I’ve had enough of this: For the first 40 or so miles in the 2026 Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid wagon, I only know it as a 161-horsepower electric car. Yeah, it looks cool with its wide-and- wider tires, low stance, and oh-so-cool wagon body style (IYKYK), but the engine hasn’t even started, so I haven’t experienced any excitement yet. This is an AMG model, which means strong power is just the twitch of a right foot away.
The new E 53 Hybrid is actually a plug-in hybrid. It combines a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine that makes 443 hp and 413 pound-feet of torque with an electric motor that adds not only 161 hp but also 354 lb-ft. Total output is 577 hp and 553 lb-ft, and the horsepower can rise to 604 with the optional Race Start launch control feature. A 21.2-kWh (usable) battery provides 41 miles of electric driving range.
I switch out of the default Electric mode to Sport+ and the inline-six wakes up to provide robust thrust. The electric motor erases any chance of turbo lag, and the 0-60 mph sprint takes 4.0 seconds, according to Mercedes, and drops to 3.8 seconds with Race Start.
Out on a country road, I give Race Start a try. It’s easy to use: Come to a stop in Sport or Sport+ mode, step hard on the brake and then the gas, make sure the system is engaged in the instrument cluster, then let off the gas. The revs bounce off the rev limiter, the wrap-around ambient lighting flashes, the standard 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system apportions power front and rear, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires hook up, and the E 53 launches hard as the nine- speed automatic transmission fires through gears with quick, positive shifts.
From there, the inline-six builds power consistently, building to a standard top speed of 155 mph that rises to 174 mph with the optional AMG Dynamic Plus package. The engine also emits a smooth, deep “whoom” that’s just shy of a V8’s growl in terms of aural pleasure.
Searching for twisty roads, I switch back to Electric mode. On electricity, the E 53 has modest but useful power. The 161 hp isn’t much, but the 354 lb-ft of torque means that E 53 can accelerate in city and freeway traffic and make passes without ever turning on the engine. If you charge the battery regularly, you could drive this way most of the time. Only a full jab of the throttle or exceeding 87 mph will start the engine.
The E 53 Hybrid is EPA-rated at 52 MPGe city, 64 highway, and 56 combined. When the battery is depleted, it gets 22 mpg combined, and the hybrid system still adds power as Mercedes builds in a buffer; the battery has a total of 28.6 kW of capacity. I end up getting 30.6 mpg over 133 miles of mixed driving, using the battery 46 percent of the time.
The E 53 Hybrid can DC fast charge at up to 60 kW, which will fill it from 10-80 percent in 20 minutes. A 9.6-kW on-board charger charges it from 10-100 percent in 2.75 hours on a 240-volt home charger.
A jaunt through the twisties reveals that ride and handling are a mixed bag. Adaptive dampers and rear-axle steering come standard. The ride is firm even with the dampers in their Comfort mode, but it never gets too harsh even with the dampers in their Sport+ setting.
In general, the E 53 handles well, with quick, direct, well-weighted steering, a fairly flat attitude in corners, and a neutral balance mid-corner. The rear-axle steering can turn up to 2.5 degrees opposite of the fronts for greater maneuverability in parking lots and with the fronts to improve cornering stability at higher speeds.
The downside to the hybrid system is weight, as it is with the E 53’s BMW M5 wagon and Audi RS 6 Avant competitors. The Mercedes weighs 5,401 pounds, right in the ballpark with those rivals. That means it will be prone to understeer when pushed hard into a corner and its brakes will likely overheat after multiple hard braking events.
The $3,150 AMG Dynamic Plus package enhances performance with Race Start, larger brakes, dynamic engine mounts that firm up the structure for sharper handling, and an electronic limited-slip rear differential that puts the power down more effectively mid-corner and when exiting corners.
The E 53 Hybrid wagon’s cabin gives it an advantage over sport sedans because it can carry cargo like a crossover SUV. It has a modest 13.1 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat, but that opens up to 59.2 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded flat more than a Mercedes- Benz GLC.
Up front, the standard black synthetic leather and synthetic suede sport seats are comfortable and supportive. They can be replaced with nappa leather, multi-contour seats with massage, and more aggressively bolstered AMG Performance seats. The center console is skinned with black ash wood, and buyers can also choose from three more woods, silver-metallic fabric, and carbon-fiber trims.
The most notable element of the cabin, however, is the abundance of screens. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.4-inch infotainment touchscreen come standard. The instrument cluster offers several design themes, as well as a bounty of information chosen by the driver. For $995, buyers can choose a 3D look that gives it the appeal of a layered precision Watch.
The touchscreen is powered by the third generation of the brand’s MBUX software that combines simplicity with ease of use. Large icons open a variety of functions quickly, including apps for audio and video entertainment, a calendar, and a browser. My only complaint is the lack of a volume knob, as Mercedes provides sliders instead.
An optional front passenger screen turns the dash into the Superscreen. This screen offers all of the same icons as the center screen so the rider can control the interior environment. The E 53 Hybrid wagon sits at the top of the E-Class lineup, at least until an E 63 model arrives.
It starts at $94,600, including the $1,250 destination fee. My test car comes in at a cool $111,540 thanks to such options as the Dynamic Plus package, 21-inch forged alloy wheels, the 3D instrument cluster, the Superscreen, a Driver Assistance package with a spate of additional active safety features, and the Pinnacle trim that adds tech upgrades and creature comforts.
Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid wagon is a versatile vehicle. It’s good-looking, spacious, engaging to drive, and it can be efficient or powerful. Buyers can take advantage of electric driving regularly, but the real fun starts when the engine starts.
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