It’s been 140 years since Karl Benz – led by his wife and test driver Berta – put the world on wheels.
For much of that time, Mercedes cars – named after the daughter of a wealthy early customer – have set the bar for best of the best in motoring.
They have been winners for comfort and quietness, safety and performance, and – most important of all – class and quality. The high-performance AMG division has also kicked hard with cars that look and go like sports cars, without losing their Mercedes luxury.
My all-time favourite car with a three-pointed star is the mid-sized Mercedes from the W123 model series, built from 1984 to 1997. I had one, a shabby but very lovable E300, until last year when a house move meant I had five cars and only four parking spots.
I cannot help recalling ‘Herman’, a name given to it long before he drove into my life, as I slide into the very latest E53 AMG plug-in hybrid from the house of Benz.
My old-timer came from a simpler time, like so many of us, before all the ‘bells and whistles’ made a showroom visit like a trip to Disneyland. But the basics are just the same in the E53, which is aimed at the same sort of buyer.
It’s a mid-sized four-door sedan, not the most popular choice in 2026, with a roomy boot and a plush cabin for four adults. Everything you could want or need is included in the deal, including AMG wheels and modest spoilers and grippy sports seats.
Of course, this does not come cheaply. The base price shimmies just under $200k, but it would be easy to jump much higher than $199,900 if you add a few extras and pay the on-road costs and insurance.
The big difference for the E53 is its plug-in hybrid package. Yes, it can be driven as a fully-petrol sports sedan, complete with a spirited and sporty exhaust note and instant response to the throttle. The nine-speed auto can punch through the gears or slur up the range if you prefer.
So, why go for the hybrid? Efficiency, of course, but it also fires up – if those words even apply – as a fully battery-electric car. It means no noise to wake the neighbours and a dignified departure from dinner. The battery-only range is slightly better than 100 kilometres, which means day-to-day commuting can all be done as a full EV.
Of course, you must remember to plug it into the three-pin socket at home overnight, or a fast charging station, to get the maximum advantage. If you do, the official economy is rated at 1.7 litres/100km.
This is an AMG car, which means you don’t have to play the green EV game. Once the battery is fully discharged it reverts to its six-cylinder combustion engine for a very nice drive.
But with battery and combustion combined the E53 becomes a real powerhouse. The torque thump comes from 750 Newton-metres and there is also 450 kiloWatts of power, more than enough to romp along on a tasty country drive. It also has all-wheel drive to contain the power, or make life easier in slippery condition.
Switching from the engine room to the cabin, the E53 is just plain lovely. Some people might complain about the sports seats, which can be a big tough to get into, but they hug nicely and provide an ideal driving position.
The sound system is terrific, the aircon is brilliant, the fit and finish is flawless, and all the materials are top-drawer stuff.
But …
For me, the car is a bit over-done in the technology and design. Do you really need, or want, multi-coloured lighting for the air vents? It might be on-brand for AMG in ’26, but sometimes less can be more.
It’s the same with the massive digital display that covers almost all of the dash. There is even a separate screen ahead of the passenger, allowing them access to Apps and navigation, separate to the driver. It looks marvellous in the showroom, and will definitely impress your friends, but can be over-kill if you’re driving alone.
My L-plater son recently had some drive time in a new Benz and his words are perfect for the E53. “Why can’t all cars be like this?,” Eli said.
In the case of the E53, there is so much to like and plenty of fruity AMG goodness – from the brakes to the looks and the thump from the powertrain – to make driving much more than just a chore. Every trip can be an adventure, even if you’re just trying to extract the ultimate in EV range.
So it’s just a pity that the pricetag puts the E53 outside the range of many people who could love it.
MERCEDES-AMG E53
Price: From $199,900
Powertrain: 3-litre inline six cylinder turbo hybrid, 450kW/750Nm
Gearbox: 9-speed auto, all-wheel drive
Safety: not rated by ANCAP
The tick: Ticks all the boxes, and a few more
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