While the station wagon may have been a big hit in the United States long ago, today, out of all the cars sold on the U.S. market, only a handful are offered in the wagon body style. Of course, you have mainstays like the Subaru Outback, Audi A4 Allroad, and the Volvo V90 Cross Country and there are a few more obscure models like the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo and soon to be forever gone Jaguar XF Sportbrake. A few others are out there too, like the car you see here, the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Wagon – a go-fast wagon that can easily make you forget that you’re an SUV-loving American living smack dab in the middle of North America. We recently spend a week with the AMG E63 S to see if it really was a strong, sexy alternative to the many, many SUVs on the market, and you’ll be surprised what we’ve learned.

2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 603
  • Torque: 627
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Mercedes-AMG E63 S Performance

The Mercedes E-Class Wagon, being what one could consider a very small piece of a dying breed on the U.S. market, is only offered in two trim levels – the entry-level E450 All-Terrain trim with Merc’s tried-and-true 3.0-liter inline-six or the AMG E63 S, the V-8 packing range-topping trim of just about every other model Mercedes sells. The two couldn’t be further apart in terms of performance, interior appointments, or purpose for that matter, so unless you’re trying to go off-road on occasion, you definitely need to look to the E63 S.

Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon Interior Design

Considering the fact that we’re talking about not only the mid-level E-Class but the range-toping AMG-enhanced E 63 S, it should come as no surprise that this wagon’s cabin is brimming full of class, high-quality materials, and technology. Highlights include the full-leather upholstery, carbon-fiber trim, and the MBUX, dual-screen, integrated infotainment system and instrument cluster. You’ll also find AMG’s best seats with superb support for somewhat spirited driving and an overall comfortable cabin. In the wagon model, you also get Amazing cargo room that tops the competition.

Mercedds-AMG E63 S vs competition - interior dimensions

1st Row Headroom

37.5

38.3

NA

1st Row Leg Room

41.5

41.3

NA

1st Row Shoulder Room

57.8

57.8

NA

1st Row Hip Room

59

NA

NA

2nd Row Headroom

39.6

39.5

NA

2nd Row Leg Room

35.8

37.4

NA

2nd Row Shoulder Room

57.1

56.5

NA

2nd Row Hip Room

59

NA

NA


Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Wagon Exterior Design

In the front, it’s downright impossible to tell the difference between the AMG E63 S Wagon and the sedan. It features the same sporty grille and evolved (but somewhat dated) front fascia design. It’s quite aggressive for a wagon, we must admit, but one could argue that the headlights are a little too bulky for a modern vehicle. The side profile reveals just how much longer the wagon is to the sedan, but the upper body line and beltline pitch downward ot the rear to match the roof, giving the E63 S Wagon a CLS-like bended look that’s okay, but not the most attractive thing on the planet. The rear end features a lot of the sedan’s DNA, including the taillights and rear diffuser, the latter of which helps the rear end look a little sportier than your typical wagon. Is it a 600-horsepower high-performance wagon? Yes. Does it look the part? Yes. Is it Necessary? Only if you really like the wagon look.

Mercedds-AMG E63 S vs competition - exterior dimensions

Mercedds-AMG E63 S

Audi RS 6 Avant

Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo

Length

197.1

196.7

198.8

Width

75.1

76.8

76.3

Height

58

58.6

56.2

Wheelbase

115.7

115.3

116.1

Front Track

64.9

65.7

65.8

Rear Track

62.8

65

65


Mercedes AMG E63 S Wagon Pricing

Pricing for the E63 S Wagon is where things get a little dicey. With only two trim levels of the E-Class Wagon available, there’s a considerable price gap between the two. Where the E450 All-Terrain Wagon commands just $67,600, the E63 S Wagon hits the wallet for $112,450, and that’s before options, taxes, and other fees. It’s not the most expensive wagon in this niche, though. The RS6 Avant is a bit cheaper at $110,045, but the Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo commands a whopping $117,300. All compete well in terms of comfort, luxury, and performance, so making a decision will fall into the area of price point, the number of options you want, and brand loyalty. Which will you choose?

Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon Competition

Being a wagon on the U.S. market is far from easy considering the unwavering love of SUVs, but the E 63 S Wagon does have some sizable competition. The two we’ve chosen to look to are the less-powerful but just as fast Audi RS6 Avant and the Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid. How do the stack up? Well, let’s take a good look, shall we?

ids=972141,972142no_overlay=falsebefore_label=Mercedes-AMG E63after_label=Audi RS6 Avant>


ids=972143,972144no_overlay=falsebefore_label=Mercedes-AMG E63after_label=Audi RS6 Avant>


Mercedds-AMG E63 S vs Audi RS 6 Avant

Mercedds-AMG E63 S

Audi RS 6 Avant

Engine

4.0L V8 biturbo

4.0-liter V-8

Fuel

Gasoline

Gasoline

Horsepower

603 @ 5,750 – 6,500

591 HP

Torque

627 @ 2,500 – 4,500

590 lb-ft

Transmission

AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9-Speed

Eight-speed Tiptronic® automatic

Drive

AWD

AWD

Fuel Economy

16 / 23 / 19

15/22/17

Curb Weight

4,669

4,960

Fuel Capacity

21.1

19.3

0-60 MPH

3.4 seconds

3.5 seconds

Top Speed

180 mph

190 mph


Read our full review on the Audi RS6 Avant

ids=972148,972149no_overlay=falsebefore_label=Mercedes-AMG E63after_label=Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo>


ids=972150,972151no_overlay=falsebefore_label=Mercedes-AMG E63after_label=Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo>


Mercedds-AMG E63 S vs Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo

Mercedds-AMG E63 S

Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo

Engine

4.0L V8 biturbo

"2.9-liter

Fuel

Gasoline

Hybrid

Horsepower

603 @ 5,750 – 6,500

552 HP

Torque

627 @ 2,500 – 4,500

553 LB-FT

Transmission

AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9-Speed

8-speed PDK

Drive

AWD

AWD

Fuel Economy

16 / 23 / 19

21/24/23

Curb Weight

4,669

4,996

Fuel Capacity

21.1

21.1 gal

0-60 MPH

3.4 seconds

3.5

Top Speed

180 mph

182 MPH


Read our full review on the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

Final Thoughts

In a world where cars are dying and big people movers are starting to take over, a car like the AMG E63 S Wagon really sticks out in a good way. It’s pretty unique on the road, people pay attention when they see it, and with more than 600 horsepower on tap, the E63 S Wagon is a sure performer. The only downsize is the six-figure price tag, but beyond the performance, the design and luxury appointments definitely justify that if it’s within your budget. Overall, you can’t go wrong with the E63 S Wagon, and you’ll definitely standout in terms of taste – that’s for sure.

FAQ

Q: How Much Power Does the Mercedes-AMG E63 Have?

The 4.0-liter, biturbo, V-8 that powers the E63 S Wagon is good for 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. At last check, this makes it the second most powerful wagon on the market outside of the Panamera Sport Turismo Turbo S and Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport. For this comparison, however, we’re looking to the Audi RS6 Avant which features a 4.0-liter V-8 with 591 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque and the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid – a model that has a slight advantage thanks to its hybrid powertrain, but still doesn’t offer quite as much power at just 552 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque.

Q: How Fast Is The Mercedes-AMG E63 S?

The Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Wagon might be big and SUV heavy at 4,669 pounds, but it’s impressively quick, taking just 3.4 seconds to hit 60 mph. The same sprint takes the Audi RS6 Avant and Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo 3.5 seconds. Be that as it may, the E63 S will fall short in the long run, topping out at just 180 mph, 10 mph short of the RS6 Avant and 2 mph short of the Sport Turismo.

Q: How Much Does the Mercedes-AMG E63 S Weigh?

The Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Wagon tips the scales at 4,669 pounds, which also explains how it’s a little bit faster to 60 mph than the competition. The RS6 Avant, for example weighs in at 4,960 pounds while the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo comes in at 4,996 pounds. [/q]

{1{[q]Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon Fuel Economy[/q]}1}

[a]Despite having 600 horsepower on tap and tipping the scales at more than two ton, the AMG E 63 S Wagon offers decent fuel economy of 16 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway, and 19 mpg combined. In comparison the Audi RS6 Avant achieves 15 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and 17 mpg combined. The hybrid Panamera Sport Turismo, however, takes the cake with 21 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined.

Q: Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon Fuel Economy

The Mercedes-AMG E 63 S, in both sedan and wagon form, is only available with the AMG Speedshift MCT 9-speed automatic. Likewise, the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo and Audi RS6 Avant are only available with automatics, albeit eight-speed units.

Q: Does the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Have a Manual Transmission?

Behind the rear seats, the AMG E63 S Wagon gives you a generous 35 cubic-feet of cargo room. That is 5 cubic-feet more than the RS6 Avant and 20 cubic-feet more than what’s available in the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo. Lay down the rear seats and the E63 S Wagon will swallow up 64 cubic-feet worth of cargo – that’s nearly 20 cubic-feet more than the Panamera Sport Turismo and 5 cubic-feet more than the RS6 Avant.

Q: How Much Cargo Room Does the AMG E63 S Wagon Have?

The Mecedes-AMG E63 S Wagon benefits from the best cargo room you can get, but passenger room is a somewhat different story – kind of. Right of the bat, Porsche doesn’t publish interior specs for its models, so we have no basis of comparison on paper. The RS6 Avant offers up more headroom in the front, and nearly two inches of extra legroom in the rear over that of the E63 S Wagon. In general, however, the E63 S Wagon is pretty spacious, and you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference between interior space in it compared to the RS6. Check out the full specs in the table below:

Q: Does the Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon Have a Lot of Passenger Space?

Outside of interior space, you’ll find that the E63 S Wagon is just as comfortable as other cars in this niche, including the RS6 Avant and Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo. We tend to prefer AMG’s seats over Audis, but they are generally on par with one another. When you cross into six-figure pricing territory as you do with these high-performance wagons, comfort isn’t really a questions.

Q: Is The Mercedes-AMG E63 S Comfortable?

The Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon measures 197.1 inches long, 75.1 inches wide, and 58 inches tall. These figures make it taller than the RS6 Avant but more than an inch shorter Sport Turismo. It’s also not as wide as either competitor but it is taller than the Sport Turismo by nearly two inches. As far as garagability, you’re going to need a deep garage. Your typical two-car garage will definitely work in terms of width, but depth will need to be checked prior to bringing this baby home as it might be a tight fit. You can check out how the E63 S stacks up to the RS6 Avant and Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo in the table below!

Q: How Big Is the Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon?

The Audi RS6 Avant’s biggest advantage over the AMG E63 S is its price point and similar power output. The exterior design isn’t quite as aggressive as what you get with anything that wears and AMG badge and Audi is, for the most part not quite as luxurious as its other German competitors, so don’t expect the interior materials to always be as good. The interior design is quite fresh, and the cabin is comfortable, but it’s really hard to beat Merc’s MBUX infotainment system. Cargo room also falls a bit shy compared to the E 63 S, but not by much so that’s a negligible point at best.

Under the hood is where you’ll find things get interesting. The RS6 Avant is powered by a 4.0-liter V-8 that produces a cool 591 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. This give sit the ability to hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 190 mph. That makes it 0.1-second slower to 60 mph but 10 mph faster when you keep the hammer down and push it to the max. If the Avant wasn’t so heavy at 4,960 pounds (about 300 pounds heavier than the AMG), the Avant would likely be just as fast and it’s fuel efficiency would be up to par too. By the way, it manages 15 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway, and 17 mpg combined – putting it 1, 1, and 2 mpg short, respectively. Pricing for the RS6 Avant comes in at $110,050, making it about $2,400 cheaper before options, taxes, and other fees.

Q: Is the Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon Better Than the [Audi RS6 Avant->art181481]?

Sport Turismo is Porsche fancy talk for wagon,, and the Panamera Sport Turismo is, arguably, one of the most attractive on the global market. It does, however, feature, a weird blend of 911 DNA in the front, and the long hood does looking of out of place. Otherwise, it’s a very attractive car. On the inside, you’ll find a cabin that’s up to par with what you’ll get from the AMG E63 S, including one of the best infotainment systems on the market, attractive and sporty woof veneer, and very comfortable sports seats that set a standard in comfort and support. However, interior and exterior design isn’t where the Panamera Sport Turismo shines.

Under that odd 911-like hood, sits a 2.9-liter, twin-turbo, V-6 that is paired with a hybrid system. This system produces a total of 552 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, all of which is channeled through Porsche’s 8-speed PDK automatic transmission. It might fall pretty short of the E 63 in terms of horsepower and torque, but it runs pretty steady if you put the hammer down, needing just 3.5 seconds (0.1 seconds longer) to hit 60 mph. Run up to the max speed and you’ll exceed the E63 S by 2 mph to 182 mph. Pricing for the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo come sin at $117,300, making it the most expensive of the bunch and right around $5,000 more expensive than the E63 S Wagon.

Q: Is the Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon Better Than the [Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo->art188621]?