Mercedes-AMG E 53 Estate

FIRST DRIVE Subtle 577bhp PHEV performance wagon could be the ultimate Q-car for those seeking pace and practicality

- Dean Gibson

PEOPLE like fast estate car. Models such as the Audi RS 2 Avant, Volvo 850 T-5R and even the recent BMW M3 Touring have gained cult status, while brands continue to combine practical bodies with big power outputs, even with the arrival of electrification. We've seen the latest BMW M5 Touring resort to plug-in power, and now the Mercedes-AMG E 53 moves from the last version's mild-hybrid set-up to a full PHEV powertrain.

While cars such as the Audi RS 6 Avant add a big chunk of visual aggression to the mix, the E 53 is a subtle-looking performance machine that's likely to go unnoticed by all but the most ardent AMG fanatic. The E 53 is just 22mm wider than the standard E-Class Estate, with subtly flared wheelarches at each corner, quad-exit exhausts and AMG's familiar Panamericana grille up front being the most obvious signs of its potential. Add in a dark colour, such as the Nautic Blue of our test model, and the E 53 is the perfect Q-car, with a look that's only slightly more dramatic than that of the admittedly handsome mainstream estate.

Just as with the CLE 53 driven last week (Issue 1,881), the car's hybrid powertrain is based around Mercedes' 443bhp 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder turbo petrol engine. But while the CLE is a hybrid, the E 53 gains a bigger 21.2kWh rechargeable battery and a 161bhp electric motor. Combined, there's a total system output of 577bhp, or a temporary 604bhp with the Race Start setting activated.