Background
It's been a long time since we've had a compact Mercedes coupe or cabriolet without a V8 that was a proper AMG-fettled serious driver's car but this, we're told, might be it, the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+. It's not a full fat Afalterbach-fetted AMG model; for that in a CLE, you'll need the 585hp 63 variant. Instead, the engine here is an updated version of the straight six in the standard CLE 450. It's a big step forward though, from the C43 C-Class coupe that was this car's direct predecessor.
Here, you sense that Mercedes' Afalterbach luxury division has got a lot more serious about developing a car of this size. From the 381hp you get in the CLE 450, there's a power hike to 449hp. Enough for performance that's almost BMW M4-like. Let's take a look.
Driving Experience
This does at first glance seem like a serious kind of Mercedes-AMG model, though in reality, it's something of a halfway house between the standard CLE 450 and the manic Mercedes-AMG CLE 63. The twin turbo M 256M straight six 3.0-litre engine is an uprated version of the '450' unit, with 449hp (68hp more) and turbo boost increased from 0.4 bar to 1.5 bar; alongside an electrical compressor which, like the 22hp electric motor in the 9-speed torque converter automatic gearbox, is powered by this engine's 48V mild hybrid system. 62mph from rest is dispatched in just 4.2s.
Like the '450', this '53' has 4MATIC 4WD; and AMG Ride Control, which brings AMG-tuned adaptive dampers. And there's 2.5-degrees of rear-wheel steering. Add the expensive optional Pro Performance Pack and you also get dynamic engine mounts, a more rear-biased 4WD setting, an extra 'RACE' drive mode and a rear wheel drive-only 'drift' mode for tail slides on circuits. On all variants, fat 265-section Michelin S5 tyres offer ample traction for times when you don't want to drift; and there's a quick-reacting steering rack with a variable ratio.
Design and Build
Instantly, you can see that this is a more serious kind of CLE. There's a restyled front bumper, a big rear spoiler, a potent lower rear diffuser and an AMG-style Panamericana front grille. There are AMG-specific door mirrors and much wider wheel arches, which make car 58mm wider at the front and 75mm wider at the rear. As with the standard CLE, bodystyle choice is between coupe and cabriolet.
Inside, there are sports seats, upgraded to grippier AMG Performance seats if you specify the Pro Performance Pack. The large central touchscreen incorporates an AMG Performance menu that shows all kinds of vehicle data for things like speed and G-Force. You can also select an on-screen IWC-branded watch that can be used as a lap timer. Satellite controllers on the AMG sports steering wheel let you easily switch between driving modes and adjust driving parameters.
As for rear seat space, well it's not as good as the old E53 Coupe (because of 8mm less wheelbase length) but it's better than the cramped quarters of the old C43 Coupe, with 72mm more knee room. It's a similar story with boot space, the 420-litre figure (enough for three sets of golf clubs) being 5-litres less than the old E53 Coupe, but 60-litres more than the previous C43. For reference, a rival BMW M4 Coupe gives you 440-litres.
Market and Model
Expect pricing for this 53 model in coupe form to start just at above the £73,000 mark. That's £7,000 above the most affordable CLE 450 4MATIC coupe; but more affordable than a BMW M4 Competition coupe. The base 53 coupe price we've just quoted is for standard 'Premium' trim. Upgrade to the 'AMG Night Edition Premium Plus' version (which you'll need to do to get the chance to spend extra on the 'Pro Performance Pack' with its 'drift' mode) and you'll need nearly £79,000.
You may not feel the need to do that. The standard 'Premium' model after all, includes plenty. There are 20-inch AMG alloy wheels with grey-painted calipers, plus 'Digital Light' LED headlamps, a panoramic glass sliding roof and keyless entry. Inside with 'Premium' trim, you get an 11.9-inch central screen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument display. Along with an AMG Performance steering wheel, Thermatic climate control and illuminated door sills. Upholstery is in AMG black leather.
The 'Night Edition Premium Plus' model has a black-themed look. And inside offers an 'Air Balance' package with a fragrance generator, a head-up display, a Burmester 3D surround sound system and an 'Energizing package Plus' system which gives you heated, multi-contour and climatised front seats.
Cost of Ownership
Don't expect the mild hybrid engine tech to save you very much in terms of running costs, particularly if you drive this car as its maker intended. Mercedes claims a combined cycle mpg figure of 29.4mpg for this 53 model in coupe form; compare that to 36.7mpg for the standard CLE 450 coupe. CO2 emissions are rated for the 53 coupe at 217g/km.
The mild hybrid 'EQ Boost' system fitted to this engine works as mild hybrid set-ups usually do, using a belt-driven starter/generator running off a 48-volt electrical system. The electrical element is certainly seamlessly integrated, cutting in and shutting down the engine completely at cruising speeds, which will often see you burning absolutely no fuel at all. Plus the 'EQ Boost' technology allows for a greater level of kinetic energy regeneration, something you can monitor as you drive via an EQ Boost 'Power'/'Charge' meter in the instrument cluster.
Service intervals for this CLE 53 will depend on how far you drive and under what conditions - but Mercedes does offer 'ServiceCare', which allows you to spread your bills into manageable payments, guarantees the price of parts and labour for up to four services, and covers the cost of recommended service items such as brake fluid, spark plugs, air filters, fuel filters and screen wash. Another thing we'll need to tell you is that the comprehensive three year unlimited mileage warranty is built upon by Mercedes' Mobilo scheme which delivers breakdown cover for up to thirty years, as long as you continue to have your car serviced at a Mercedes main dealer.