Range Rover vs Mercedes-Benz Cle53

What's the difference?

Land Rover was making SUVs before they were even called SUVs. 

Range Rovers were ferrying families around in prestigious four-wheel drive comfort decades before Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz even thought of doing it, too. 

So, even with all its rivals these days, how well does a Range Rover do modern family duties?

Well the Range Rover Autobiography came to live with my little family of four for a week. We had the seven-seater long-wheelbase version with the twin-turbo petrol V8 engine, and this is what we discovered…  

You’re looking at what Mercedes-Benz dubs “The AMG for all occasions”, the CLE 53.

Now, in case you haven’t been paying attention, the CLE replaces both the previous C-Class and E-Class coupes, so we’re talking about a relatively practical two-door four-seater here.

So, 53? Not the full-fat 63 flagship, then (that’s coming eventually), but something that comes close to the slightly more-powerful (and a bit more expensive) Audi RS5 and BMW M4 range-topping alternatives.

Like Goldilocks’ preferred porridge, this particular flavour of coupe is meant to leave well-heeled enthusiasts not too hot or too bothered, meaning it’s been engineered to be refreshingly refined as well as rousingly rapid.

Is the AMG CLE 53 just right, then? Time to find out.