The E450 Outsmarts the AMG C43 — And AMG Fans Saw It Coming

By Team Dailyrevs April 19, 2025

The Mercedes E450’s inline-six delivers nearly AMG-level performance without the need for complex hybrid systems — reaching 0–100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds.
The AMG C43’s 4-cylinder hybrid struggles to justify its complexity, offering minimal performance gains over the smoother, heavier E450.
Mercedes may be planning a return to form, with new C-Class AMG models set to receive the same inline-six powertrain in different tunes — giving fans the engine they always wanted.

AMG Fans Were Right: The Mercedes E450 Proves Downsizing Was a Mistake

When Mercedes-AMG replaced its beloved V6 engines with a 4-cylinder hybrid setup in the C43 and C63, fans weren’t just disappointed — they were angry. They said the sound was gone, the character was gone, and that it all felt a little too… complicated.

Mercedes defended the change, saying it was all about performance and efficiency. But now, the new Mercedes-Benz E450 has accidentally proven what many AMG fans have been saying all along: downsizing came at the cost of soul — and maybe even speed.

Mercedes Benz E450 Image Gallery

The E450 Isn’t Even an AMG — But It’s Almost as Fast

The new E450 4MATIC is a luxury sedan, not a performance car. But it’s powered by a 3.0-liter inline-six with mild hybrid assist, producing 375 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque.

Despite being large and heavy — around 2,000 kg — the E450 can do 0–100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds. That’s incredibly close to the BMW M340i, which is lighter and built for performance. It’s also just a hair slower than the AMG C43, which uses a high-strung 4-cylinder hybrid setup and a mountain of tech.

So how is a calm, long-wheelbase executive sedan almost matching two dedicated sport sedans?

Simple: a smooth, powerful inline-six engine that doesn’t need to work hard to deliver real-world speed.

The AMG C43 Looks Great on Paper, But...

The new AMG C43 uses a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with an electric turbocharger and hybrid system, producing 402 horsepower. On paper, that’s more power than the E450. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

Even with all that power and tech, the C43 only manages a 0–60 time of 4.6 seconds — barely faster than the heavier E450.

And while the C43 might be quicker on paper, it doesn’t feel better. The engine note is thinner. The delivery is less smooth. And the hybrid complexity adds weight, cost, and less driving emotion. Fans miss the old V6 — and they’ve made that very clear.

Mercedes Benz C43-AMG Image Gallery

The BMW M340i Still Leads — But the E450 Is Close

BMW’s M340i xDrive continues to be the benchmark in this segment. Its 3.0L turbo inline-six makes 382 horsepower and also uses a mild hybrid system. It’s fast — 0–60 in around 4.1 seconds in some tests — and it feels it.

It’s lighter than the E450, sharper around corners, and more engaging overall. But what’s interesting is that the E450, despite being a luxury-focused car, isn’t far behind.

That’s where the surprise lies: Mercedes already had the perfect engine in the E450. They just didn’t put it in the right car.

BMW M340i Xdrive Image Gallery

The Missed Opportunity: Why Didn’t AMG Use the E450’s Engine?

This is where AMG fans get frustrated.

Instead of using the E450’s inline-six in the C-Class AMG models, Mercedes went with a smaller 4-cylinder hybrid setup that’s complicated and lacks soul.

Now imagine if they had just taken that smooth six-cylinder from the E450 and put it in the lighter C-Class chassis. You’d get:

Better sound
Smoother power delivery
Real AMG character
A direct rival to the M340i

But that car doesn’t exist… at least not yet.

The Good News: AMG Might Be Bringing Back the Straight-Six

Here’s where things get exciting.

According to this new report, Mercedes is now working on a new AMG C53 model. And this time, they’re going back to a turbocharged inline-six — just like the E450.

Even better: both the C43 and C63 could get the same inline-six engine, each with a different power tune. That means AMG could finally return to a real performance hierarchy, with smooth, powerful engines and proper AMG personality.

It’s everything fans have been asking for — and if it happens, it could mark a real turning point for AMG.

Final Thoughts

The Mercedes E450 just proved that performance doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, the best answer is the simple one — and in this case, that answer is a 3.0L inline-six.

By trying to out-tech everyone with the 4-cylinder C43, Mercedes lost the plot. But with signs that a new inline-six-powered AMG is coming, there’s hope that they’re ready to bring the magic back.

AMG fans weren’t just being nostalgic.
They were right.
And now, they might finally get the AMG they’ve been waiting for.