2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Review

　　

2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Sedan Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　The 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT comes in three flavors: the coupe, the convertible and the sedan. The sedan, which we're reviewing here, occupies a middle ground between sports cars and traditional performance sedans. Mercedes refers to it as a four-door coupe, which is a confusing way to say it's a sedan with a tapering rear roofline.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 53 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$222/mo  for AMG GT 53

　　AMG GT 53

　　53 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) (Most Popular) - $99,950 MSRP63 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) - $140,250 MSRP2dr Coupe (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM) - $115,900 MSRP2dr Convertible (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM) - $127,900 MSRPC 2dr Coupe (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM) - $150,900 MSRPC 2dr Convertible (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM) - $162,400 MSRP63 S 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) - $161,200 MSRPR 2dr Coupe (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM) - $162,900 MSRPR 2dr Convertible (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM) - $189,750 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　That roofline cuts into rear-seat headroom as well as cargo capacity. But you might as well get an E-Class if it's practicality you want. No, you buy the AMG GT because it prioritizes form over function. Well, that plus its available V8 engine that cranks out a heady 630 horsepower.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the AMG GT drive? We tested the AMG GT 53. Mercedes' turbocharged inline-six engine is one of our favorites, and it feels right at home in the AMG GT sedan. Power comes on strong and linear above 3,000 rpm and is accompanied (in Sport mode) by an aggressive soundtrack of growls and pops. Our as-tested 0-60 mph sprint of 4.4 seconds is quick, but some rival supersedans are quicker.

　　Body roll is minimal, and the suspension is well controlled. The steering is precise and weighted perfectly for the car's character. Lots of grip and a sharp turn-in make the AMG GT 53 sedan feel sharp, though it can never really hide its size and mass. The AMG GT 53 sedan is capable on a winding road, but it's only rewarding up to a point.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the AMG GT? We expect a certain stiffness from an AMG-branded car, and that's apparent here. You get a ride quality that's more like a sports car's than a luxury sedan's. Still, it's not harsh, even in Sport mode. What is problematic is the excessive amount of noise when driving over bumps. In a car that's otherwise relatively quiet, even small imperfections in the road create intrusive levels of sound.

　　The front seats hold you in place in turns and support you where you need it. Overall, the balance between luxury and sport is excellent, and the seats are comfortable even after several hours behind the wheel. The seats from the optional Executive Rear Seat package are equally pleasant.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? There are a lot of buttons and redundancy in function. The overall layout is confusing to learn and distracting when you need to find something, though some shortcut buttons make life easier. Visibility also suffers because of a high dashboard, thick roof pillars, small mirrors and a small rear window.

　　Getting in and out of the front seats is easy at least, especially since the front seat is relatively high off the ground for a sporty car. Rear-seat access is poor because of the tight foot opening and sloping roofline. It's particularly hard when you're parked in a narrow space. The rear seat suffers from a lack of headroom for taller adults.

　　

Technology

6.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The infotainment is a mix of Mercedes' old and new systems. Alas, it lacks most of the strengths of both. The menus can be complicated to navigate, and the settings are oddly located. Navigation is much more rudimentary than what's offered in less expensive Mercedes cars. Voice commands are hit-or-miss, and entering addresses by voice repeatedly proved a challenge.

　　Most of the driver aids work exceptionally well. The AMG GT's adaptive cruise control follows traffic naturally and is seldom tripped up by other vehicles changing lanes. With adaptive cruise on, the lane-keeping steering assist feels organic. But when the system is off, lane departure intervention is more jarring.

　　

Storage

6.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The trunk offers a large, flat load floor and a generous opening thanks to the power hatch. There is room for overnight bags for four. But the rear bumper is high and deep, so you'll have to lift items high and lean over to access most of the space.

　　Small-item storage is a weakness. The cupholders are deeply recessed, making short drinks difficult to access. Taller beverages still block controls, and any use of the cupholder blocks the cellphone tray that's buried deep inside the console. The door pockets are wide but shallow, and the center armrest bins are only sufficient for storing cords and phones.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? At 21 mpg combined (19 city/24 highway), the AMG GT 53 sedan lags behind similar coupe-style luxury sedans with base engines. On our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation route, our test car posted 20 mpg. However, our overall average in our time with the car fell below 18 mpg. This is a difficult vehicle to drive conservatively, and starting off with lower fuel efficiency relative to competitors doesn't help matters.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the AMG GT a good value? The AMG GT sedan's interior materials are impeccable. Nearly every surface is covered in premium trim. However, the overall impression feels a bit out-of-date because of a profusion of buttons; it's not the most modern-looking interior. Then there's the older infotainment tech, slightly lower performance and slightly claustrophobic rear seating. You can find a competitor that does almost everything better.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　The engine might be the AMG GT 53's strongest suite, but the exact same engine can be had on the more affordable Mercedes E-Class and CLS. It's hard to find anything that the AMG GT sedan does better than competitors. It walks the line between luxury and sport well, but ask for more of each and you might be left wondering what exactly you paid so much money for.

　　

Which AMG GT does zzdcar recommend?

For the full AMG experience, we suggest the midrange AMG GT 63. With a powerful V8 engine under the hood and other mechanical upgrades, it has the thrills and theater expected from Mercedes' performance arm.

　　

2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT models

Despite its contradictory name, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Four-Door Coupe is a sedan with seating for four. It is available in three trim levels: AMG GT 53, AMG GT 63 and AMG GT 63 S.

　　AMG GT 53

　　Standard feature highlights for the entry-level model includes:

　　A 429-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine Mercedes' high-performance 4Matic+ all-wheel drive Adaptive sport suspension Power rear hatch Heated front seats MB-Tex simulated leather upholstery Apple CarPlay Wireless charging pad 12.3-inch central display with navigation Burmester surround-sound system Automated parking system Advanced safety features Frontal collision mitigation Automatic high beams Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert AMG GT 63

　　The midgrade model steps up performance and luxury with:

　　A 577-hp turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine Performance exhaust system Upgraded brakes Adaptive air-ride sport suspension Rear-wheel steering Heated and ventilated front seats Leather upholsteryAMG GT 63 S

　　The top-dog GT gets you all of the above, plus:

　　A 630-hp turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine Selectable rear-wheel-drive Drift modeNotable bundled options include:

　　The Executive Rear Seat package Split-folding rear seats Heated and cooled rear cupholders Tri-zone automatic climate control Rear wireless changing pad Household power outlet Rear USB ports Rear touchscreen display The Driver Assistance package Traffic-adaptive cruise control Automatic evasive steering assist Frontal cross-traffic collision mitigation Traffic sign reader Enhanced lane keeping assist Standalone option highlights include:

　　Surround-view camera system Multicontour front seats with massage functions Power rear-window sunshade Soft-close doors Heated steering wheel Head-up display Premium Burmester audio upgrade

　　

2020 AMG GT Highlights

Type: SedanCoupeConvertibleSedan

　　Trim: 536363 S53

　　

Base MSRP	$99,950
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$222/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles