A three-in-one luxe beefcake

The Mercedes-AMG E53 dishes out three distinct driving experiences in its Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes

- Christopher Tan

There are all-in-one shampoos, three-in-one coffee mixes and multi-action medication. So, why not a multi-faceted car that caters to your whims?

The Mercedes-AMG E53 plug-in hybrid super saloon is one such car.

For work-home trips during peak hours, the 4,961mm-long, 2,065mm-wide and 1,472mm-tall car with a 2,971mm wheelbase can deliver the noiseless commute of an electric vehicle (EV) if you are relatively light-footed.

Its 100kW motor does the bulk of the hauling here, with its 3-litre straight-six engine rarely stirring.

In the Comfort mode, which is good for around 100km if the car's 21.2kWh battery is fully charged, the E53 is adequately torquey and fuss-free, if a tad clinically cold.

The 2.4-tonne car consumes around 24kWh/100km and as little as 0.9 litres/100km in this mode.

For non-work trips, switch to Sport mode, which keeps the engine awake to deliver an engaging and emotional drive. The car feels suitably sporty here, but far from maniacal. There is a veneer of civility to keep things sane and your palms dry.

But a different animal emerges in Sport+, which is where the full AMG experience is accessible.

Sport+ combines the maximum outputs of engine and motor to deliver 585hp and 750Nm, allowing the big saloon to hit the century mark in four seconds flat and attain a top speed of 250kmh.