Overview
The Mercedes-Benz AMG GT debuted back for 2016 as a high-performance performance coupe developed to take on the renowned Porsche 911. Mercedes eventually discontinued it after the 2021 model year, but sports car fans should be excited to know that the two-door AMG GT is coming back for 2024. Returning after a short hiatus is the stunning and potent AMG GT Coupe. Powered by a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine, it will offer as much as 577 horsepower and sport standard all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. Perhaps the most major change is the addition of a back seat. Originally designed as a two-seater, the new GT Coupe now comes with two additional, albeit very small, rear seats. The cargo area has also been enlarged for increased practicality, making the GT Coupe a better option for long-distance drives. To learn more about the new iteration, check out our dedicated 2024 Mercedes GT Coupe article.
Interior
We tested the GT 53 sedan. Its engine feels strong and responsive around town and is incredibly smooth. Standard all-wheel drive means plenty of traction too. At our test track, the AMG GT 53 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. That's on par with other rival six-cylinder sport sedans we've tested such as the Audi S7 and BMW 840i Gran Coupe. The automatic transmission downshifts quickly when you need it and smoothly when you don't. The GT 53's engine stop-start system is unobtrusive too.
Unfortunately, the rest of the GT 53 can't match the engine's strong performance. Every car in this class is big and heavy, but the GT 53 doesn't hide its mass as well as the Porsche Panamera or Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. The suspension helps it corner flat, but the steering lacks the precision we want from a truly great sport sedan. The brakes, too, were off the mark in our emergency braking distance tests, though they feel plenty strong in day-to-day driving. A wide turning radius that makes it hard to pull off tight U-turns is another demerit here.
Said Boukharouba
The Widebody version looks cooler with its flared fenders and handles better, thanks largely to wider wheels and tires, so that's the one we'd choose. Despite the fact that the SRT Hellcat is all about excess, we wouldn't opt for the Redeye model that increases power to nearly 800 horses.
Exterior
The mad scientists at Dodge's SRT laboratory pulled a Samuel L. Jackson and went all Old Testament with the almighty Hellcat engine. The standard setup makes "only" 717 horsepower, and the version in the Redeye pumps out 797 horses. The 807-hp Super Stock model features dedicated equipment for drag racing. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the last Challenger SRT Redeye Widebody we tested roared to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and completed the quarter-mile in 11.8 seconds at 125 mph.
Getting in and out can be a bit of a challenge too. The low roofline and wide doorsills mean you have to duck and then awkwardly step in. The heavily bolstered Performance seats of our test car further impeded access. Once you're situated, you'll find the driving position to be set rather low, which might not suit everyone. This, plus the small windows, also makes it hard to see out of the car, but the excellent surround-view cameras help here.
Specs
Mercedes may have given the AMG GT 53 a coupe-like profile, but it doesn't suffer from coupe-like storage. The big plus is the GT 53's rear hatch. Its 12.7 cubic feet of cargo space is less than what other coupe-like sedans offer, but the space itself is wide and deep. The biggest issue is the tall rear bumper because it makes putting stuff in the back a bit of a stretch.
Summury
The Challenger interior was redesigned for the 2015 model year with a driver-centric layout, straightforward switchgear, and better materials. The SRT twins have standard leather finery, unique badging and gauge colors, and heated and ventilated front seats. Despite its roomy cabin, the plastics still look cheap, and visibility to the rear is poor. The Dodge held six carry-ons in its trunk and an impressive 15 total with the rear seat stowed.
4.88
Based on 235 customers feedbacks and reviews
The Good
That might be fine if it was more entertaining to drive. Don't get us wrong: The GT 53 is quick and sporty. It's just that it doesn't feel as sharp or as nimble as some of its rivals. Other automakers do a better job of making their sport sedans feel smaller.
The Bad
The AMG GT 53 handles well and has a strong engine. The problem is that the same can be said of other Mercedes sedans. The E-Class and CLS both offer similar features and performance, making the GT 53 feel less special.
