Cars

2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE53 Coupe offers electrified fashion

Instant electric torque makes everything better.

Andrew Krok

Cars are Andrew's jam, as is strawberry. After spending years as a regular ol' car fanatic, he started working his way through the echelons of the automotive industry, starting out as social-media director of a small European-focused garage outside of Chicago. From there, he moved to the editorial side, penning several written features in Total 911 Magazine before becoming a full-time auto writer, first for a local Chicago outlet and then for CNET Cars.

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Andrew Krok

Dec. 12, 2019 2:00 a.m. PT

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Mercedes-AMG produces some seriously potent powertrains, and the automaker does its best to shove every possible combination of engine and vehicle together across the lineup.

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The latest mashup, the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE53 Coupe, smashes together a posh silhouette and a peppy mild-hybrid getup to great effect.

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The GLE53 Coupe sports the same getup as every other AMG 53 on the market.

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Under the hood is a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 producing 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque.

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That's complemented with an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission that generates an additional 21 hp and 184 lb-ft as the situation demands.

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It's not a traditional hybrid in that fuel thrift isn't the prime directive, although it's definitely a happy side effect.

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Since Audi continues to buck trends and shy away from offering "coupe-overs" aplenty, the GLE53 Coupe's primary competitor is the BMW X6 M50i.

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If you prefer your performance to come from the engine alone, that V8-toting ute will be more your speed.

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But, if you enjoy the feeling that comes from torque that can fly in like Superman and save the day at a moment's notice, the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE53 Coupe makes for a very rewarding drive.