2021 Mercedes-AMG GT

The GT's lineup is gorgeous and balanced for street or track. Twin-turbo V-8 makes great power and sounds.

Home

Blog

...

2021 Mercedes-AMG GT

The GT's lineup is gorgeous and balanced for street or track. Twin-turbo V-8 makes great power and sounds.

Home

Blog

...

2021 Mercedes-AMG GT

The GT's lineup is gorgeous and balanced for street or track. Twin-turbo V-8 makes great power and sounds.

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.

With the return of the coupe model, the AMG GT lineup is one of few that offers luxurious performance-oriented two- and four-door body styles. But it's not the only one you should consider. The BMW 8 Series should also pique your interest because it's available as a large and powerful coupe, convertible and sedan called the Gran Coupe. The Porsche Panamera is another compelling option that offers a variety of powertrain choices, but if you prefer two doors, there's of course, the 911. Check back in the coming months as we learn more about what's in store for the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT.

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.

Exterior

The GT 53 was recently updated with an all-new infotainment system, though it's the same one we've seen in other Mercedes-Benz cars for the past few years. The learning curve might be a bit steep, but that's simply because there's so much that the system can do. It's relatively easy to navigate the menus using either the touchscreen or the touchpad on the center console. There are plenty of real buttons, too, for quick access to navigation or media. Some buttons on the center console are actually little screens. They look cool but totally wash out if you're wearing polarized sunglasses. The gear selector is awkwardly located too.

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.

Technical Specifications

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.

Total MSRP

$100,100

Drive Type

All wheel drive

Transmission

9-speed automatic

Fuel type

Premium unleaded

Engine

3.0 L, Inline 6

Engine Type

Hybrid

Torque

369 lb-ft @ 1,800 rpm

Horsepower

362 hp @ 5,500 rpm

The Taycan is Porsche's all-electric sedan. There are several models to choose from, the top of which provides more than 700 horsepower. Driving range also differs between models, but none surpass an EPA estimate of 300 miles. The Taycan is a sharp-handling EV and is more engaging to drive than the AMG GT sedan. It also delivers a smoother ride. But the AMG GT sedan is typically less expensive and has an easier-to-use infotainment interface.

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.