2023 Mercedes AMG E53 Cabriolet

Test Drive Notes Library

Pros
Great car to drive. The E53 convertible surprised us. We were expecting an overpowered, hard riding, claustrophobic experience. What we got was a well-powered, comfortable, fun to drive car that wasn’t claustrophobic at all. If you’ve ever been convertible-curious, but resisted due to the dark, noisy, hard-to-see-out-of interior, and you have 109-grand (base price $91,500) burning a hole in your pocket from the pandemic, the E53 is worth a test drive.
Powertrain. This is an AMG model. So, as you might expect, it’s got the goods under the hood. The turbo V6 produces 429 hp, which, these days, is way more than enough, but not absurd. It's actually fine for day to day driving, with plenty in reserve for passing, or just whomping on the pedal and bringing the petroleum era one step closer to its conclusion. The nicest thing about the E53 is it feels extremely well balanced. Everything works well together; the engine, transmission, suspension. It’s one of those cars where all the components are perfectly matched, making driving it a pleasure.
Handling. As we said, this is a well engineered car, with a powertrain and suspension that work together really well. Handling is, simply, excellent. In normal driving, it doesn’t feel like anything special, but take it on a curve at speed, and it hunkers down into the corner with almost no body lean. Drive it on the highway, and it tracks beautifully.
Comfort. We expected a sports car buckboard, or something that leans in that direction, anyway. The E53 surprised us with a pliant ride. It’s a bit firm, but plenty comfortable for daily driving. The seats are excellent, the outside noises (save the optional, adjustable-volume exhaust note) are kept muted. The convertible roof is very well insulated, and features a substantial, light-colored fabric headliner that mimics a non-convertible roof from the inside. This helps open up the interior, and keeps it from feeling dark and confining. Plus, it has all the luxuries; heated and cooled seats, boffo sound system, and good quality materials throughout.

Cons
Infotainment system. We still haven’t warmed to the MBUX system. Most things you do require taking your eyes off the road. And we find the fussy track pad and capacitive switches annoyingly imprecise.
Two doors. This convertible is a two-door, so any use of the rear seats is advised only for kids or adults who have not yet developed back problems. The door is also heavy, and the inside door handle sits far forward, towards the front of the door, making it hard to get leverage to open or close it if you’re not on flat ground. And even then, it’s feels heavy. A second pull further back would be useful, but sadly, probably wouldn’t meet Mercedes design approval.
Looks. It’s a little stubby looking. But stubby is in the eye of the beholder, so maybe you’ll love it. Our test car did come with a beautiful matte Starling Blue Magno paint.