2022 Mercedes AMG GT-53 4-Door

Test Drive Notes Library

Pros
Four doors is better. If you’re trying to decide between the two-door AMG GT Coupe and this four-door AMG-GT Coupe, there’s a clear winner. It’s this one. We found the two-door version of this Mercedes racer — in the words of Thomas Hobbes— nasty, brutish, and short. On the other hand, this longer wheelbase, four door version of the AMG-GT is a car you could drive and live with every day. Compared to the two-door, the four-door is downright comfortable, roomy, and relaxed.
Performance. This is a performance-first car from Mercedes. We know they can deliver the cush. But here we see the race-engineering side of Mercedes, decorated with all the modern comforts they could wedge into it — including the cabin fragrance ionizer. I could’ve really used that when my brother was riding with me. The AMG 53 is powered by a turbo V6 with 429 horsepower (there’s a 43 version with 362hp). It never felt inadequate. The GT 53 lopes along all day at please-ticket-me speed on the highway, and passes trucks with an exclamation point. Paired with a smooth 9-speed automatic, it’s also relaxed enough to drive around town without creating sports car fatigue.
Handling. As you might expect, cornering is excellent. Electronic ride control allows you to choose your ride — punishingly stiff and track ready, or almost comfortable. Even in comfort mode, grip is very good and cornering is flat. And in comfort mode, the car has a reasonable ride, unlike its two-door compatriot.
Looks. This is a sweet looking car. Like a handful of other cars in its price range (as tested: $122,115), it’s a sculpture as well as transportation. It’s got a coupe-like shape (Mercedes calls it a four-door coupe), with a long hood and wide rear shoulders. Looks like it’s moving when it’s not. While it doesn’t have quite the classic sports car silhouette of the two-door version, it still looks great with the extra doors and length, and the improvements in ride and comfort from the longer wheelbase are well worth it.

Cons
Seats. Our AMG-GT 53 came with the optional $2,500 performance seats. Unless you’re taking this car on the track (and, be honest, you’re as likely to drive this four-door sedan on a track as a Range Rover owner is to drive up Kilimanjaro), these seats are unnecessary and burdensome. They have huge side and bottom bolster wings, which one has to lift over in order to get in or out of the car, and they’re snug to the point of constantly reminding you that, yes, your BMI is over 30. Standard seats will save you money and add pleasure. The center console is also ginormous. Presumably that’s for structural reasons, but it's still huge, and contributes to a tight feel in the driver’s seat.
Screen system. Try as we might, we can’t find any affection for Mercedes MBUX user interface. Your primary means of control is a central touch pad, which is finicky. Your secondary means of control are little, tiny touchpads on the steering wheel. Even after a 10 hour drive, we were still accidentally fast forwarding podcasts when switching hand positions on the steering wheel. Mercedes wants to be high tech, but they’ve lost touch with ergonomics and usability.
Missing tech. Despite the price and whiz bang, the AMG-GT lacks a head up display and wireless CarPlay, which are expected features on a car in this price range.