So, what are we looking at here? A traditional wagon with a twin-turbo V-8 pitted against a squished one from the House of Zuffenhausen that, besides the twin-turbo V-8, packs a hybrid system. The Porsche is over $190,000 while the Merc starts at little over $110,0000. While you might as well buy the E63S and head for your nearest Porsche dealership to buy an $81,000 718 Cayman GTS, things aren't ever that simple, right?

Porsche decided its Panamera four-door sedan could use some extra practicality and the Super Turismo wagon was born. It's sleeker than most wagons but this doesn't scare Mercedes-Benz AMG, which has been making insane family carriers for the better part of three decades.

The guys over at CarWow decided to determine whether or not that hybrid-electric system in the Panamera Sport Turismo E-Hybrid helps you or not, given that the V-8 in the Mercedes-AMG E63 S is of identical displacement.

In One Corner We Have the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo E-Hybrid

The Porsche is motivated by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, the same engine as in the turbocharged liftback sedan, making 548 horsepower at 5,750 rpm and 568 pound-feet of torque between 1,960 and 4,500 rpm. But the electric motor isn't only there to give the car a little more oomph. In fact, the E-Hybrid model can cover up to 23 miles (WLTP range) on electric power alone, traveling at speeds up to 86 mph.

Top speed is quoted at 192 mph with 0-124 mph done in just under 12 seconds (with the Sport Chrono package in place). A double-wishbone suspension takes place in the front with a multi-link setup in the rear, everything kept in check via Porsche's stability management system. The brakes are huge with 16.5-inch rotors at the front hugged by 10-piston calipers. The gearbox is the same as ever, the eight-speed PDK - with launch control that is key on the drag strip.

In the Other Corner We Have the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S

So, over to the Mercedes-Benz then. Its full name is less of a mouthful than the long-roofed Porker but it's still not the easiest to get right in one go: Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 S Wagon. Do you remember the days when cars had simple names like 'MG B', 'AC Ace', or 'Ford F-150'? Ah, well, we've still got the F-150 at least...

A 'handcrafted' 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8 is also what you'll find under the hood of the Mercedes but, since there's no electric wizardry here, you'll have to make do with just 603 horsepower at 5,750 rpm. Keep in mind, however, that this is about 50 ponies more than what the Panamera Turbo's ICE can do. All that power reaches all four wheels through Mercedes' nine-speed Speedshift MCT transmission with its very own launch control feature. Max torque is rated at 462 pound-feet and it's available from just 2,500 rpm all the way to 4,500 rpm.

While the E63 S weighs about 500 pounds less than the Porsche, the electric punch does become apparent, especially with the Sport Chrono package installed. But the result of the drag races (from a standing start and a rolling start) may surprise you, and we think it's the weight of the E63 S that plays a key role in the outcome as the Porsche is, after all, as heavy as two Porsche 356Bs and lots of spare parts. But, for all of you eco-minded folks out there, keep in mind that the Porsche averages some 70 mpg versus around 20 mpg for the Mercedes-Benz.

Hybrid system or no hybrid system - this is the question

Looking at these two large, four-door, mid-size luxury wagons running with an extra dose of caffeine flowing through their veins, we can't help but think how spoiled we are when it comes to fast cars. There are just so many of them out there and so fast. A Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo will get from naught to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds with the Sport Chrono package installed (barely 0.2 seconds are lost without it). Think about that time, 3.2 seconds. A Carrera GT needed 3.5 seconds to pull off the same feat and it is an astonishing 2,082 pounds lighter!

Moving on with the analogies, a fast wagon of the '90s, Volvo's 850R Sportswagon, went from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.3 seconds thanks to its 2.3-liter, turbocharged five-cylinder engine making 240 horsepower. Sure, the Panamera's combined output stands at a Carrera GT-slashing 677 horsepower but, still, a fast wagon from 2019 is four (4) seconds quicker than a fast wagon from 25 years ago. In a way, this in itself makes both the Panamera and the Merc (that needs 3.4 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph) winners in the performance game but we can't sign off this piece just yet because, after all, we're talking about how these cars match up against one another, not against some archaic peers.