While many may see the E43 as the poor man’s E63, it should be recognised as a slightly more mature and marginally larger alternative to the similarly priced C63.

While the E43 won’t bother its V8 big brother in terms of outright performance, it still offers far more prowess than many would assume while offering an excellent ride even when compared to other AMG models.

Standard AMG E-Class features:

• Nappa leather trim
• Electrically-adjustable front seats with
• Heating and three-position memory
• Keyless entry/start
• 64-colour ambient lighting
• Air Balance suspension package
• AMG body styling
• AMG 4Matic all-wheel drive
• 20-inch AMG alloy wheels
• Sports exhaust system
• Sports braking system
• Twin 12.3-inch screen system
• Stop-and-go cruise control for heavy traffic
• Active lane-keeping assistance
• Automated lane changing
• Configurable digital instrument display
• Sat nav
• Vehicle setting controls
• Phone and internet connections
• High-grade 13-speaker Burmester audio system with digital radio
• Smartphone mirroring
• Multi-zone climate control
• Active pretensioners
• Anti-whiplash
• 360 degree camera with dynamic guidelines
• 9 airbags – front, pelvis side and windows bags for driver and front passenger, side bags for rear occupants and knee bag for driver
• Active bonnet
• Adaptive cruise control
• ADAPTIVE BRAKE with HOLD, brake drying, priming function and
• Hill Start Assist
• Accelerations skid control (ASR)
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
• ATTENTION ASSIST
• Automatic-locking doors with emergency opening
• Brake Assist System (BAS)
• Central locking with interior switch and crash sensor
• Crash responsive emergency lighting
• Driving Assistance Package Plus comprising DRIVE PILOT, Active
• Brake Assist with cross-traffic function, Evasive Steering Assist,
• Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and also
• PRE=SAFE PLUS, PRE-SAFE Impulse side and PRE-SAFE Sound
• Evasive Steering Assist
• Electronic immobiliser
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Crosswind Assist
• MULTIBEAM LED with 84 individually controllable LEDs, Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus and tail lights featuring LED technology
• Parking Pilot with Active Parking Assist PARKTRONIC
• Anti Theft Alarm with tow-away protection and interior surveillance system
• Tyre pressure monitoring system
• Voice recognition
• Touch pad and rotary dial controls

Replacing the E43, it’s important to know the more powerful E53, while a genuine AMG product, is fitted with an engine that while tuned by AMG, is built by people and robots on the Mercedes manufacturing plants rather than the more exclusive AMG “one man, one engine” approach.

Perhaps more importantly, the E53 is AMG’s first electrified step towards hybrid models with the engine (with its conventional turbo) mated to an electric compressor producing a marginal 16kW increase in power. But there’s another 250Nm of electric assistance on tap thanks to the 48-volt EQ Boost starter-alternator that sits between the engine and transmission.

The E53 is our sweet spot of the AMG E-Class range, bridging the gap between its big brother E63 while still offering its own unique, engaging and incredibly appealing attributes.

In our opinion, unless your daily commute includes full throttle adventures down a German autobahn, this is all the AMG E-Class anyone ever needs.

A truly excellent motor vehicle and if your tastes require an AMG E-Class coupe or cabriolet, an E53 will have to be your pick.

E53 adds:

• Switchable AMG performance exhaust
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (from 2019)
• New 10-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels (from 2021)
• Energizing Comfort Control (optional)
• Sport Edition package (optional)
• Night package (optional)
• Carbon package (optional)
• AMG Dynamic Plus (optional from 2021)
• 12.3-inch MBUX touchscreen infotainment system (from 2021)
• Parktronic Active Park Assist (from 2021)
• Surround-view camera (from 2021)
• Mercedes Me Connect app integration (from 2021)
• Wireless smartphone charging (from 2021)
• Hands-free boot access (from 2021)
• Driver assistance package (Standard from 2021, optional prior)

The 600-horsepower full-fat variant of the AMG E-Class range offers immense firepower, but surely this level of performance requires an autobahn or a desire for chaos to make any sense as a purchase.

Yes, this is a practical sedan capable of embarrassing more than a few supercars but we argue that the E53 is possibly more fun more of the time for a whole lot less money.

If you can afford an E63 or E63S, chances are you’ve gone and bought it and don’t care what we have to say but if you’re stretching yourself financially to sit behind the wheel of the V8 variant, go drive an E53 before you dig that deep into a financial hole.

E63 & E63S adds:

• Bespoke front air dam
• Pumped front guards
• Performance” front seats
• Active Comfort package (optional)
• Deletion of the PRE-SAFE Impulse Side system (unless Active Comfort package is selected)
• Eight “energising comfort programs” (with ‘Energising Coach’)
• Active Multicontour front seat package
• Air Balance’ package (including ionisation)
• Ceramic composite brakes (Optional)