Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe at autoX Awards: Best Cars of 2025 Ranked

The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 occupies a niche in the Indian market. Two-door coupes have never really taken off here, which makes this one all the more intriguing. One glance at the CLE 53, and you’d understand why it’s so desirable. The flared arches, sloping roofline, quad exhausts, and aggressive AMG body kit give it a presence that few cars can match.

Of course, the badge helps. The CLE 53 is an AMG, although not a full-fat AMG but a rather accessible version of one. Despite lacking the V8 engine, the CLE 53 is no slouch. Its 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine churns out 434bhp and 750Nm of torque – more than enough to thrill even the most demanding driver.

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Out on the track, the CLE 53 was quite impressive with its superb chassis and explosive power delivery. The steering was precise and communicative, giving you enough confidence to throw it around the track. In Sport and other aggressive driving modes, however, the steering weight feels a bit excessive, which can be annoying, especially when driving on the road.

Inside, the CLE 53 feels every bit the luxury coupe it aims to be. The cabin is spectacular, with excellent materials and fit and finish. Given that it’s a coupe with an aggressively sloping roofline, the space inside is limited. While the front seats are both supportive and supremely comfortable, the rear seats are suitable only for small children. Boot space, too, is compromised, especially with the spare wheel occupying a large chunk of it.

But then, let’s be honest: you wouldn’t buy the CLE 53 for practicality. You’d buy it because it turns heads with its design and stirs the soul with its performance. And on both counts, the CLE 53 delivers, and how. In fact, it was only half a second shy of the fastest lap time in this year’s test and came close to clinching the ‘Performance Car of the Year’ title. It may not offer much in terms of comfort or value, but it scores big on most of the other parameters, which is well reflected in its overall score.

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So, if you want to buy a car for its performance and to make a statement, the CLE 53 AMG makes an undeniably strong case for itself.