The Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet sort of sits in a niche of its own, mainly due to the lack of performance convertibles on the market. Its closest competition, as of the time of this writing, is the BMW M4 Convertible, which offers quite a bit more power at a similar price, or the Lexus LC500 Convertible, which is considerably more expensive. The biggest highlight of the 2022 AMG E53 Cabriolet is arguably its impressively appointed and nicely equipped cabin and the turbocharged straight-six under the hood that can, in fact, raise your blood pressure. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, the AMG E53 Cabriolet is as gorgeous as it is quick and is designed to excite and soothe your soul at the same time.

What’s New for 2022?

The 2022 model year didn’t bring a lot of changes for the recently updated Mercedes E-Class, but all models – including the E53 AMG that we’ve pictured here – come standard with automatic high-beam headlights and a heated steering wheel. Nautical Blue Metallic is also now available as an exterior color choice.

Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet Powertrain & Performance

The Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet is powered by a hybridized inline-six that isn’t only turbocharged but features an electric supercharger to help mitigate the turbo lag that was once a problem in older models. The nine-speed automatic transmission is the sole gearbox option, and the 4Matic AWD system is standard equipment on the E53 Cabriolet. The E53 does require premium fuel, but it also sits at the top of the competition in terms of fuel economy, so the extra range per fill will make quite the difference in the long run.

How Much Power Does the Mercedes AMG E53 Have?

The Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet is powered by a turbocharged, 3.0-liter, inline-six that delivers a total of 429 horsepower and 6,100 rpm and 384 pound-feet of torque at 1,800 rpm. Shunted through the nine-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels, this is considerably less than both the Lexus LC500 Convertible and the BMW M4 Convertible. The former delivers 471 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque from a 5.0-liter V-8 while the BMW M4 Convertible puts down 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque.

Is the Mercedes AMG E53 AWD?

The Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet is available only with AWD, which can also be said for the BMW M4 Convertible. Of the competition, the Lexus LC500 Convertible is the only one that comes standard with RWD.

How Fast is the Mercedes-AMG E53 Convertible?

The Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet is capable of hitting 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and will top out at an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. In terms of straight-line performance, the E53 Cabriolet sits right in the middle. The LC500 Convertible, for example, makes the same sprint in 4.7 seconds. The BMW M4, however, will get you there a bit faster with its 4.1-second sprint to 60 mph. In terms of top speed, the AMG is the clear loser, with the LC500 topping out at 168 mph and the M4 Convertible pushing up to 163 mph.

Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet Fuel economy

The Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet is rated at 20 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s actually quite impressive for the little niche the E53 Cabriolet resides in. The Lexus LC500 Convertible is rated at just 15 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 18 mpg combined. The M4 Convertible does 16 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and 19 mpg combined. Clearly, the AMG E53 is the winner in this race.

Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet Interior Design

The Mercedes-AMG E53, regardless of body style, sets the standard for interior build quality and comfort. The interior could be considered the perfect blend of luxury and sportiness, but that can even be turned up a notch if you have deeper pockets and are willing to splurge for things like exotic wood trims, a fragrance atomizer, and even massaging front seats. If you don’t like the flashy red seatbelts, you can opt for black belts at no extra charge. So, is there anything wrong with the E53’s interior? Well, did you notice that there’s no shifter on the center console? That’s because Mercedes has opted for a weirdly unique column shifter that works well but feels flimsy and really out of place in such a sporty car. As for interior storage space, there’s quite a bit – probably more than any of the competition – with the highlight being the underfloor trunk compartment and the massive center console.

Infotainment, Connectivity, and Safety

The interior of the AMG E53 is defined by its 12.3-inch touchscreen that comes as standard with Merc’s latest MBUX operating system. You can control this system via the touchpad on the center console, voice commands, or the steering wheel controls. The e53 comes standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless charging, and a Burmester audio. System.

As far as safety goes, you’ll get basic stuff like automated emergency braking and blind spot monitoring as standard, but just about everything is an optional extra. These options include adaptive cruise control with stop and go capability, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights.

How Much Passenger Space Does the AMG E53 Cabriolet Have?

Since the Cabriolet is a bit smaller with the top in place, you won’t get quite as much room inside as you would in the coupe model. It is, however, comparable to that of the LC500 Convertible and the M4 Convertible. Front passengers will be more than comfortable, but don’t expect taller people to enjoy a ride in the back seat if you plan of having the top up.

How Much Cargo Room Does the AMG E53 Cabriolet Have?

The AMG E53 Cabriolet will swallow up just 9.5 cubic-feet of cargo room, so don’t expect to carry the entire house and the dog in the trunk. This is considerably better than the LC500 Convertible at 3.4 cubic-feet and a bit better than the M4 Convertible, which has 9.0 cubic-feet of cargo room.

Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet Exterior Design

The AMG E53 Cabriolet is, essentially, an E53 coupe redesigned to accommodate the automatic top. As such, it has the same, mildly aggressive front end, the same body lines, and the same rear end with quad exhaust outlets and fake corner vents. With the top down, the E53 Cabriolet looks more like a luxury vehicle than a performance vehicle. What’s more impressive, though, is that Mercedes has managed to incorporate a folding top that actually mimics the roof of the coupe almost perfectly with the exception of lower visibility form the smaller rear glass. Overall, the E53 Cabriolet is an attractive vehicle – if you’re into convertibles that is.

How Big is the Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet

The E53 Cabriolet is nearly identical to the E53 coupe in terms of size. It measures 190.6-inches long, 73.2-inches wide, and 56.2 inches tall with a 113.1-inch wheelbase. These figures make it longer and taller than both the LC500 Convertible and the M4 Convertible, but it’s not quite as wide. It also has the longest wheelbase and the highest curb weight.

Can I operate the E53 Cabriolet’s Top While Driving?

The AMG E53 Cabriolet features a multi-layer roof that can be opened or closed in just 20 seconds and at speeds of up to 31 mph. At speeds above 31 mph, the top will not respond to your request to open and close to prevent accidentally damaging the top.

Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet Pricing

The Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet has a starting price of $82,850 as of the time of this writing but can move dangerously close to six-figure range if you start checking off option boxes. As a point of comparison, you can have more power with both the M4 Convertible and LC500 Convertible, but you’ll also have to pay more. The M4 Convertible is the closest in price at $86,300 while the LC500 starts out at $101,100.

The Competition

The Mercedes E53 Cabriolet is actually a hard model to cross-shop. You’ve got the BMW M4 Convertible, which is clearly its closest competitor, but outside of this, you either have to look to significantly larger, more powerful, or more expensive models. As such, we’ve chosen the Lexus LC 500 convertible as a contender next to the M4 Convertible.

Is the Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet Better than the LC500 Convertible?

The Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet is admittedly newer than the Lexus LC500 in terms of technology, and it does have an amazing soundtrack, but it’s hard to beat the Lexus LC500. The LC500 Convertible does feature a timeless design, but it’s so focused on being a sportscar that it can feel impressively small on the inside. That said, if you want something that’s AWD, then the LC500 Convertible is pretty much your only option.

Under the hood sits a 5.0-liter V-8 that aggressively pumps out 471 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. These figures put it at a 42 horsepower and 14 pound-foot advantage over the E53, but it’s not quite as aerodynamic and the 10-speed auto has a largely different gear ratio, which is why the LC500 Convertible will lose the race to 60 mph every single time, taking at least 4.7 seconds to get there. Its top speed, however, comes in at 168 mph, which puts it well ahead of the E53 at 155 mph and even ahead of the M4, which tops out at 163 mph. The LC500’s biggest caveat above all else is its price. It starts at $101,100 as of the time of this writing, which makes it $18,250 more expensive from the start.

Mercedes-AMG E53 Convertible vs Lexus LC500 Convertible

Read our full review on the Lexus LC500 Convertible

Is the Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet Better than the BMW M4 Convertible?

We’d be lying if we said we weren’t huge fans of the BMW M4, even with the big grille, but part of that has to do with its driving dynamic and what you get for the money you pay. Like the E53, the M4 Convertible is only sold with AWD, but it features an eight-speed automatic transmission which contributes to a decent highway economy rating but not-so-great efficiency in the city. But we’re not considering a performance convertible for efficiency, now are we?

Under the hood sits BMW’s tried and true 3.0-liter inline-six. That engine pumps out 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. That puts it 74 horsepower and 95 pound-feet ahead of the E53 Cabriolet. It’s also quite a bit faster, needing just 4.1 seconds to get to 60 mph and topping out at 163 mph. With more power, a cooler design, and speed on its side, the M4 is surely much more expensive than the E53 Cabriolet, right? Wrong, the M4 Convertible starts out at $86,300, which is just $3,450 more, which isn’t bad if performance is your thing.

Mercedes-AMG E53 Convertible vs BMW M4 Convertible

Read our full review on the BMW M4 Convertible