2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 Wagon Review: Fast Lane For Five

With all of the doom and gloom relating to the present state of the station wagon within the US, there may be some excellent news. American consumers no less than have three quick wagons at their disposal in 2021 (assuming they’ll afford any of them): the Audi RS6 Avant, the Porsche Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo, and the automobile you see pictured right here – the Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon. And every certainly one of these fantastic long-roofs is excellent in its personal method.

The E63 S particularly blends German luxurious and know-how with AMG grunt, creating a large package deal that is unimaginable to disregard. And with modest updates for the 2021 mannequin yr that stretch all through the E-Class vary, there are few arguments in opposition to the 603-horsepower AMG within the seek for your subsequent quick household hauler.

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You are most likely in certainly one of two camps: Both you’re keen on the look of the E63 as a devotee of the area of interest however ferocious group of wagon fanatics otherwise you hate it, associating the time period “station wagon” with one thing your aged grandfather would possibly drive. We’re not complete wagon zealots like some, however we definitely lean towards the previous – notably on the subject of this precise automotive. Our $140,000 E63 wears a ridiculously cool Designo matte blue paint job, matte black 20-inch wheels, carbon fiber accents, a blacked-out grille, and carbon-ceramic stoppers with daring copper calipers. It is a gorgeously styled station wagon.

These AMG-specific appointments be a part of a evenly revised fascia that spans all the E-Class vary for the 2021 mannequin yr. The brand new front-end consists of up to date headlights, a sharper grille (impressed in-part by the GT coupe), and barely bigger vent openings. The brand new options are minor, however they do assist enhance the general look in comparison with final yr.

The inside of the E63 wagon is, expectedly, very acquainted and really gorgeous. It seems and seems like virtually each different Mercedes within the present lineup, which is an efficient factor. Excessive-quality Nappa leather-based and Alcantara (commonplace on this mannequin) drape the seats and steering wheel, whereas chic yellow accent stitching coats the sprint and door panels and a lovely black Dinamica headliner ($1,600) covers the roof.

Even with low-profile tires and a raucous V8, the E63 S is a chic cruiser when it must be. In Consolation mode, the quick wagon putts together with nary a care. The extremely adaptive Mercedes suspension is so well-damped on this setting that it simply shrugs off bumps and imperfections, making a cloud-like trip.

The steering is comparatively gentle on this mode, too, which makes the massive machine fairly straightforward to maneuver. And above all, the E63 is whisper quiet on the within. As with most trendy Mercedes merchandise, insulation and sound deadening on the E63 are unsurpassed – particularly with the non-compulsory Acoustic Consolation package deal. The $1,100 choice provides improved warmth and noise insulation and infrared-reflecting laminated glass.

Passenger and cargo house is one other optimistic level for the E63 wagon – there’s simply a lot room. The entrance cabin affords the motive force 37.5 inches of headroom and 41.7 inches of legroom, which is on par with the RS6 Avant’s 38.3 inches and 41.3 inches of entrance head and legroom. Passengers within the rear of the E63 wagon additionally get a stable 38.2 inches of headroom due to the raised roof, which is once more near the RS6 Avant (39.5 inches). Backside line: even taller people will probably be comfy within the second row over lengthy distances.

However for those who’re shopping for a wagon over an E63 sedan, cargo house is what you are probably after. And the E63 has loads of it; there are 35.0 cubic ft behind the second row and 64.0 cubes with that second row folded. The RS6 solely has 30.0 cubic ft behind the second row, and with the rear seats folded, it gives 59.3 cubic ft.

We have at all times had very optimistic issues to say in regards to the Mercedes-Benz MBUX infotainment system. It gives nice options like “Hey, Mercedes” voice instructions and augmented actuality navigation, and is mostly very straightforward to make use of. However Benz up to date a number of the {hardware} right here – the steering wheel controls particularly – and it is someway barely worse.

Mercedes eliminated the straightforward quantity dial, haptic suggestions buttons, and cruise management selector on the steering wheel and carried out a extra convoluted button-less setup that consists of two piano black inserts with absolutely touch-capacitive controls. As we famous in our first drive of the E53 sedan, the setup merely does not work in addition to final yr’s model did. The cruise management structure on the left aspect of the steering wheel is particularly complicated and tough to make use of; it is unclear precisely which choice does what. And issues just like the swipe directional responses aren’t well-received.

That stated, MBUX remains to be probably the most complete infotainment methods on the market. The 12.3-inch touchscreen gives clear, crisp graphics, a comparatively straightforward to make use of structure, and tons of options, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with lots of those self same choices. The addition of a drive mode selector dial on the steering wheel and a corresponding roundel on the alternative aspect for exhaust be aware, suspension, stability management, and transmission settings is a pleasant addition for 2021, as nicely.

“Blistering” seems like essentially the most acceptable phrase to explain the E63 S Wagon in a straight line; this factor will shove you and all 4 associates into their seatbacks with out hesitation. In Sport Plus and Race modes particularly, the ferocious twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 rips to 60 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds courtesy of 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet – all of that torque accessible between 2500 and 4500 rpm. And at excessive speeds, the E63 S exhibits no indicators of slowing. Energy seemingly by no means plateaus or diminishes, even nicely close to redline.

All that energy routes to every wheel through the 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system, which affords the E63 loads of grip. An AMG-tuned nine-speed computerized, in the meantime, transmission manages all of it – and exceptionally nicely. The transmission shifts with a crisp decisiveness in Sport and Race modes, however it may be a bit torpid in a number of the different lesser settings.

Do not be fooled by the E63’s size and weight (197.1 inches and 4,725 kilos, respectively), although. This wagon is a chic companion for twisty roads. The massive-bodied AMG retains completely flat even within the tightest turns because the adaptive dampers – of their stiffest setting – all however eradicate physique roll. The steering is tight and reactive, and when joined by the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer time tires (265/35R-20 entrance, 295/30R-20 rear), there’s ample suggestions from the highway to your fingertips. And there is even a drift mode, which disconnects the entrance axle and sends energy solely to the rear (nevertheless it’s not to be used on public roads).

The E63 wagon comes with issues like computerized emergency braking, car-to-car communication, energetic parking help, and a 360-degree digital camera proper out of the field. However with the Driver Help package deal (a $1,950 choice), the E63 additionally will get evasive steering help, energetic lane-keep help with lane-centering, lane-change help, adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go, and extra.

Mercedes-Benz, in our expertise, has top-of-the-line energetic security methods round, eclipsing BMW and Nissan and rivaling extra superior choices from Tesla or Cadillac. And that is nonetheless true right here within the E63 Wagon; a easy click on of the steering wheel-mounted cruise management operate and the Mercedes system does a lot of the give you the results you want.

On the freeway, fixed steering changes hold the E63 completely centered within the lane. Adaptive cruise brakes easily all the way in which all the way down to zero and even modifies the velocity setting routinely relying on native limits (for those who so select) or, utilizing GPS information, for upcoming freeway bends. And the lane-change help is our favourite function, which strikes the automotive routinely into the following lane on the flick of the indicator stalk.

The Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon’s twin-turbo V8 achieves a modest 16 miles per gallon metropolis, 23 freeway, and 18 mixed, simply two factors under our goal mixed gas financial system for the category. Contemplating there are actually solely two different automobiles on this particular phase, the E63 S sits proper in the midst of the pack. The Audi RS6 Avant achieves simply 17 mpg mixed, whereas the Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo will get a barely higher 18 mpg mixed. Naturally, premium gas is a should.

The Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon just isn’t low-cost – however neither is anything on this class. The AMG mannequin begins at $112,450 earlier than choices, making it a superb bit dearer than the Audi RS6 Avant ($109,000), barely pricier than its sedan sibling ($107,500) – for those who fancy the four-door – however nonetheless extra inexpensive than the Panamera Sport Turismo ($157,000). Our automotive prices $139,711 submit choices, and there are many them.

Simply on the visible aspect, the E63’s Design Good Blue Magno is a $3,950 further, the carbon fiber accents are $2,850, the matte black wheels are $2,000, the black Dinamica headliner is $1,600, and the darkened grille is $450. And so far as efficiency goes, the carbon-ceramic brakes are the most costly choice of the lot, asking a whopping $8,950 (and also you get them in a number of completely different colours). The Driver Help package deal is one other $1,950, and Acoustic Consolation is $1,100.