+. The D- mode gives the strongest degree of regen with D and D+ reducing the regen in steps. Not one of the modes present a major quantity of regen in my restricted testing and none present one-pedal driving. These modes received’t cease the automobile.

The extra irritating state of affairs is in Consolation mode, which places the system into full hybrid mode whereas counting on the electrical motor as usually as potential. This engages what Mercedes dubs D Auto for regenerative braking, and it’s totally variable and tied to the adaptive cruise management together with the protection programs. It’s unpredictable, and might’t learn a human’s thoughts.

If somebody named Joel have been blasting down the Autobahn legally at 121 mph and a automotive determined to maneuver over into his lane, the system would robotically interact regenerative braking at a variable non-consistent fee. The motive force can’t management this, flip it off, and at finest it’s jerky.

The one option to ditch that setup whereas in hybrid mode is to maneuver to Sport or Sport+ drive modes, which disables regenerative braking. However these modes down shift a gear, or two, hold the revs increased, sharpen throttle sensitivity, and stiffen the adaptive dampers. Not ideally suited for all conditions.

Not like the EQE the E 53 Hybrid’s brake pedal has some chunk and doesn’t really feel wood (a difficulty Mercedes says it rectified for 2024 within the EQE). However that chunk is available in unexpectedly early within the pedal journey.

2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid

Mercedes E 53 Hybrid flies largely beneath the radar

There are solely a handful of clues that the E 53 sports activities AMG engineering other than the badge.

The entrance grille will get the now frequent AMG Panamericana design whereas the decrease fascia will get wider decrease intakes. The motive force aspect consumption is open to feed the turbo-6’s intercooler, however the passenger aspect’s consumption is blocked off for aero functions. Air curtains on either side of the entrance bumper feed contemporary air to the drilled entrance rotors. The fenders sport pretend vents, that are type of foolish, and the rear has quad exhaust finishers. A $1,750 carbon fiber package deal can gown up the outside additional, however I’m blended on it and it’s positively not mandatory.

2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid

Inside the usual E-Class design is right here with a 12.3-inch digital and 14.4-inch touchscreen with the identical interface as Mercedes’ newest EVs. My tester’s high-back sport bucket entrance seats value $3,250. For me they have been snug, however anybody wider than my medium 5-foot-10 body will likely be pinched within the unsuitable locations on their decrease backsides. AMG’s twin-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel provides a touch-sensitive slider for the quantity. It’s nonetheless not ideally suited, ergonomically talking.

2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid

Mercedes AMG E 53 AMG prices EQE cash

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid prices $89,150 together with an $1,150 vacation spot cost. That’s with no choices, which you may need. Whether or not it’s the game bucket seats, Burmester 4D surround-sound system, or the head-up show and Mercedes’ digital headlights with projection capabilities, this isn’t a automotive you purchase with out choices.

It’s not onerous to cross over the six-figure mark, and that’s solidly EQE cash whereas nipping at EQE AMG territory. Heck, that’s Lucid Air cash. The bottom E 53 Hybrid prices over $14,000 greater than a plug-in hybrid BMW 5-Collection, although the Mercedes does have extra energy and extra electrical vary.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid is the quickest, and best, E-Class cash should purchase at this time. It received’t disappoint. The query turns into, would you like a plug-in hybrid E-Class that has one foot into the electrical future, or would you reasonably simply purchase an EQE or Lucid Air?

Mercedes-Benz paid for journey, lodging, and fed me some risotto to deliver you this AMG E 53 check drive evaluate.