Mercedes-Benz E53 HYBRID

How it looks from the outside: An elegant sports sedan that feels just right as a plug-in hybrid doing big, fast things. The E-Class has multiple sedan options tailored to the driver’s wants and needs. AMG is the spiciest and the car we drove. You know you’re turning heads when a car pulls aside, and the driver pumps their fists and claps. It’s a solid sports car experience that has excellent daily driving character and suits small families, too.

How it feels on the inside: The interior was chic, a balance of grey shades with black Nappa leather and ash wood trim. The infotainment system requires multiple steps to navigate. We had the 14.4-inch touchscreen but the larger MBUX system is listed as an option. Over our week and half in the car, we did not use the onboard apps including TikTok, Angry Birds, and Zoom. While fun to have, it would be hard to remember they are there.The voice system is more perceptive than ever. When we sang along as we like to do on the highway, the assistant interrupted confused by the driver’s vivacious singing.

Where we drove it: From New York City to Pennsylvania along gorgeous smooth stretches of highway overlooking mountains on to the Long Island south shore.

How it drives: The E53 hybrid is the best of both worlds, offering mindful fuel consumption and dazzling performance. In battery mode it earned 59 mpg, and 42 miles of EV range. When in gas-only mode, fuel consumption drops to only 23 mpg. The 3.0-liter inline turbo plug-in hybrid engine produced 577 horsepower and 553-pound feet of torque from – it’s a real zinger. Our test had the driver assist package for more safety tech.

Space for people and things: We stashed so much in the trunk space – sports gear, luggage, and it was the perfect size for two travel companions.

What should you compare it to BMW M5, Audi RS7, Porsche Panamera.

How much does it cost: The base price is $88,000. Our test vehicle was $108,300 and adds on AMG chrome wheels and multicontour seating package.