Here at Napleton News, we’ve loved the Mercedes-AMG GT. But it’s only a two-seater. Fret not, AMG has you covered with the Mercedes AMG GT 53. A four-wheel drive, four or five-seat version of the AMG GT, it is definitely more practical than its two-seat sibling. Hop in and join us for a run as we take a look at this new Mercedes-AMG vehicle that’s at home on the street as it is on the racetrack.

The basic premise of the Mercedes-AMG GT 53.

Let’s say you have always wanted a hot-rod or high-performance vehicle. A great example would be the Mercedes-AMG GT. A Biturbo-V8-powered two-seater, it handles like a dream, out-accelerates most other cars on the road today and isn’t too shabby on a racetrack either. But in the AMG GT, you and a friend are the only two who can experience the feeling of Teutonic excellence both on and off the track.

Mercedes-AMG decided that it wasn’t fair for just two at a time to have all the fun. That’s what brought about the AMG GT 53 4Matic. Based on a platform similar to the Mercedes-Benz CLS, it can seat four or five, depending on whether a buyer selects the bench seat or the two rear sport bucket seats.

Hybrid power and more.

While the AMG GT uses a hand-built twin-turbo V8 making 523 horsepower and 494 lb-ft of torque. Our four-door model was a bit more reserved. In the engine room, buyers will find a choice of 362 hp 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder gas/electric engine known as the AMG GT 43. Our tester was a bit more robust since it was the AMG GT 53 4Matic. As built, it provides It too is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 cylinder and electric motor-generator. Power is delivered via a 9-speed automatic transmission with a momentary turbo boost that makes it good for a 0-60 romp in 4.1 seconds.

There’s a sport-tuned suspension that keeps you perfectly flat while negotiating twists and turns during your daily excursions. And thanks to the now-standard 4Matic all-wheel drive system, there’s beaucoup grip at all four corners.

How does the AMG GT 53 4Matic look?

Squint from more than fifty feet away, and you’ll see the wide stance of the rear of the GT 53, which reminds us a bit of the two-door AMG GT. Look closely, though, and you’ll notice two extra portals that allow for two or three more in the back.

At the front, the first thing you are likely to notice is the Mercedes star planted directly in the center of the waterfall grille. With this type of grille, wise viewers will instantly realize this is a performance model, likely an AMG variant. And they would be right. Below is a rather purposeful front splitter to help provide extra downforce on the front end.

The greenhouse provides a sweptback roofline which looks like it might have those in the back seat with crooks in their necks. That’s thankfully not the case, though, thanks to the positioning of the rear seats. Low hip points save the day, providing adequate headroom for those in the second row.

Beyond the GT 53 shoulders are two pairs of black chrome exhaust finishers. At the top of the liftback is the AMG active air spoiler that rises to the occasion every time you clock above 49 mph. The better to keep all four wheels planted, we say! It adopts a different angle at 87 mph and a more aggressive one at 124 mph.

How about inside the GT 53?

The interior of the Mercedes-AMG GT 53 is a combo of accoutrements from the CLS and the center console of the AMG GT. Diamond-pleated leather seating sets the order for the day and offers dynamic bolstering that keeps us firmly in place while driving hard in unseasonably cold South Florida. But all is well inside the cabin of this four-door sports car. The console offers warmth on the armrests and around the leg area, while a heated steering wheel keeps the mitts warm.

Thoroughly modern, the interior features carbon fiber and aluminum trim and a digital cockpit. A pair of 12.3-inch display screens are here and configurable according to the driver’s tastes and needs. A Burmester High-End audio system is tuned for the ears while seats with a heated massage function (!) help to soothe the body after long days hunched over a computer. Since our GT 53 features a pair of sport bucket seats, they don’t fold forward. Instead, passengers can enjoy nearly 13 cubic feet of cargo space in the way back, accessible by the GT 53’s liftback.

But nothing beats the massaging seats! Except maybe the fragrance diffusing system that spritzes a nice scent to keep things fresh in the cockpit.

Behind the wheel

Pressing the ignition button of the AMG GT 53 results in not a roar but a subtle gurgle that steps further to turn over all six pots in the Mercedes AMG straight six-cylinder turbocharged engine. Then there is a note coming from the rear quad pipes that sound inspired by Mercedes-AMG Petronas’s Silver Arrow Formula 1 cars.

Once we backed out of the drive, the mild-hybrid powertrain took over with an electric boost that eventually gives way to the gas engine power. Acceleration comes on smoothly and as suddenly as you want. Gently squeeze the accelerator and it comes gradually. Stab it and it comes in a torrent. Either way, it’s a satisfying feeling.

A center console switch allows the driver to “tune” the exhaust note making it throaty and mean. Otherwise, you can set it in the normal position, which puts you in Jekyll and Hyde territory: It’s an average luxury-performance sedan until you push it hard. At that point, it turns into a beast. But it’s our beast.

Mercedes-AMG GT 53 4Matic Specifications