Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 vs BMW M4 comparison: SPEC BATTLE!

If you’re anything like us, you were probably feeling a touch melancholy about the demise of the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe.

We’ve long considered it to be the pick of the C63 bunch (aside from the barnstorming wagon, obviously) so to learn that the new C63 wasn’t only going to ditch the V8 in favour of an electrified four-cylinder, but would also nuke the hulking, perfectly proportioned coupe body style was a bitter pill to swallow.

So imagine our delight when AMG whipped the hanky off the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 a few days ago. Looks tough, doesn’t it? Like a slightly bigger, wider C63 Coupe. And in even better news, there’s no hybrid powertrain to be seen. Under the bonnet is a twin-turbocharged straight-six churning out an entirely appropriate 330kW/560Nm.

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But hang on… aren’t high-output six-cylinder engines BMW’s schtick? The BMW M4 is a close match for AMG’s new charger.

They’re both two-door, four-seat coupes. They both have 3.0-litre inline six cylinder engines with similar levels of power. And they’ll both hit 0-100km/h in around four seconds.

So is the new AMG CLE 53 a BMW M4 beater? It’s an interesting match up, especially when you consider the ‘53’ badge isn’t the top of the AMG totem pole. That spot belongs to the ball tearing CLE 63, which while not officially confirmed, is pretty much a sure thing according to our sources inside AMG.

Can a humble ‘53’ badge topple a mighty M car? And if so, what does that mean for the hardcore 63 version? Let’s find out.

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JUMP AHEAD

• Price and dimensions
• Engine and performance
• Chassis tech

Price and dimensions

If you don’t feel that familiar with the Mercedes-Benz CLE just yet, that’s to be expected.

Mercedes only introduced the CLE nameplate earlier this year as a combined replacement for the C- and E-Class Coupes. Convertible versions of the CLE will also follow to fill the void of the C- and E-Class cabriolets.

Size wise the CLE is closer to an E-Class than the C, meaning it’s marginally larger than a BMW M4. The CLE 53 is 56mm longer, 27mm narrower and 35mm taller than the M4 and it rolls on a 2865mm wheelbase, which is 8mm longer than the BMW’s.

Weight wise, the two cars are strikingly similar. A ‘regular’ BMW M4 hits the scales at 1775kg and while AMG is yet to provide an exact kerb weight for the CLE 53, the regular car is between 1790kg-1870kg so it’s a fair bet it’ll be around 1800kg.

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The pair are also closely aligned for passenger count and boot space, with the CLE’s 420L boot only slightly down on the M4’s 440L.

Where things start to diverge is when it comes to price and philosophy. The CLE 53 isn’t due Down Under until late 2024 so an exact retail price is a long way off but it’s tipped to be close to $200,000. That’s well up on the BMW M4’s $166,500 and actually makes the M4 Competition a better price fit.

The M4 Comp xDrive is $183,600 and is also all-wheel drive and auto-only, which is also a better match for the all-wheel drive CLE 53.

But the AMG isn’t as hardcore or as focused as an M4 Comp, which is why we’ve chosen a ‘regular’ M4 for this spec battle as it feels a closer everyday performance rival. We’ll still reference the M4 Comp throughout the story, however.

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Engine and performance

The AMG CLE 53 is powered by a heavily revised version of Mercedes’ M256 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol.

Increased boost, new piston rings, an optimised combustion chamber and an improved electric turbo help to raise outputs to a meaty 330kW @ 5800rpm and 560Nm @ 2200-5800rpm. An overboost function is also available that lifts torque to 600Nm for up to 12 seconds.

AMG claims the new 3.0L has improved response and less turbo lag thanks to tweaks to its ‘twin charge’ design. There are two turbos — a convention unit spun by exhaust gas and another electric turbo driven by a compressor.

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AMG says the electric turbo now operates over a broader window and can provide instant response which allowed them to make the convention turbo even larger.

The engine is paired with AMG’s 9-speed TCT 9G automatic, which is perhaps our only point of concern given the same gearbox is surprisingly jerky in the C43. Here’s hoping things are smoother in the CLE 53.

BMW has long been the master of straight six engines and the M4’s 3.0-litre twin-turbo unit is no exception. It offers 23kW more than the AMG’s engine with 353kW on tap at 6250rpm. The BMW is down slightly on torque, with its 550Nm @ 2650-61030Nm being 10Nm less than the AMG.

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Where the M4 differs is its gearbox. BMW now only offers the ‘regular’ M4 with a six-speed manual and rear-wheel drive, meaning it’s the clear pick for drivers looking for an extra layer of tactility and chassis purity.

The M4 Competition xDrive blows the CLE 53 out of the water for engine performance. Its 3.0L six produces 375kW and 650Nm which helps to cut its 0-100km/h time to 3.5 seconds.

A regular M4 and CLE 53 will be much closer in a drag race, with both cars claiming 4.2 seconds to 100km/h providing you can shift quickly enough in the manual BMW.

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Chassis tech

If high-tech chassis hardware gets you all hot and heavy, then the AMG has the M4 licked.

Adaptable dampers, active engine mounts, four-wheel steering and a fully variable all-wheel-drive system are all available. A ‘Drift Mode’ function is also included as part of the AMG Dynamic Plus pack, meaning the CLE 53 should be able to match the M4 when it comes to lurid slides and throttle adjustability.

As standard, the CLE 53 rolls on 19-inch alloys and has a broader footprint than its donor car thanks to track widths that have grown by 58mm and 75mm front and rear.

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By comparison, the M4 is a simpler set-up. Six-cylinder engine up front, manual gearbox in the middle and rear-wheel drive is classic recipe and one that delivers tactile thrills on the road and track.

This generation of M4 has also largely traded the F82’s spiky nature for a chassis that majors on engagement and predictability. As for the manual gearbox itself? It’s good but not quite up there with the greats for shift feel or accuracy.

The M4 Competition is an altogether sharper and more engaging performance car, though. We’d wager it’s easily the pick for sheer driving thrills over the CLE 53, although the balance could swing back in the AMG’s favour once the inevitable ‘63’ arrives.

For now, though, which way would you jump? CLE 53 or BMW M4?

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