Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Coupe

The Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Coupe is what happens when they made the subtle CLE Coupe force-feeding moderate amounts of steroids and made it look moderately cool without drawing wanton attention.

2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Coupe

Starting at 91,511 Euros plus additional costs, it is the least expensive of the Mercedes-AMG coupe lineup. Although cheaper to own than the awful-looking BMW M4, the latter can eat it alive on the road and track, mind you.

The Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Coupe transforms the subtle CLE into a moderately macho machine that prefers to take it seriously without the wanton brutality that most high-performance coupes can throw at them. With its typical AMG exterior treatments, the AMG Performance steering wheel, and sports seats with red contrast stitching and red accents, among others, the CLE53 is a brave bold blend of machoness and subtlety you can expect from a moderately beefed-up CLE Coupe.

Under the hood, the CLE53 is armed with a 3.0L inline-six engine with an electric turbo and an integrated starter generator that produces up to 472PS of power, less than the base BMW M4 Coupe. Mated to an AMG Speedshift TCT 9G and AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive, it does 0-100kph in 4.2 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 250kph.

Because the CLE53 comes with the AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive with fully adaptable power distribution and rear-wheel steering, it feels moderately good to drive on the road and on the track. Coupled with the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT, three-stage AMG parameter steering with variable ratio, and AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension with adaptive damping, you'll find plenty of reasons why and why not enjoy the CLE53 in every way, although the controversial AMG Real Performance Sounds is downright filtered by the way. This is something not you would expect on a modern sports car like the CLE53.

On a scale between the now-axed E53 Coupe and C63 Coupe, I can say that the CLE53 sits between them. Not extreme as such but it feels moderately good everywhere. Sure, the BMW M4 can chew it alive but when it comes to being subtlety and macho, the CLE53 is the one. Case closed.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz AG