2020 Mercedes-AMG E53 Sedan

The E53 is perfectly placed between Mercedes-AMG's compact performance sedan, the C43 on the one side, and the E63 S on the other side. The 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 Sedan starts off with an MSRP of $73,800, which does not include tax, registration, and a destination fee of $995. The C43 Sedan, at the bottom end of the scale, will cost you $55,950, and at the other end, the E63 S will set you back a stiff $107,350. Most people who buy an E53 Sedan will tick a few of the extras boxes, which will increase the price quite dramatically if not approached with caution. Fully kitted, the 2020 E53 AMG Sedan goes for well over $100,000.

You'd be convinced that the 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 Sedan was a much smaller car once you get behind the wheel. The E53 shrugs off the fact that it tips the scales at nearly 4,500 pounds and offers a seriously impressive drive, on and off the track. The standard adaptive air suspension setup, based on the Mercedes-Benz Air Body Control system, uses specialized calibration sensors to respond to changes in road surfaces within milliseconds and gets the balance of comfort and stiffness right nearly all of the time. It will also automatically lower the car at certain speeds to further enhance the car's handling stability and efficiency. Switching from track-ready bruiser to highway cruiser is done in seconds, but crisp and beautifully balanced steering responses are a constant feature. The E53 offers one of the best blends of performance-oriented driving dynamics and comfortable cruising ability in its class.

我们爱E53 AMG轿车的原因,which is a promising start. The exterior styling of the E53 is understated, even by AMG-standards, but we think it strikes a perfect balance between muscle car and executive cruiser, and most ordinary folk won't realize what the E53 really is until it's too late. On the road, the E53 is sensational to drive, fast, or slow. The adaptive suspension setup and hybrid assisted turbocharged inline-six engine delivers immense performance that is accessible, easy to modulate, and makes for a car that is just as easy to fling around your favorite backroad as it is to transport the inlaws back to the airport in comfort. The interior of the E53 is as plush, premium, and posh as you're going to get in this segment, and the infotainment system offers a good glimpse into the future of automotive interior designs. The list of standard features is good, it's practical, and it drives as a fast Mercedes-AMG sedan should. We'll have one in silver, thanks.

There's only one 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 Sedan on sale, but luckily there's a ton of optional extras and accessories to make your E53 truly unique. Hand over the checkbook, and we'd spec it as follows: on the outside, we'd go with the $720 Selenite Grey Metallic paint job, but stick with the softer-riding 19-inch stock alloy wheels. Inside the cabin, money will have to be spent on metal weave inserts, the Nappa/Dinamica leather steering wheel, and AMG Performance front seats. We'd skip out on smaller luxuries such a tri-zone climate control and those over-the-top multi-contour massage seats. Instead, we'd spend our money on the Driver Assistance Package, which adds active steering assist, active blind-spot assist, and other advanced safety systems. Throw in the AMG Performance Exhaust System and the total build comes to $84,610.

The Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic Sedan falls in the compact luxury sedan class, one peg lower than the E53, and is the smallest and least powerful sedan in the Mercedes-AMG lineup for 2020. Powering the C43 is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 385 hp and 384 lb-ft. The torque figure matches that of the more powerful E53, but it delivers it higher up in the rev range and in a narrower window. Power is sent to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic - the same unit as the E53. The C43's lower curb weight and AWD drivetrain gets it to sixty in only 4.5 seconds, hot on the tail of the E53, but fuel consumption suffers - the C43 will return 19/27/22 mpg city/highway/combined. On the road, the C43 feels more nimble, but not by much, and we missed the massive torque punch and sublime ride comfort offered in the E53. Inside, the C43 looks the part, but it fails to match the E53's luxuriant finishes and the C43's basic infotainment can't match the allure of dual 12.3-inch screens across the dash. The E53 is more spacious too, placing the cherry on top of a more complete package that's worth the extra $18,000.

Besides the badging and exterior styling changes, like a Panamericana vertical grille, most people won't be able to tell the difference between these two cars. You'll have to get behind the wheel, start the engine, and put your foot down to comprehend why the E63 S 4MATIC costs over $30,000 more than the E53, and accelerates from 0-60 mph over a second faster. The main culprit is the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine hiding under the hood. This gruff beast emanates a vicious bark from its tailpipes and crams out 603 hp and a massive 627 lb-ft of torque. This translates into a zero to 60 time of only 3.3 seconds and gas mileage estimates of 15/23/18 mpg. Whereas the E53 offers silky-smooth power from its inline-six turbo engine, the E63 absolutely annihilates the contents of your stomach with brutal acceleration that comes with a punch and keeps you pinned until the gas pedal returns to its normal position - but the rougher ride quality is just as likely to upset your stomach. The E63 S shares the same basic interior design, featuring those prominent 12.3-inch dual displays and comfortable front seats. Expect the same level of standard and available features, as well as safety levels. Do you like the E53 but want to go even faster? Get the E63 S. But for most, the E53 will be more than enough, and more comfortable, too.