The CLK Is Back And It’s So Good

When I spotted the AMG CLE 53 for the first time in the flesh, I was surprised by how aggressively stanced and properly wide the car is. I mean, we live in an era where vast and prosperous have become the norm. Wide body kits are something several carmakers now do, so, it’s hard to be impressed by the way a new car sits on its wheels these days. But the CLE 53 is truly something. Actually, its presence mostly has to do with the way it was designed, which is refreshing in this era of uninspiring blobs.

The CLE, rather, reminds me of a better time at Mercedes-AMG, a time when the three-pointed star seemed better aligned on its priorities. Everything about this car feels just right. Mercedes may have created the CLE to consolidate both the C and E-Class coupes, but it feels more like the reincarnation of the iconic CLK. And in AMG form, it even gives me CLK Black Series vibes.

The CLE 53 pictured here is a press unit that belongs to the Mercedes-Benz Canada press office. The vehicle was picked up clean and with a full tank of gas. For detailed insight into testing procedures and data collection, please review our methodology policy.

2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Exterior: Touring Car Vibes

Gorden Wagener’s work on Mercedes’ line of EQ electric vehicles (EVs) may not have been universally applauded, but I do believe that the CLE is his best work so far. It’s such a beautiful, yet effectively simple design. It’s a purely German, understated approach. While this is technically a mid-sized car, there’s a nice play with the CLE’s styling that fools the eye into believing it’s more compact than it actually is.

When looking at the car’s front three-quarter, the CLE 53 appears quite short, actually, muscular, and ready to pounce. It’s really only when checking it out from its side profile that you realize how long this thing really is. Kudos to AMG for still understanding that wheels make a car. The 20-inch “Y-Design” set on this press unit looks absolutely epic, kind of Touring-car-like. They also properly fill up the wheel wells, further reducing the car’s visual mass.

The rear fascia, however, is not so great. Don’t get me wrong, it still has that wide, beefed-up muscle-car look that I love from these types of cars, and the quad exhaust tips really help accentuate the performance-oriented theme. But the drooping taillights, as well as a rear bumper that curves downwards at each extremity just look depressing. It’s definitely not as assertive as the car’s front fascia.

Exterior Dimensions

2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53: Differences Between The U.S. And Canadian Market

Since the CLE 53 Coupe is a trim level of the entire CLE lineup (there’s also a convertible version of the CLE 53), both cars are essentially exactly the same on each side of the border. Interestingly enough, in the U.S., the car simply wears the CLE 53 nomenclature, while in Canada, it’s sold as the CLE 53 4MATIC+. Both cars are, however, mechanically identical, offering the same number of paint colors and wheels. There are minor distinctions in the optional packages offered, but it’s honestly all very similar.

U.S. Versus Canada Lineup Breakdown (model tested in bold)

Driving Impressions And Performance: Fast, Hunkered Down And Well-Balanced

While Mercedes-AMG has been downsizing its engines lately, or using electrification to compensate for losses in displacement, the CLE 53 stays true to the 53 nomenclature by sticking to a good-old turbocharged straight six-cylinder. In this case, the 3.0-liter unit is assisted by 48-volt mild hybrid technology, allowing it to pump out a healthy 443 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. It’s all mated to Mercedes’ own nine-speed multi-clutch automatic transmission, as well as its 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system, which has the ability to disengage the front axle on demand. According to

Mercedes-AMG
, the CLE 53 will sprint to 60 MPH from a standstill in 4.2 seconds.

Of course, because I was driving the car during winter, I was unable to perform any substantial launches with it. But that didn’t stop the CLE 53 from showcasing how much it can grip on the road, no matter how slippery the surface is. The 4MATIC+ system is up there among the best in the business when it comes to managing a lot of power on a slippery surface, and in that regard, the CLE 53 truly shined.

Punch the accelerator pedal when the car is set to its more aggressive Sport + mode (there’s also a Race mode), and the CLE 53 immediately drops a few gears and enters the peak of its powerband almost as fast as an EV picks itself up. The level of precision in the way this powertrain executes orders is fascinating. And fun. The CLE 53 burbles, pops, and farts its way to redline, adding to the thrills. Most of this audible experience is, of course, orchestrated by pumped-in audio. But it remains a highly theatrical event. In other words, this

AMG
has a personality.

The chassis is quite well calibrated too, always feeling well buttoned down, stiff, and incredibly solid. Adaptive dampers help quell road imperfections, and standard all-wheel steering mitigates the car’s size and heft in the corners. There’s finally some feedback from the steering wheel too, a nice update over past, vague-steering AMG coupes. But I do wish there was a bit more of an effort buildup from lock to lock.

Perhaps where this AMG shines the brightest is in its ability to remain comfortable and easy to live with Mercedes-Benz. Very much like the flagship GT63 I reviewed last summer, the CLE 53 is an ace at casually trotting around town, absorbing potholes and simply being a casual executive two-door coupe. Sure, you feel the chassis’ stiffness, even in Comfort mode, and there’s only so much the low-profile tires can do. But I’ve experienced way worse in other performance-oriented coupes. This is frankly superb considering the type of performance you’re getting.

2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Technical Specifications

2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Fuel Consumption

The EPA rates the CLE 54 4MATIC coupe at a mid-pack 23 combined MPG. So, no, the mild-hybrid technology doesn’t do much to reduce fuel consumption. But considering how much performance you’re getting from this powerplant, the fuel efficiency is overall decent. During my time with the car in winter, and allowing myself to push the car a bit, I recorded a 22 MPG average.

EPA And As Tested Fuel Consumption

Interior Design And Comfort

Spacious For Two, But Forget The Rear Seats. Some Cheap Plastics Inside

The CLE is a coupe in the classic sense of the term. Open its large, heavy doors, and you’re greeted to a vast cabin that obviously puts the emphasis on its two front passengers. Forget the rear seats, unless it’s for a child.

It’s the traditional Mercedes interior: well-appointed, well put together, but also understated and functional. The CLE’s oval air vents remain a pleasing touch, and so is the carbon fiber trim that spans across the dashboard. It all has a boat-like look and feel. The steering wheel is thick, enjoyable to grab, and integrates a pair of knob dials that allow you to cycle between drive modes or even individual settings, like suspension damping or how loud the exhaust note should be. Seats are thick, supportive, and comfortable, and include – in typical Mercedes fashion – a full plethora of comfort and lumbar settings. Sadly, some cheap interior plastics, especially around the center console, ruin the otherwise premium experience.

2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use: MBUX Has A Christmas Theme

The CLE carries over essentially the same technology as other modern Mercedes products. In this case, it’s the ubiquitous MBUX infotainment interface that continues to be a mixed bag of excellence and frustration. But recent updates have really helped this system in terms of its fluidity, response times, and downright common sense. There are also “Goodies” now that dress the system up on special occasions. In my case, it was a Christmas theme as I had the car in my possession right before the holidays. Kinda cute.

Generally speaking, thanks mostly to large, bright, and colorful icons, you can easily navigate through this system. A trackpad on the steering wheel also allows you to cycle through apps while driving, although it doesn’t always work as expected. The digital instrument cluster remains a pleasing touch, but except for the Classic gauge display, I still don’t really get what the other, more futuristic displays are supposed to represent.

I also firmly believe that Mercedes-Benz should stick to rich-looking, nicely detailed analog gauges versus the industry’s now standard cold-faced screens. It would just add more value to the cabin. Finally, while MBUX’s voice commands, activated through the “Hey Mercedes” voice prompt, have been vastly improved over time, the system still gets confused over street names. It also occasionally randomly turns itself on – “HOW MAY I HELP YOU?” – dare you pronounce the Mercedes name out loud.

Cargo And Storage Space: It’s A Coupe, So Don’t Expect Much

Obviously, nobody buys a luxury sports coupe for its practicality, so the CLE 53’s trunk isn’t accommodated for young families. Rather, see it more as a way to help out a single person and maybe their passenger. However, there’s still a fair amount of space back there, more so, actually, than in a BMW M440i coupe (12 cu-ft), which is the CLE 53’s direct rival.

2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Cargo Space

Nice Work, Mercedes-AMG!

In recent years,

Mercedes-AMG
has kind of lost its way. Several of its models were lacking in finesse, general execution, and – ahem – performance. But with the CLE 53, Mercedes’ performance division came back to its roots to deliver not just an exquisite luxury sports coupe, but also an excellent Mercedes-Benz. Perhaps it’s the fact that the CLE is now its own model that allows its engineers to have more fun with it. As a matter of fact, that was exactly how the old CLK was approached. Whatever happened for this car to be this good, it proves that AMG still knows how to deliver on personal luxury in the compact segment and, finally, deliver a product that’s as potent as the almighty BMW M440i.