Mercedes’ latest AMG coupe is a blast to drive — but I couldn’t stop wishing for a real V8

• The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 is the high-performance variant of the brand’s new CLE luxury coupe.
• I was impressed by CLE 53’s aggressive looks, legit AMG performance, and luxurious cabin.
• However, the AMG trades some of the CLE’s comfort and refinement to achieve driving excellence.

Mercedes-Benz introduced the CLE in 2024 to fill the space in their lineup once occupied by the defunct C-Class and E-Class coupes.

I had the chance to drive the CLE450 Coupe last year and was wowed by the grand tourer’s elegant styling, luxurious cabin, and powerful mild-hybrid powertrain.

Alongside the standard CLE, the German automaker also launched a souped-up version tuned by its AMG performance division, the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53.

It’s effectively a CLE450 but turned up to 11 with sleeker aerodynamics, more power, and a laundry list of performance upgrades meant to help the big Benz conquer corners with ease.