Not exactly what we had expected, but the 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe bridges all the gaps between spirited performance, everyday luxury, quiet confidence, and ostentation
We spent three days with the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe, and right off the bat, its glorious Spectral Blue sheath kept our gazes lingering longer than intended. Our first impression? This is a car that keeps you guessing. Like pairing a tailored suit with sneakers, this two-door beauty sits assuredly between sporty and sophisticated. Polished, but ready for action.
Compared to its earlier-released CLE 200 sibling, its wider stance and beefed-up proportions assert an understated dominance without resorting to flashy antics. The real revelation, though, peeks through when you turn the key (or rather, press the button).
A silent performer
First things first: its engine. Unlike its C 63 cousin, which rocks a far-more complex turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain, the CLE 53 coupe keeps it simple with a dual-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six cylinder engine, ready to churn out 449 hp and 560 Nm. It’ll take you from standstill to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, then push on to a max of 250 km/h.
But press down on the accelerator, and it comes alive in a manner that’s… restrained. Composed, even. Sure, it’s an AMG (even if the purists might protest with the one-man-one-engine argument), but it’s neither loud nor brash, and will not growl like the V8 AMGs. Even toggling the active exhaust to the more vocal programme would give a faint burble when lifting off the throttle at most.
Instead of roaring to life and shooting forth, a heavy foot on the accelerator will make the car dip its rear end, grip the tarmac, and surge forward with an eerily calm authority, all in one seamless move. It’s much like watching a sprinter take off in perfect form at the sound of the gun: assured, effortless, and efficient, yet undeniably powerful.
But that’s just what an onlooker would experience. Drivers are treated to a much more sensorial experience within the cabin, with electronically generated exhaust notes egging you on over the speakers. No, synthetic exhaust sounds aren’t really heresy anymore; in fact, it’s becoming rather commonplace across brands. But somehow, it still works, like a whisper of rebellion in an otherwise well-mannered symphony.
So begs the question: does it drive as sporty as it looks? Yes. And it still oozes elegance and luxury? Also, yes. This two-door ride is essentially a mini grand tourer combining the best of both worlds: agility of the C-Class, and the status of the E-Class coupe, all in one sleek package. Mercedes-AMG seemed to have designed this for the long ride: less about breakneck speed, and more on enjoyable long journeys. Sure, it’ll handle winding corners at higher speeds confidently–there’s an agility you wouldn’t expect from cars this hefty–the focus is on precision rather than provocation.
The CLE 53’s city conundrum
Here’s what we feel is the CLE 53’s Achilles heel: city traffic. This isn’t a car that likes crawling or inching, it wants to move. There’s an eagerness to go fast makes gridlocked city driving a somewhat jarring experience for both driver and passengers. It’ll take a practiced foot to keep things smooth when inching along in gridlock or in stop-and-go situations.
What it wants is to stretch its legs on a road trip, or down an empty expressway on a late-night run. You’ll appreciate how effortlessly it eats up the distance, wanting to go further and faster.
For all its refinement, the CLE 53 hasn’t completely forgotten its roots. The AMG performance DNA still shines through with customisable drive modes, allowing you to tweak everything from throttle response to the stiffness of your desired ride. It’s not quite the wilful fire-breathing monster expected of the AMG badge, but it doesn’t need to be when it’s very much in a league of its own.
Bottom line?
At S$466,888 (COE included, accurate as of January 2025), the CLE 53 Coupe doesn’t come cheap–but we never said it was trying to be. If you’re chasing personal bests on the Sepang International Circuit, you’re probably better off with an M3, or a souped-up M2. But if you want a car that makes the almost-300km drive up north palatable (and still cut through the occasional build-up of traffic along the way), the CLE 53 will deliver, with just the right amount of refined brutality. This is a car for one who values the finer things, and in this case, a performance machine wrapped in an everyday package–one that’s elevated.
