2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Review: AMG’s Secret Weapon
There once was a time when anything less than a V8 in an AMG was near blasphemy. And a hybrid in an AMG, well, let’s not even talk about that.
Times have changed, and Mercedes has spent the past decade largely dispelling those antiquated notions. Yes, eight cylinders are still sometimes called for, but expanding your mind and the idea of an AMG can be healthy. After all, it allows things like a 577-horsepower hybrid six-cylinder to enter the chat.
I rolled up nearly 300 miles on the 2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid 4Matic, a muscular sedan with a characterful engine. Here is my breakdown.
The Straight Six is a Superstar
The superstar here is the straight six-cylinder engine that’s part of the turbocharged plug-in hybrid powertrain. While you do get plenty of electric range (42 miles), once the electrons are exhausted, the inline six is a gem. It sounds good, and the power is almost immediate. Kudos to Mercedes (and BMW and Stellantis) for bringing back straight sixes, an engine design that goes back to the early Twentieth Century. If you know, you know. It’s old-school elevated—quiet luxury for powertrain geeks.
The total system output is truly prodigious to the tune of 577 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Smash the throttle to unleash the full torrent of power or simply cruise around on silent electricity. It’s a sophisticated powertrain, and this large sedan is quiet on the highways and an eager cruiser. I put a lot of miles on this E53, and Mercedes knows how to make cars that leave you refreshed. I observed 23.1 mpg with 22 miles of electric range, as I didn’t get a chance to top off the batteries.
A Tasteful Interior and the Right Balance of Screen Time
The interior is outstanding, as you would expect for a car at this price point, and Mercedes strikes the right balance of digital vs. analog. The screen in front of the driver is large, colorful, and can be configured in a variety of different ways. I left it with a tachometer and speedometer in view. The touchscreen in the middle is colorful and easy to use.
On the right is open real estate. How refreshing! Pillar-to-pillar screens work in some settings—and on some Mercedes—but I rather enjoyed the simplicity of quality materials and a clean dashboard.
Furthering this vibe, the cabin is set with beautiful wood accented with vertical stripes. It looks classy, almost like a 1950s L.A. Confidential vibe. There’s vents that run in a hockey stick pattern into the door panels. It’s a true cockpit feel. The ambient lighting is striking. My family loves to figure out what color we want to feature for each ride. Drop a “Hey Mercedes” command, and the system is responsive and smart.
Sometimes, it will even offer a friendly or snarky aside. The interior is done up in a charcoal shade with tan inserts, and there’s plenty of room in the backseat for passengers. It’s a family sedan for the enthusiast.
The Sound...of Mercedes
The Burmeister Soundsystem is silky and rich, making the driving experience even better. The speakers are aesthetically pleasing with the way they’re integrated into the A-pillars. It’s the kind of sound system you can savor. One cool night while grabbing takeout, I was taken aback by the long line.
Nonplussed, I simply turned up some Springsteen, cued up a massage, and cranked the seat heaters. The restaurant’s line cleared up eventually.
There’s Plenty of Curb Appeal
The exterior design gets the details right, from the AMG-branded red brake calipers that pop behind the wheels to the quad exhaust. The AMG logo reads Affalterbach on the hood vents, the front panels say turbo hybrid – all of these things look cool and tell you that you’re driving something a little bit different, without shouting.
Draw It All Together
The E-Class remains best-in-class, as far as I’m concerned, and the E53 Hybrid is a step forward for Mercedes and AMG. The execution is smart, the powertrain is creative, and it creates an overall experience that Audi and BMW are still chasing.
Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.
Greg Migliore is AutoGuide's Editorial Director. He has covered the auto industry for two decades, most recently as editor-in-chief of Autoblog. He's also been an editor at Automobile and Autoweek. He's a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University and the Yale Publishing course. Greg is a member of the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards jury.
More by Greg Migliore
Comments
Join the conversation
MB, please dump most of this technology and give me a quiet, normally aspirated, I6 with about 275-325 HP. While you are at it, give me real analog gauges (not a video screen) and only one medium sized screen for the navigation and AV functions, nicely integrated into the dash (my car is a transportation device, not a theater). Love my 2013 C300 4Matic Sport, but there is nothing in the current lineup I'd even consider.