2025 MERCEDES-AMG CLE 53

IS THIS CLE 53 LIKE A STRONGER, MORE AGGRESSIVE C-CLASS, OR A LIGHTER, LEANER E-CLASS?

- WORDS ROHIT PARADKAR

Then there are cars that look even better in the rain, standing defiantly under grey skies, their curves highlighted by droplets as if nature itself is tracing their form. The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe is one of those rare machines. Finished in Sun Yellow, it stood out like a shot of sunshine during an overcast Pune monsoon. It reminded me of the first time I saw the C 43 Coupe, parked at this very spot in a vivid shade of red, when I thought to myself, “Mercedes truly knows how to shape a coupe.”

But this one is more than just good-looking. The CLE 53 is not here to sit alongside the C-Class and E-Class Coupes—it is here because Mercedes-Benz has discontinued them both. This is the replacement: a single, consolidated model designed to serve coupe buyers who once had to choose between C and E badges. Naturally, the question arises: Is it actually better than the cars it replaces? Let us find out.

The short answer is yes. For the long answer: if the C43 felt like a dedicated sprinter, built for speed, and the E53 like an all-round athlete who balances business formality with athletic ability, then the CLE 53 is like an enthusiast who has rebuilt their physique and found career success—stronger, sharper, and able to enjoy the rewards. The CLE 53 moves more nimbly than the E53, is quicker than the C43, offers more space than the C, remains more compact than the E, and delivers a greater presence than either. Thanks to a well-designed exhaust system that adapts from quiet refinement to a throaty roar, it only makes a statement when prompted, never before.