The newest Mercedes is a growler but not a guzzler. The 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 debuted today with a host of comfort, convenience and performance technology that takes advantage of the honed Mercedes product portfolio.
The new CLE looks built for performance. From nose to tail, fender to fender the wide-bodied hybrid growler is the epitome of big-bodied sports car styling. Its proportions come courtesy of the midsize Mercedes-Benz E-Class with the Affalterbach arm of the company bragging that it has the sportiness of the smaller C-Class.
CLE's front end is dynamic, standing in direct contrast to the picnic-table flat and wide lid on the BMW i5, while achieving the same level of muscularity thanks to track adjustments that add 2.3 inches up front and three in the rear.
LEDs mark the corners (front lights have blue base illumination) while enlarged wheel arches allow for the additional cooling that is required of an AMG model during peak performance.
Under the hood is a neatly arranged, packed-into-place turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that is paired with an electric auxiliary compressor to deliver 443 horsepower (hp) and 413 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque courtesy of gasoline and an additional 23 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque from 48-volt technology at low speed, helping drivers get off the line in a jiffy, more efficiently.
The entry-level car comes with a nine-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive and rear-axle steering. It is offered with five AMG Dynamic Select drive modes: Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual.
Nineteen-inch wheels are standard, 20-inch are available.
The optional AMG Performance Studio Package provides an even more powerful aesthetic with additional flics on the front and rear fascia, a more pronounced spoiler lip on the trunk lid and a rear diffuser board between the tailpipe trims. Two AMG Night packages and two AMG Carbon Fiber packages are also available for further individualization.
The interior of the car benefits from the technology inside C- and E-Class models. There's a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and an 11.9-inch driver-orientated infotainment touchscreen. The driver's display can be configured in Classic, Sport or Supersport style.
Ambient lighting in 64 available colors showcases the curves of the dashboard, armrest and belt line.
Microfiber upholstery and AMG-specific graphics come on the model's seats, or buyers can choose from a number of of leather upholstery options. Upgrading to the AMG Performance Seat Package offers buyers the opportunity to have seats with more pronounced bolsters and backrests with vertical openings and a contrasting color scheme.
Drivers have their hands on the AMG Performance steering wheel, which offers up a double-spoke design and flattened bottom, as well as twin buttons that enable dynamic mode changes while en route.
An AMG Dynamics drive control system comes installed on the car. It allows a driver to select a mode that matches their capability, which in turn hones various behavioral components of the car. The options are Basic, Advanced and Pro.
Opting for the AMG Dynamic Plus Package adds a Race program and Drive mode that enhance the distance between performance and comfort for the car with a series of character changes.
The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 goes on sale next year. Pricing will be announced closer to the model's on-sale date.
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Eileen Falkenberg-Hull leads the Autos team at Newsweek. She has written extensively about the auto industry for U.S. News & ... Read more
