Stunning new Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupé is a 6-cylinder return to form

Championing the old “no replacement for displacement” philosophy, Mercedes’ fiery new CLE has landed with a stonking 443-bhp 3.0-litre straight six and four-wheel drive. Count us in…

Shout it from the rooftops: AMG has got its mojo back!  

Following a lukewarm reception (at best) towards its recent move to halve the displacement and cylinder count of the new C63 AMG to just two litres and four pistons, it seems Mercedes’ performance arm has seen the error of its ways.  

That means this latest CLE 53 Coupé – the brand’s replacement for hot versions of the outgoing C and E Class Coupés – houses a silky smooth and furiously pokey twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six petrol under that elongated bonnet. When teamed with the 23-bhp mild-hybrid system, an electrically activated turbo, and four-wheel drive, this translates to suitably rapid performance. The blast from 0-60 mph is ticked off in a breathtaking 4.2 seconds and, with the optional AMG Driver’s Pack, 168 mph is possible at the top end.

It's no slouch in the bends, either. AMG has thrown the kitchen sink at making this hot CLE handle as well as its looks would suggest. Starting with the fundamentals, standard Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tyres offer remarkable traction and response thanks to a Dual Sport Tread Design and Bi-Compound Technology. The track has also been significantly widened at the front and rear, offering a broader, more aggressive stance. In the dynamics department the adaptive suspension and four-wheel steering are undoubtedly the stars of the show. Both of which aid adjustability and make this one seriously agile coupe.  

If you’re of a glass half-empty persuasion, at this point you might be thinking: that’s all well and good, but where’s the V8 gone? Well, it’s worth remembering that the 53 is only Mercedes mid-tier performance offering, that leaves the field wide open for a future full-fat CLE 63 – potentially one which sports an eight-cylinder engine.

Starting at a reported £72,990, the new CLE 53 should have little in the way of direct competition. With Audi’s S5 now discontinued, the Merc’s closest rival should be BMW’s M440i Coupe. However, with the bimmer starting at £13,000 less and producing around 70 fewer horses, the two cars are not closely matched.  

What do you think is the CLE 53’s closest competitor? Let us know if you think Merc’s stylish new sporty coupe is worth the premium over its Bavarian alternative.

 Hero image credit: Mercedes