Test drive – Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4Matic+ : To Spa-Francorchamps in an AMG With Two Personalities

Jean-Pierre Ndu
juillet 8, 2026

Some road tests become more memorable simply because of the context. Mercedes gave us the opportunity to take the new Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4Matic+ to the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, and it is difficult to imagine a better setting in which to discover what this AMG is really about.

Between motorway miles, the beautiful roads surrounding the circuit and the very special atmosphere of a race weekend, we had the chance to properly enjoy the E 53. And once we arrived in Spa, one thing quickly became clear: the car attracted a lot of attention.

In a place filled with sports cars, AMGs, Porsches and far more dramatic machinery, our E 53 still managed to spark plenty of curiosity. People came over to look at it, ask questions and take a closer look at the details.

That actually says a lot about this car. It can remain elegant and relatively discreet, but enthusiasts immediately understand that there is something much more serious underneath.

Design and Dimensions: Subtle, but Definitely Not Anonymous

The E 53 Hybrid does not try to look like a track car. It keeps the elegance of a regular E-Class while adding just enough AMG detail to make its intentions clear.

The front end is more aggressive, the arches are wider and the four round exhaust outlets leave little doubt that this is not a conventional E-Class. Even so, the overall design remains restrained compared with some more extroverted performance cars.

And yet, at Spa-Francorchamps, it was clearly noticed.

Several people stopped to look at the car, which was especially interesting considering the amount of exotic machinery around us that weekend. In an environment full of genuine enthusiasts, the E 53 seemed to find exactly the right audience.

At almost five metres long, it is still a large car, but the proportions work well. On the roads around Spa, it has real presence without ever feeling unnecessarily oversized.

Interior : A Proper Long-Distance Cocoon

The cabin delivers a completely different experience.

Close the door and the sporty exterior suddenly gives way to the feeling of a refined Mercedes grand tourer. The driving position is excellent, the seats provide strong support and the overall sound insulation makes long journeys feel effortless.

In front of the driver, the 12.3-inch digital instrument display offers several AMG-specific layouts, while the large 14.4-inch central screen controls navigation, vehicle settings and the different driving modes. Depending on specification, a third display can also be added in front of the passenger.

During our drive to Spa, it was the overall comfort that impressed us most. You can spend hours in this car without feeling particularly tired, then completely change its character the moment the road becomes more interesting.

That may be one of the real luxuries of the E 53: arriving relaxed while knowing there are more than 500 horsepower waiting under your right foot.

Powertrain: Thankfully, the Straight-Six Is Still Here

Under the bonnet, Mercedes-AMG has retained an engine that feels far more appropriate for a large performance model.

The E 53 combines a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six producing 449 hp with a 163 hp electric motor. Combined output stands at 585 hp, rising to 612 hp with the Race Start function. Total system torque reaches 750 Nm.

The battery offers 21.2 kWh of usable capacity and allows the car to cover roughly 90 kilometres on electric power depending on conditions.

And that is where the E 53 becomes particularly interesting.

You can leave Brussels almost silently, drive through part of the city on electric power alone, then gradually wake the AMG up as the roads become more interesting.

Two completely different personalities in the same car.

Driving Experience: The Roads Around Spa Suit It Perfectly

It is once you leave the main roads that the E 53 really starts to show what it can do.

The roads surrounding Spa-Francorchamps are a mix of fast bends, elevation changes and tighter sections. In other words, a perfect environment in which to get to know this AMG.

The first thing that impresses is obviously the acceleration. With up to 612 hp, speed builds incredibly quickly, yet the car never feels like it is working particularly hard. The power delivery is strong and almost continuous, with the electric motor adding instant response whenever you ask for more.

But the outright performance was not actually what surprised us most.

It was the way this large car manages to disguise its weight.

The E 53 weighs well over two tonnes, yet the 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system, rear-wheel steering and adaptive suspension make it feel far more agile than you would expect.

Through the roads around Spa, you are always aware that this is not a lightweight sports car. But the steering is precise, the front end reacts quickly and the car remains extremely reassuring as the pace increases.

We also enjoyed how dramatically the character changes depending on the selected driving mode. In Comfort, it becomes a calm and refined long-distance cruiser. Switch into Sport or Sport+ and the responses sharpen, the throttle becomes more immediate and the body control tightens considerably.

The straight-six soundtrack, however, remains relatively restrained. Some of the sound is enhanced through the speakers, and at times we would have preferred to hear more of the engine itself. Even so, compared with some recent AMG models, the E 53 still feels much more convincing from a mechanical point of view.

A Genuine Long-Distance Car

Our trip to the 24 Hours of Spa showed us just how well this car manages to balance two very different worlds.

On the motorway, it is quiet, stable and exceptionally comfortable. The seats, sound insulation and driver assistance systems make covering distance feel effortless.

Then, not long afterwards, you can find yourself on a winding road where the E 53 suddenly becomes impressively fast and engaging.

And once we arrived at the circuit, it still managed to look elegant among cars that were far more dramatic.

That was probably one of the most memorable parts of the test: seeing how much interest the E 53 generated in a place where Spa-Francorchamps was already filled with exceptional machinery.

Conclusion: An AMG You Understand Better Once You Live With It

The Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4Matic+ is difficult to sum up with numbers alone.

Yes, it produces up to 612 hp. Yes, it can cover a useful distance on electric power. And yes, it is heavy.

But after our trip to Spa-Francorchamps, those are not really the things that stay with us.

What we remember is a car that carried us comfortably to one of Europe’s most iconic circuits, made us want to choose the smaller roads instead of the motorway, and still managed to attract attention from enthusiasts once we arrived.

It may no longer offer the brutality or soundtrack of the old V8-powered E 63, but it delivers something different: genuine duality.

You can spend much of the day driving quietly and smoothly, then press a button and suddenly discover an AMG capable of covering ground at an astonishing pace.

And on the roads surrounding Spa-Francorchamps, it is difficult not to understand the appeal of that philosophy.

A big thank you to Mercedes-Benz for trusting us with the E 53 and allowing us to experience the 24 Hours of Spa with a car that felt perfectly suited to the journey.