Cheaper GT 53 4-Door gets 500-mile range...

Is that enough for you to see past the obvious failings of Mercedes-AMG's Taycan rival?

By PH Staff / Thursday, 6 August 2026 / Loading comments

It’s probably fair to say that the new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door was not greeted with universal praise when it arrived back in May. ‘Controversial’ was one word that appeared near the top of the 259 comments left on the reveal story. Also ‘horrific’, ‘nasty’ and ‘vile’. And while it would be wrong, of course, to suggest that PH spoke for the entire nation, we can assume that something like the same reaction was repeated among those not glued to the forums. Easy on the eye, even by the skewed standards of automotive styling in 2026, the new EV is not.

That being the case, the launch of a more affordable, less powerful variant (the flagship GT 63 getting 1,169hp and the GT 55, 816hp) is unlikely to win over a great many doubters - but with an output of 544hp, and a price likely to directly rival the £96k Porsche charges for a Taycan 4S, this is at least the most sensible-sounding option. After all, you’re still getting a high-performance EV capable of 0-62mph in 3.9 sounds, and one said to be capable of a monster 503-mile range, were you to encounter ideal conditions.

Both facets are a direct result of the decision to ditch the tri-motor configuration of its siblings. Instead, you get just two e-motors in the GT 53 (i.e. plenty enough for AWD), with a two-speed transmission and up to 590lb ft of torque available. Most of the time, Mercedes says, you’ll be relying on the rear motor, the front acting as a ‘boost’ unit when required. Similarly, the continuous output is rated at 367hp, which ought to make the GT 4-Door feel more like a regular saloon than a rocket turned pointlessly on its side. It’ll still do 143mph.

More importantly, it still gets the 800V architecture and 106kWh direct-cooled battery as the GT 63, which accounts for the gain in WLTP-rated range and a substantial 100-mile combined advantage over the Taycan. Moreover, the GT 53 can still (theoretically) charge at 600kW, meaning it will charge its battery from 10 to 80 per cent in just 11 minutes, compared to 18 minutes in the Porsche. Perhaps more pertinently, after 10 minutes recharging at full load, the Taycan provides its owner with a maximum of 186 miles; in the GT 53, it would be 331.

Elsewhere, you get much the same level of technical sophistication - the Central Coolant Hub, the air-sprung AMG Ride Control, the active Aerokinetic system, and the choice of six AMG Dynamic Select driving modes. One obvious distance is in the sound it makes: the GT 53 retains the option of simulated gear changes, only now its simulated engine note will mimic the 3.0-litre straight six of the E 53 rather than a V8, as in the GT 63 and 55. Manual shifts are still available via the steering wheel paddles, once activated in something called AMGFORCE Sport+.

“With the new GT 4-Door, we have truly made a statement. A highly dynamic vehicle that impresses in every single aspect,” noted Mercedes-AMG chairman, Dr Stefan Weckbach. “Now, we are expanding the family with a very attractive entry-level model at an equally attractive price. It combines the commanding power of the drivetrain with the emotional sharpness that distinguishes Mercedes-AMG: precise, intense, and fascinating.” Based on its combination of lower cost for more miles, the GT 53 certainly makes a lot of sense. Assuming your mind hasn’t already been made up, that is...