Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Review: The sweet spot of AMG coupes

About the same time last year, Mercedes-Benz India introduced the CLE 300 Cabriolet, merging two segments with it - the C- and E-Class for the sportier 2-door variants. The new CLE 53 4MATIC+ is the second of those cars. Just like the CLE 300, on paper, it’s a replacement of sorts — a coupe that merges the agility and stance of the C-Class with the size and prestige of the E-Class. In practice, it feels like AMG has carved out an entirely new niche. There’s no direct rival, no obvious yardstick to measure it against. Which makes this car rather interesting — because the CLE 53 doesn’t just fill a gap, it defines its own segment.

From the moment you see it, the CLE 53 demands your attention. And from the first time you press the starter and feel the six-cylinder engine come alive, you know this isn’t a pretender — it’s a proper AMG, even if it doesn’t wear the “one man, one engine” badge of honour from Affalterbach.

Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ design & styling

If you ask me, the rear three-quarter is the CLE 53’s best angle. The stance is purposeful, the haunches are muscular, and the way the roofline flows into the boot gives it a classic coupe silhouette with just the right amount of aggression. This isn’t a shouty design, but it isn’t subtle either. The flared fenders and that wider track — 58mm more up front and a full 75mm at the rear compared to the regular CLE — give the car a planted look, like it’s squatting on the road, ready to pounce.

Details matter here. The vented bonnet isn’t just for style. It channels hot air out of the engine bay, and looks very cool, but the side gills are fake, and unnecessary to be honest. If you pick the CLE 53 in black, you won’t even notice it. Quad exhaust tips sit neatly in a diffuser panel and hide the single barrel exhausts behind it. If you opt for the AMG Styling Package, you get sharper splitters, a subtle bootlip spoiler, and more pronounced aero detailing. It’s theatre without going overboard, and I quite like the way the car looks overall. My highlight is the beautifully crafted 20-inch alloy wheels, finished in matte black. In terms of presence, the CLE 53 nails the brief.

Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Interior & features

Step inside and the coupe reminds you why Mercedes interiors continue to set benchmarks. The layout is modern, tech-heavy, and infused with an ample dose of AMG character. The twin displays dominate the dash, the materials feel properly premium, and there’s good attention to detail. But the carbon fibre pattern plastic on the dashboard and the lower plastics between the centre console feel a bit of a step down for a car of this segment.

What I particularly like are the familiar AMG Drive Select rotary knob on the right and the sub-section adjustments on the left. It lets you toggle through driving modes instantly, while the left one allows you to fine-tune suspension, exhaust, and traction settings without ever taking your eyes off the road. It’s highly intuitive and if you are familiar with it, changing drive characteristics on the go is super simple.

The seats deserve special mention. The optional AMG performance seats offer the kind of lateral support you’d expect on a racetrack, but remain comfortable enough for long highway stints. On our two-hour drive to our shoot location, the CLE 53 was very comfortable for a 400+ horsepower car. Everyday usability hasn’t been sacrificed here — something you can’t always say about performance coupes. The Burmester sound system round off a cabin that feels as much a luxury lounge as it does a driver’s cockpit.

Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Performance

Step on the gas and you are obliged with a bucketload of torque. The CLE 53 gets AMG’s 3-litre, in-line six-cylinder engine (code: M256M). Unlike the hand-built Affalterbach inline-4s and V8s, this is a factory-assembled unit. But dismissing it on that basis would be a mistake. It’s a wonderfully smooth, free-revving engine that feels perfectly matched to the CLE’s character.

On paper, the numbers are strong: 443bhp, 560Nm of torque, with an additional 23bhp and 205Nm available from the 48-volt Integrated Starter Generator. 0-100kmph comes up in 4.2 seconds, and the car will run on to 250kmph (270kmph if you tick the right box). But more than the numbers, it’s the way this engine delivers that matters.

The twin-turbo system with an electric auxiliary compressor ensures there’s virtually no lag. You press the throttle and it responds instantly, pulling hard through the rev range. It’s seamless, it’s linear, and when you let it rev out, it’s savage enough to remind you that this is a proper AMG.

The soundtrack complements the performance nicely, when you are in the cabin, but I’m not sure if even half of it translates to theatre on the outside. We know it’s not as bombastic as a V8 or as rowdy as the inline-4 but you can think of the six as an engine powering a cultured sportscar that minds its business, especially when the flaps are closed. It makes you want to chase the redline with open flaps, just to hear that faint snarl.

Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ ride & handling

This is where the CLE 53 really finds its sweet spot. AMG’s fully variable 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system means you get rear-drive character most of the time, but when grip runs short, the system shuffles torque to the front seamlessly. It even has a Drift Mode, though that’s best left for closed tracks.

2.5 degrees of rear-axle steering adds another layer of agility to the CLE. At low speeds, it turns the rear wheels opposite to the fronts, shrinking the turning circle and making the coupe surprisingly nimble in tight spaces. At higher speeds, the rears steer in the same direction as the fronts, virtually lengthening the wheelbase and giving you that planted, stable feel through sweeping corners.

The ride quality is perhaps the most impressive part of the CLE 53. It’s supple enough to handle Indian roads without complaint, yet the body control remains tight when you start pushing. On track, it does feel a little soft compared to AMG’s more hardcore offerings — but let’s be honest, this isn’t a car you’re going to be lapping every weekend. On the road, where it matters most, the balance is spot on. Comfortable, composed, and still capable of making you grin on a spirited run.

If there’s a minor gripe, it’s the 9-speed torque converter gearbox. For the most part, it’s smooth, intuitive, and perfectly judged for everyday driving. But when you suddenly ask for a downshift from a high gear, there’s that brief hesitation before it delivers. It’s not a dealbreaker, far from it, but worth noting if you live for those instant kickdowns.

Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ verdict & pricing

So where does that leave us with the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+? It’s beautifully styled, with that gorgeous rear three-quarter stance. It has an engine that’s smooth, responsive, and thrilling in its own right, even if it doesn’t wear the “one man, one engine” badge. It rides beautifully, handles with confidence, and manages to combine everyday usability with genuine AMG excitement.

And then there’s the price, at Rs 1.35 crore, ex-showroom. Mercedes has been clever here. Because the CLE 53 doesn’t really have a direct competitor, it sits in a sweet spot. More attainable than AMG’s full-fat V8 coupes, yet far more special and capable than anything you could call an entry-level performance car. For the buyer who wants something stylish, quick, and versatile, something that turns heads without being ostentatious, this is a very tempting proposition.

In many ways, the CLE 53 feels like the perfect bridge between worlds. Elegant yet aggressive, comfortable yet thrilling, accessible yet exclusive. And in that, it might just be the all-rounder you’ve been looking for.