2023 Mercedes-AMG GT 53

AMG's 63-badged models of the GT four-door do battle with other top-performing coupe-style sedans such as the Audi RS7 Sportback and BMW M8 Gran Coupe. The Mercedes-AMG GT 53 we review here first went on sale in the USA in 2018 and is an altogether milder type of mid-range AMG that lacks the V8 engine and brutal performance of the 63s. Its six-cylinder mild-hybrid powertrain endows it with 429 horsepower, so it's satisfyingly quick and commendably frugal, and logic dictates that its rivals would be the S and regular M variants from Audi and BMW. So it proves, and with a $107k MSRP, the price of the new Mercedes-AMG GT 53 four-door coupe puts the car up squarely against the slightly cheaper BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe M850i. The problem is that the BMW has a significantly more powerful 523-hp V8, while the Audi S7 Sportback, with its more GT 53-appropriate 444 hp, costs a lot less. Does this make the GT 53 overpriced and underpowered compared to its competition, or does its svelte styling and upscale execution make up for this? Let's find out.

The AMG GT 53 retails for $106,700 this year, up from last year's $102,600. This price is MSRP and does not include the $1,150 destination fee.

The AMG GT 53's powertrain is the last word in refinement. The inline six-cylinder revs with a velvety smoothness, the mild-hybrid system damps out any trace of turbo lag, and there is always reserve punch on hand to blast past slower traffic or effortlessly merge onto the highway, with the nine-speed auto blitzing through the ratios with unruffled assertiveness. It gets to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, so it's plenty fast, but it's also refined, less aggressive, less highly strung, and not as hard-edged as the V8s. It's the best balanced of the GTs, from its perfectly judged firm but pliant suspension to its ability to generate serious Gs and stop on a dime, courtesy of powerful AMG Performance brakes. The Sport Plus mode really allows you to enjoy the car's abilities, yet it won't scare you to death, exhibiting a far more amenable personality and accessible talents than the 63s. It's probably the best GT in the lineup and might have been the best car in this class had it not been for that huge price tag.

The AMG GT 53 is an excellent car, but membership of the AMG club will cost you dearly, and it's comparatively poor value compared to the cheaper and far more powerful 8 Series M850i Gran Coupe and the similarly quick but far cheaper Audi S7 Sportback. It's a shame, because the GT 53 is a seriously competent sports sedan with exemplary comfort while still managing to feel agile for such a heavy car. The AMG genes shine through clearly when the pressure is on, and it never lapses into tire-scrubbing understeer or thumps into divots, effortlessly maintaining its composure, regardless of the road or weather. The S7 might not be quite as engaging to drive, but costs a whopping $20k less and is just as swift. Even the Gran Coupe M850i is cheaper than the AMG and blows both its rivals out of the water dynamically. If you can stomach the price, the GT 53 is brilliant, but it's not the best car at the price.

With only one AMG GT 53 trim available, it's down to how you spec it, and beware that the options can dramatically inflate the price. This is a problem when the base car is already so expensive, so it grates our gears that items such as a panoramic roof ($2,100), leather upholstery ($2,990), a head-up display ($1,100), and three-zone climate control ($760) aren't standard at this price. Maybe you can do without the leather, so have a look at how you like the standard leatherette/faux suede combination, but we'd like most of the other options. Most important driver assists are standard except for the glaring omission of adaptive cruise control, which is part of the $1,950 Driver Assistance package. Deck it out with the exterior carbon-fiber and/or appearance packages, in addition to Nappa leather and the Executive Rear Seat package, and you can quickly send the price hurtling toward $120k. Choose your options carefully.