Mercedes Benz GT53

How it looks when you see on the street: When the matte blue GT53 pulled up, we got a tingle, which is exactly how a sports car should make you feel, even if it comes with the more practical four door over two doors. The tear drop swish of the GT53 exterior was perfect to pull up in for a night out in Manhattan, proving that cars with personality prompt a dopamine response. Its shape is simple, modern, and says, please drive me.

How it makes you feel when you get in: Grey leather peppered by cheery yellow piping, offset by ashy wood made the interior feel inviting. All the modern bells and whistles such as ventlated seats, a suite of driver assistant features and wireless Apple CarPlay are included. The 12.3 touch screen has MBUX, Mercedes’s infotainment system.

How it drives: On sports cars of this ilk, numbers are relevant. GT53 produces 429 horsepower with 384 lb-ft of torque, and goes from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 4.1 seconds. That translates to boisterous performance from the 3.0 liter inline turbo-charged V6 engine. The 9-speed AMG styled transmission makes for quick responsive performance. It’s stature makes it easy to handle on public roads, and makes great use of wicked power.

Space for people and things: Trunk size in this hatchback body is substantial and there’s comfortable seating for party of four.

Best Features: The option for fragrance piped through the cabin and heated front armrests. We are all about engaging the five senses when sports car driving.

What makes it stand out: It’s built in Sindelfingen, Germany, where Mercedes is undergoing transformation into a top-tier software builder for its performance cars at every level and successfully integrated Mercedes push into the digital dash.

How much does it cost: The base prices is $102,000. Our test vehicles was a total splurge for $124,220.