Mercedes has finally released the estate version of its tenth-generation E-Class, and to go with it, the AMG E43 4Matic variant. In typical Mercedes fashion, the new E43 Estate features a more aggressive front end with the standard AMG grille, a set of stylish wheels on the side, and a nice diffuser element with revised exhaust outlets in the rear. Inside, you’ll find a black interior with red accents, sport seats, lots of leather, and a multifunction configurable double color display that features its own AMG graphics. Under the hood, you’ll find AMG’s 3.0-liter Biturbo engine with a significant increase in horsepower and torque over the standard model, plus a nine-speed automatic transmission that feeds power to all four wheels.

Tobias Moers, the Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH, said, “In recent months we have considerably expanded our model range for performance-oriented customers with our new 43 models, creating numerous new ways of entering the world of Mercedes-AMG. The new E43 4Matic Estate adds a particularly versatile alternative for business and recreation to this portfolio.”

It's no secret that the station wagon segment has seen better days, with the current market only offering a handful of wagon or estate models to choose from. Be that as it may, brands like Audi, Subaru, and in this case, Mercedes, have all managed to continuously give a breath of life into the estate market. The announcement of the E-Class wagon was a pretty big deal, bringing yet another model to the E-Class lineup, but now that Mercedes has also announced the E43 Estate, the lineup gets even better with a new performance wagon for a pretty bland market. So, let’s take a good look at the new Mercedes-AMG E43 Wagon and how it breathes new life into the market.

Continue reading to learn more about the Mercedes-AMG E43 4Matic Estate.

2017 Mercedes-AMG E43 4Matic Estate

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2017 Mercedes-AMG E43 4Matic Estate
  • Engine/Motor: V6
  • Horsepower: 401
  • Torque: 383
  • Transmission: 9G-Tronic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Up front, the new E43 4Matic Estate features the traditional Mercedes-AMG diamond radiator grille with chromed pins, a single chrome louver, and a high-gloss black insert. Down below, there's an aggressive air dam with a single louver. At each corner, there's a wide-mouth air inlet that features two small louvers that Mercedes claims to create a “link to motorsport.” The headlights and hood carry over from the standard E-Class wagon, as do most of the features on the side profile.

The biggest changes offered on the side are high-sheen, 19-inch, AMG five-twin-spoke, light-alloy wheels, and the "BITURBO 4MATIC" emblem positioned ever so subtly on the front fenders. The window trim on the side of the E43 is black, as are the roof rails – two components that are chrome and silver, respectively, on the standard model.

Moving to the rear, the same taillight units and chrome strip that runs across the hatch carries over from the standard model. Down below, the fascia carries the same design, but the rear diffuser offers a more aggressive look in flat black. At each corner, there are revised exhaust outlets, which are also in a black finish. They are the same shape as the exhaust outlets on the standard model, but feature a vertical louver in the middle to create a dual exhaust outlet at each corner. The E43, as you probably expect, features the same weird curvature up top as the standard model, which slopes downward as you get closer to the rear.

Interior

Inside the E43 Estate, the first big thing I notice is the consistency in the trim. The interior is primarily black with red accent stitching on the steering wheel, seats, floor mats, center console, and door trims – pretty much anywhere you find a soft-touch material. There's a silver insert on the face of the dash and on each door trim panel, both of which line up perfectly to create one of the best-looking wraparound effects I've seen in recent years. As one would expect, the E43 Estate has a three-spoke, flat-bottom steering wheel with silver trim on the spokes and various wheel-mounted controls for the infotainment and driver information systems.

The front seats are a sporty design, with increased lateral support. All upholstery is done up in Artico man-made leather/Dinamica microfiber, but Nappa leather with trim strips in Dinamica microfiber is available as an option. The door trim panels and the dashboard also get the Artico treatment. To round out the interior even further, there are aluminum sports pedals with black studs, a black roof liner, and red seat belts.

The biggest news here is that massive widescreen cockpit with a high-resolution, multifunction double color display. It can be individually configured, and has its own AMG graphics. The system can be used to display a number of driving dynamic parameters, and with the AMG-specific control panel on the center console, the drive can use different keys to select the functions for manual transmission mode, the AMG ride control, and three-stage ESP.

Mercedes hasn’t released any information specific to the AMG E43 Estate’s interior cargo room or passenger room, but I suspect the same figures carry over from the standard model. I would expect no less than fold down rear seats for additional cargo room, and some kind of rear-seat infotainment system or control for rear passengers. The model goes on sale as early as September 14, 2016, so we’ll surely get more details about the interior at that time.

Drivetrain

Under the hood, the E43 Estate is graced with AMG’s 3.0-liter, Biturbo, V-6 engine, which has been tuned to deliver 401 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. This level of output is attainable thanks to the addition of new, larger turbochargers that now deliver a boost pressure of 15.95 psi, and come installed close to the engine to provide a more spontaneous response under load. Furthermore, the cylinder walls have been coated with Nanoslide technology that has undergone even further development in the F1 V-6 hybrid turbo engines from Mercedes. This coating is tough and wear resistant, offering reduced friction and higher efficiency. The engine also utilizes a spray-guided fuel injection system that can run at up to 2,900 psi. You can recognize the AMG engine under the hood thanks to the red aluminum insert on the engine cover.

All that power output from the 3.0-liter is routed through a nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission that was specifically configured for the E43 Estate. The shift times have been reduced, and the multiple downshift function allows for better performance on the fly. Furthermore, the different driving modes – Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus, and Individual – all offer their own configuration for the transmission, altering shift times, double declutching, and deactivation of different cylinders.

Once power is transferred through the nine-speed transmission, it flows through the 4Matic AWD transfer case that's flange-mounted to the 9G-Tronic. It features rear-biased torque distribution with a front/rear axle split ranging between 31 and 69 percent. The best part is that with this separate 4Matic unit, there's no compromise to passenger or cargo space inside the vehicle. The result of this configuration means the E43 can hit the 62-mph sprint in 4.7 seconds on the way to a top speed of 155 mph.

The other big news in the drivetrain department is the speed-sensitive sports steering system. It features a variable ratio, while providing precise and authentic feedback to the driver. Power steering assistance is available in both “Comfort” and “Sport” driving modes, while other modes require more manual torque to provide better feedback and control in various driving conditions. The car features perforated and ventilated disc brakes at all four wheels, with four-pot calipers up front, and single-piston calipers in the rear. All calipers feature red AMG lettering.

Prices

As of this writing, Mercedes has yet to release pricing information for the new E43 Estate. With the current E-Class sedan starting out at €45,303, or $51,462 at current exchange rates, 06/06/2016, expect the new E43 Estate to claim as much as €60,000 or $68,158.

Competition

Volvo V60 Polestar

It might seem a little odd to throw out a Volvo as a competitor against Mercedes, but the brand has made huge strides to earn itself a position in the luxury car world. When looking at the E43 4Matic, the Volvo V60 Polestar promises to offer itself as a fair competitor. It features a sporty front end with a smooth side profile and an aggressive rear end. Inside, you’ll find plenty of soft-touch materials and a fit and finish that rivals its German competitor. The V60 Polestar has a 3.0-liter, turbocharged V-6 that delivers 350 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. This may be down a little from the E43 Estate, but the V60 doesn’t fall far behind in the 62-mph sprint, hitting the benchmark in 4.9 seconds. Top speed is limited to 155 mph. Pricing for the V60 Polestar starts at $61,300, which is a bit cheaper than I expect the E43 Estate to go for, making it a pretty fair proposition given how closely the two models are matched on the performance front.

Read our full review on the Volvo V60 Polestar here.

BMW 5 Series Touring

The BMW 3 Series wagon is a bit too small to compete with the E43 Estate, but over in Europe, Bimmer has the 5 Series Touring as an exceptionally strong competitor. In current form, the 5 Series Touring is offered with a number of different engines, ranging anywhere from 140 horsepower up to 449 horsepower in the 550i touring. That said, if you want to have the AWD option that comes standard with the E43 4Matic Estate, you have to go with the 535i xDrive Touring model, which comes with 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, or the M550d with a six-cylinder diesel that delivers 381 horsepower and 545 pound-feet of torque. As of this writing, the 5 Series Touring starts at €44,000 for the entry-level 520i model, and climbs as high as €85,100 for the range-topping M55d xDrive model.

Read our full review on the BMW 5 Series Touring here.

Conclusion

Here in the U.S, wagons don’t get a lot of attention anymore, but in other parts of the world, people seem to be fairly fond of them. At one time, the station wagon was a big hit here in the U.S., but we’re just so in love with SUVs these days the models don’t stand much of a chance. There’s no telling if the new E43 Estate will make it to U.S. shores, but there are several models from manufacturers like Audi, Subaru, and BMW that are available here. Unfortunately, they don’t exactly offer the same performance, but they do offer a functional body style. Even if the new E43 Estate doesn’t cross the pond, it’s sure to rock the estate market in other parts of the world for a few years to come. The performance is on point, it has great styling, and the interior is as elegant as it is functional. We may not be big fans of wagons here in the U.S., but you can’t deny that Mercedes has done a good job with the new E-Class Estate and the Mercedes-AMG E43 Estate.