It can be a large four-door coupé, a luxurious and comfortable saloon, a ‘quasi’ sports car or even an “Eco” car with which to enter big cities.
Here you have the in-depth test of the Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 4Matic+, a sedan that has it all and offers a lot to be fully satisfied with driving. You already know that last year, Mercedes introduced some slight modifications to the range, some changes that affect the front, where there is a grill, some different bumpers and to a lesser extent behind and inside.
But as always, I’m talking about dimensions: this Mercedes CLS goes beyond five meters, 5,012 to be exact, it measures 1.90 wide and 1.42 high. The wheelbase is close to three meters: 2.94. In the case of this AMG 53 unit, you now have more customization possibilities, as the so-called AMG Night II package is available.
The AMG DYNAMIC PLUS is also offered, which is distinguished, among other things, by the fact that it has red brake calipers with black AMG lettering and adds an additional RACE driving program with Drift mode.
That said, now it’s time to talk about the engine: there is no twin-turbo V8 under the hood, nor is it a 63 s, but we will have to be content with a longitudinally placed inline six that has a cubic capacity of 3 liters and offers 435 hp of power. It does not stretch much, up to 6,100 laps, therefore it is not a particularly pointed engine.
This Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 4Matic+ takes advantage of twin supercharging, with a classic turbo and electrically driven supercharger to deliver plenty of low-end torque and reduced lag: 520Nm at just 1,800rpm. And, best of all, this figure remains stable until 5,800.
This soup of numbers means that this CLS53 AMG pushes from very low; You barely have a bit of ‘turbo lag’ and the feeling you get when you step on the accelerator is that you’re wearing an atmospheric car. Part of the responsibility lies with the 48-volt electrical system, which has a 22 CV and 250 Nm motor with which consumption is improved, sailing is allowed, and turns the car into a ‘mild hybrid’. … and, well, receive the Eco sticker with the advantages that this entails.
But don’t be fooled, because this Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 4Matic+ spends and spends its own. Officially, it announces 9.4 l/100 km, but the reality is that as long as you let yourself be carried away by your instincts, you will be above that figure all the time, and if you really want to unleash madness, then you will be very close to the 20-22 liters.
Inside it is very, very Mercedes. The dashboard is dominated by screens so huge that they give the feeling of being just one. You have a lot of information.
The Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 4Matic+ is priced at 110,150 euros and the truth is that it comes standard with everything you might need. Although it can always be improved, and in this sector spending between 15,000 and 25,000 euros on options is not unreasonable.
It’s a direct rival to an Audi A7, although there’s no exactly comparable version: the S7 is diesel and the RS7 has 600bhp. The closest thing is a 55 TFSI but it is only at 340 CV.
Another reasonable doubt comes from the house itself, from Mercedes itself, because many will be wondering: what about the Mercedes_AMG GT 53? The concept is very similar, although the CLS would be for those looking for a coupé style, elegance and comfort with that sporty touch that AMG gives, while the GT would be for the sporty customer, who is also looking at cars like the Porsche Panamera.