- The 2025 Mercedes E 53 Hybrid might be DC fast-charged
- E 53 Hybrid has a number of regenerative braking modes however no one-pedal driving
- The E 53 Hybrid’s value could also be too excessive for a combined bag of attributes
The newest AMG-badged E-Class will get its elevated energy output. That’s not due to a higher-output engine, however as an alternative has to do with its cost port.
Arriving at U.S. sellers now, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG 53 Hybrid places a plug-in hybrid powertrain into the posh automaker’s mid-size luxurious sedan to make it faster but a bit extra civil. It’s an fascinating mixture that may attraction to 2 several types of patrons: these searching for usable electrical vary and people searching for a extra highly effective E-Class.
After spending two days with the E 53 on the chilly streets of Stuttgart after which the moist, snowy, and slick mountain roads of the Alps in Austria, I’m right here to let you know the E 53 Hybrid’s a combined bag. Whether or not you’ll need one will rely in your priorities and finances.
2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid
Mercedes AMG E 53 Hybrid has usable electrical vary
The vehicles pushed had been European-spec. Mercedes additionally unleashed us on the Autobahn, and truthfully, I wasn’t driving gradual. However with these qualifiers out of the way in which, the E53 has an EPA-rated 42 miles of electrical vary. Once I slid behind the wheel the totally charged take a look at automobile stated it had about 44 miles of vary. It was about 30 levels Fahrenheit exterior. Your mileage could range, however seemingly this PHEV is able to 40-plus miles of electrical vary.
That ought to be sufficient for many individuals to by no means want the gasoline engine throughout their each day commute.
I wasn’t capable of totally take a look at how far the E 53 might go on electrical energy alone on a cost for 2 causes. The primary was the automobile received’t keep in electric-only mode whereas going 121 mph down the Autobahn. Mercedes stated the system’s able to working in electric-only mode at speeds of as much as 87 mph.
As for the second…
2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid
Electrical mode isn’t really electrical solely within the E 53 Hybrid
Even with 17% state-of-charge, which is loads, the E 53 Hybrid refused to remain in electrical solely mode. It was completely satisfied to take action to some extent. Mercedes stated the E 53 Hybrid can keep in electric-only mode till the juice is out with exceptions that vary from environmental situations comparable to battery or ambient temperature, or relying how a lot energy is being referred to as upon.
If the accelerator is mashed to the ground, or just pushed previous 65% of its journey, then the gasoline engine will immediately kick on to provide the AMG-badged sedan extra firepower.
Name it a throwback plug-in hybrid, maybe, as that is how some earlier PHEVs had been arrange. Electrical mode is simply electrical mode so long as solely a specific amount of energy is known as upon.
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 doesn’t have one-pedal driving
It positive has numerous modes for regenerative braking. There are 4 in complete, nevertheless it relies upon which drive mode the automobile’s in.
When in Electrical-only mode the steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles morph to toggle between three ranges of regenerative braking together with D-, D, and D+. Partaking D- offers probably the most regenerative braking with D and D+ loosening the reins. However none of them present a ton of deceleration no matter pace. None can function a one-pedal driving mode.
Worse is Consolation mode, which places the powertrain into a completely hybrid setup. It engages what Mercedes calls D Auto mode for the regenerative braking system, which then ties habits to the adaptive cruise management and security techniques to grow to be totally variable.
So if somebody occurred to be blasting down the Autobahn at 121 mph—which is totally authorized, to be clear—and stumbled on a automobile, the system would detect the automobile in entrance of it and robotically have interaction regenerative braking, at a variable, non-consistent charge that the motive force has no management over. It may well result in jerky, inconsistent driving when altering lanes on a freeway or merely driving in site visitors.
Flicking the drive mode knob on the underside proper of the steering wheel to Sport or Sport+ turns off the D Auto regenerative braking system, however then the powertrain acts a bit extra like there’s someplace to be always with the transmission downshifting a gear, or two, sharper throttle tip in all whereas firming up the suspension.
At the very least the brake pedal has some chunk, although it is available in too early, in comparison with the blended system within the 63 S E Efficiency AMGs.
2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid
Mercedes E 53 Hybrid powertrain straddles the longer term and previous
Mercedes paired its 3.0-liter turbo-6 with an electrical motor that’s sandwiched between the engine and 9-speed computerized transmission for a complete output of 577 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. A Race Begin mode ups increase briefly for 604 hp all in for a 0-60 mph dash of three.7 seconds. High pace is electronically restricted to 155 mph, however it may be unlocked to 174 mph with the AMG Dynamic Plus Package deal. This wasn’t examined.
Neither had been Mercedes’ charging claims. The 21.7-kwh (usable) battery pack is alleged to be able to DC quick charging (which is normal with a CCS port on the motive force’s aspect) at as much as 60 kw. From a Stage 2 AC connector the E 53 makes use of a 9.6-kw onboard charger.
If it wasn’t already obvious, the E 53 lands a step under the true high-performance AMG plug-in hybrid powertrain, which mixes a turbo-4 and 9-speed computerized with an electrical motor that’s packaged in a 2-speed transmission with a limited-slit differential (multi functional housing) mounted within the rear of the automobile.
2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid
Mercedes offers E 53 some low-key racer bits
Recognizing an E 53 Hybrid isn’t onerous, nevertheless it does take a look. It doesn’t scream loudly “I’m right here” with a giant wing.
The entrance will get an AMG-specific Panamericana grille whereas the decrease fascia will get reworked intakes. The motive force-side decrease consumption is open and feeds air to the intercooler whereas the passenger-side consumption is blocked off for aerodynamics. Either side function air curtains that feed cool air to the entrance brakes. AMG-specific wheels fill the wells and faux fender vents look tacked onto the perimeters like an afterthought. The rear options quad oval exhaust finishers and might be had with a $1,750 carbon fiber bundle that dressed the whole lot up.
2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid
Inside its normal E-Class truthful, which is to say a beautiful inside that’s seemingly screwed collectively. My tester’s $3,250 high-back sport bucket seats up entrance had been snug, however simply so. At 5-foot-10 with a medium body they nearly had been pinching my bottom. Bigger Individuals should not go for these—or the flat-bottom AMG-specific twin-spoke steering wheel that has infuriating touch-sensitive quantity management. Arduous go.
2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid
Mercedes AMG E 53 Hybrid prices luxurious cash
At $89,150 together with an $1,150 vacation spot cost the E 53 Hybrid isn’t an affordable plug-in hybrid. At that, the Mercedes plug-in hybrid sedan prices over $14,000 greater than a plug-in BMW 5-Collection, albeit with extra energy and electrical driving vary.
Add a couple of possibility packages like the game seats, passenger-side entrance dashboard-mounted show, carbon fiber bits, and upgraded wheels and rapidly the E 53 Hybrid turns into a six-figure affair.
For patrons looking for a sporty plug-in hybrid with significant vary and opulent inside the 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid matches the invoice. However for that cash, a reasonably good EQE—actually kissing EQE AMG cash right here—might be had throughout the showroom. So can a Lucid Air.
Mercedes-Benz paid for journey, lodging, and put me in a bucket on the entrance of a snow cat that drove me up a mountain to deliver you this firsthand evaluation.
