This 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Wagon is the rare six-figure car that in my opinion is worth the money. Rare? In fact, at the moment, I can't think of another one.
The new sculptured front end from lesser Es is here, too, and I like it a lot. To me, it gives the car a distinctive look. It's sharp.
And the car is just a mind bender. I mean, a 577-hp station wagon? Almost 600 lb-ft of torque? Come on!
Really, though, the beauty here is this is two cars in one. What do I mean? It's a terrific cruiser, able to trundle around town or cruise down the highway with near S-class refinement.
Dial in sport or sport plus mode, though, and hang on, baby! All of a sudden you're touching almost supercar performance. The twin-turbo V8 snaps and crackles beautifully as you shotgun down the road. The steering is sharp at higher speeds, the ride is fine in the conditions I encountered (no matter the mode I was in) and all-wheel drive means you could drive it all year.
These AMG wagons are all built to order. It's one of the best cars I've driven in quite a while. It's a practical ultra performance machine. Come to think of it, it might be my favorite drive of late. So is it the perfect car? That's the $114,000 question right? If not, it's damn close.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Wagon comes in at a base price of $103,295 with our tester topping off at $113,675.
DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: I'm frequently asked “what's your
favorite car?” It's an impossible question without at least specifying a
price bracket or body style -- I have favorite entry-level cars,
favorite sports sedans, favorite SUVs… even favorite crossovers
(horror!). But ask me, if I were independently wealthy, what would I
have as a daily driver, and this E63 AMG wagon would probably be my
choice.
Consider that any automobile is a compromise; the goal when car shopping is to minimize the number of compromises you have to make within your budget. We all do it -- some choose function over form, picking a dull econobox that has space and reliability. Others justify a sports car despite the fact they have kids to shoehorn in the rear seats.
The E63 really eliminates the problem of compromise, assuming you have the $114,000 price of admission. As Wes mentions, that's a ton of money, but it's not at all outrageous for a car of this caliber. I've driven far more expensive cars that didn't offer the E63 AMG wagon's level of visceral engagement. For those who have the need to “be seen,” the E63 may not attract Bentley levels of interest from the club crowd, but real car people who spot it do a triple take and offer an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
After all, what could be cooler than a big 577-hp station wagon? I'll tell you what: Nothing. And the fact you can enjoy your 590 lb-ft of torque while you're enjoying a gentle massage in the leather-and Alcantara-covered heated seats, gripping a properly fat AMG steering wheel? That the kids can fit comfortably in boosters in the back without being smashed by Daddy's seat and you can throw the dog and some suitcases in back if you need to? That a dual panoramic moonroof brightens up the Germanic interior, COMAND dials up satellite radio and navigation and AWD keeps things pointed in the right direction no matter the weather?
Unfortunately my time with the car didn't include access to any racetracks, but I have zero doubt the E63 AMG wagon would take to Michigan International Speedway or GingerMan Raceway as well as it did to Woodward Avenue. Find an open spot, press the AMG button and mat the throttle from a standing start and the effect is addictive, the V8 soundtrack screaming despite being fed through a pair of turbochargers while you're thrust back in those leather thrones. Time to rein in the fun? Stomp on the brakes and the car stops now, straight, no questions asked. The steering and handling -- suspension settings are adjustable via a console-mounted button -- match the car's character ideally.
Really, it's perfect. I defy you to find fault with this car, considering that the MSRP isn't really a defect, per se, and the fuel mileage is actually pretty impressive for the power output and AWD.
The E63 AMG wagon is an exclusive, attractive, high-performance family machine that looks insanely badass and delivers on every front.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Wagon is equipped with a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8.
SENIOR MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: Ibid to all the above.
One annoying “defect” I did find is a whacky engine stop/start ECO
feature that seemed to have zero-point-zero logic to it. I drove the car
for 30 minutes with this engaged, and it would shut down the engine at
stoplights every time, then restart as intended when you were ready to
go. The next time I fired her up, it wouldn't shut off the engine even
though the feature remained switched on. Then randomly, after numerous
red lights where the system should have come into play, it began working
again suddenly at the next red light. If I owned a car with this
feature, I'd likely leave it turned off at all times, but regardless it
should work as designed. I tried several different things here --
manually turning the function off, then back on; stopping randomly,
smoothly and abruptly; restarting the car -- and nothing seemed to do
the trick. The function apparently decides when and where it will
engage.
Other than that, the E63 AMG wagon remains one of the nastiest sleepers on the block, and that goes for almost any block this side of the Sultan of Brunei's custom-ordered lineup of God knows what. Excellent utility, power, performance -- though like any 2-ton-and-change AMG beast, it's no sports car. But as I said in my entry regarding the CLS63 AMG S-Model, in most real-road situations and encounters, it will deliver big-time other than a finicky gearbox, semi-numb steering on corner entry and, of course, all that weight. But its torque, power, traction and utility make the E63 one of the baddest creations available to well-heeled enthusiasts. Its existence alone makes me wish I fit that description.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Wagon pushes out an impressive 577 hp with 590 lb-ft of torque.
SENIOR ROAD TEST EDITOR NATALIE NEFF: I never need to drive another car, ever. I found The One.
Seriously, despite the 1,000 words already penned by Messrs. Raynal, Stoy and Morrison, enough cannot be said about this car. The power (hang on!), the ride and handling (sublime in comfort mode, seriously hardcore in sport-plus, especially given its 4,675-pound heft), the accouterments, the luxe interior, the utility; this car wants for nothing. For all you get with this package, I'd say it's more than fairly priced.
Compare that with the stripper BMW 328d xDrive sports wagon we had in the office, audaciously asking for $50K, and you quickly realize that not all prices are created equal. Where I would never for a moment entertain paying so much for that Bimmer, I would gladly fork over the six bills asked of by this big Benz, gleefully shouting “Thank you!” all the while. The experience is a singular one, constantly sought but rarely captured in a car at any price point. You actually feel special driving this car.
Consider: Every moment in that BMW was a reminder that the car lacked something. Back out of the driveway and the screen sitting atop the center stack displayed… nothing. Get turned around in an unfamiliar part of town and… pull to the side of the road to open the free mapping app on your smartphone. And then remind yourself you actually paid $500 extra to get that fancy red paint.
But this, this glorious, coddling, cosseting, bahn-burning, screaming machine. Every moment with this Benz only reminds you how lucky you are. And that feeling counts for a lot.
I could only find one downside (and granted, perhaps it's might just be my age and mommy-ness showing; this could be an upside to you). Throttle tip-in is far too abrupt. Even when I tuned the tranny setting down to comfort mode, it would still jackrabbit with the slightest provocation.
Still, not a deal breaker.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Wagon receives an EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined fuel economy.
EDITORIAL INTERN BRAD WILEY: The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG
S-Model Wagon is worth salivating over. Now, let's be honest, a
pumped-up station wagon is not the typical vehicle to write home about,
but the E63 is. Until now, I never have found a car that combines
utility, form and performance all in one. On the outside, sure, it has
the wagon bump in the rear, but it is subtle and integrates well into
the overall platform of the Benz. Coming around to the front of the
streamlined Benz, and the massive tri-star emblem, added LED lighting
accents and massive cold-air exchange inlets scream, “get the heck out
of the way!” Add in the AMG package and the days of the D-pillar
stereotypes are out the window. Forget about categorizing it with the
Buick Roadmaster or the old AMC Rebel. No faux exterior wood paneling
here. Sitting on none other than a set of 19-inch AMG 10-spoke wheels,
the exterior is not just for show.
Under the hood is a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 and it means business. No sound generator or symposium here. Just raw terror screaming and it sounds as it should with 577 hp and almost touching the 600 lb-ft mark on the torque meter. When it comes to the actual drive of the E63, it exceeds every expectation that I had for a car in the six-figure range.
Handling around town was a breeze, comfortable and predictable. The electronic adjustable drive modes allow for multiple levels of handling characteristics. But for the most part, in comfort mode the Benz maneuvered with typical Mercedes class. With a quick turn of a knob and a push of a button, the E63 was in sport plus mode and AMG was engaged. Talk about a sleeper. It's a rocket ship, but a totally controllable one. Cruising at highway speeds posed little to no effort for the high-strung V8 under the hood, and the sounds will leave you in automotive heaven.
Now the price tag might be a bit of sticker shock for some buyers. But I, like Andy, would purchase this car if I had the means to do so. And to that point some will say, “Sure if I had that kind of money, I would buy…” But in retrospect, this car is worth every penny.
The interior of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Wagon is above and beyond the stereotypical wagon.
ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: Interesting that the E63 AMG
Wagon is only available as the S-Model, while you can get the sedan as
the regular AMG and the AMG S-Model. I suppose the few people who will
consider the wagon body style for this hot rod are the ones who will
want to go all the way anyway. And since E63 AMG Wagon demand isn't as
big as the sedans, it makes sense for Mercedes to bring the more potent
model over because if they only sold the non-S-Model E63 AMG Wagon you
know the automotive media would lose their minds.
So what makes the S-Model special? For starters, the 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 gets about 1.5 pounds more boost pressure (14.5 psi total) for 577 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, which is up from 550 hp and 531 lb-ft that the engine would make in a non-S-Model. According to Mercedes, it will hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 186 mph.
There's also a limited-slip rear differential, exclusive suspension revisions with a 0.9-inch wider front track, 10-spoke titanium gray painted wheels (our test car has the optional black-painted examples) and red painted brake calipers.
All E63 AMGs are now equipped with 4Matic all-wheel drive, which is good cause it helps get the power to the ground and probably make it a better all-season vehicle with the proper tires installed for the cold months. However, there was something so cool about driving the old E63 AMG Wagon that had all the power going to just the rear-wheels.
But what a badass car this 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model Wagon is. It's sinister looking and will make you chuckle when you push the engine start button and the engine barks to life with a thunderous exhaust note. Give the right pedal a couple of jabs and the chuckles become laughs. The first expressway acceleration run with the throttle pinned brings more laughs along with amazement about what the car can do and that a company would actually build something like this.
It's not just straight line lunacy here, though. Nope, the AMG adaptive sport suspension keeps things nice and tidy around corners when you take corners and the sport plus mode is used. Steering feels good for a Mercedes with sharp turn in response, while the generously bolstered front AMG seats hold you tightly in place. As Andy mentioned, it would be interesting to see how well this would do around a road course like GingerMan Raceway. I gladly volunteer to go find out.
When you're not bombing around on your way back from the grocery store, you can punch up the suspension's comfort mode and just cruise in relative comfort on the low-profile 19-inch tires. Don't expect a Lexus ride quality, but it's relaxing enough.
With BMW not selling a 5-series wagon or Audi bringing an A6 Avant over to the U.S. anymore, it is Mercedes catering to midsize wagon lovers with the E-class wagons. That they build an AMG version of it is more reason to be thankful to them.
I guess I have to agree with a lot of my colleagues above: this would be the car for me if I could only have one car and had a lot of disposable income.
As-Tested Price: $113,675
Drivetrain: 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8; AWD, seven-speed multiclutch sequential manual
Output: 577 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 590 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
Curb Weight: 4,675 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 15/21/17 mpg
AW Observed Fuel Economy: 15.3 mpg
Options: H73 carbon fiber trim ($2,850); 997 driver assistance package including Distronic Plus with steering assist, active blind spot assist, active lane keeping assist, BAS Plus with cross-traffic assist, Pre-Safe Plus, Pre-Safe brake with pedestrian recognition ($2,800); 276 designo mystic red leather package including designo mystic red napa leather ($1,800); B14 carbon fiber engine cover ($1,500); 995 AMG parking assist package including surround view camera system ($800); P60 AMG exterior night styling ($750); 752 19-inch AMG 10-spoke wheels-black ($500)
The new sculptured front end from lesser Es is here, too, and I like it a lot. To me, it gives the car a distinctive look. It's sharp.
And the car is just a mind bender. I mean, a 577-hp station wagon? Almost 600 lb-ft of torque? Come on!
Really, though, the beauty here is this is two cars in one. What do I mean? It's a terrific cruiser, able to trundle around town or cruise down the highway with near S-class refinement.
Dial in sport or sport plus mode, though, and hang on, baby! All of a sudden you're touching almost supercar performance. The twin-turbo V8 snaps and crackles beautifully as you shotgun down the road. The steering is sharp at higher speeds, the ride is fine in the conditions I encountered (no matter the mode I was in) and all-wheel drive means you could drive it all year.
These AMG wagons are all built to order. It's one of the best cars I've driven in quite a while. It's a practical ultra performance machine. Come to think of it, it might be my favorite drive of late. So is it the perfect car? That's the $114,000 question right? If not, it's damn close.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Wagon comes in at a base price of $103,295 with our tester topping off at $113,675.
Consider that any automobile is a compromise; the goal when car shopping is to minimize the number of compromises you have to make within your budget. We all do it -- some choose function over form, picking a dull econobox that has space and reliability. Others justify a sports car despite the fact they have kids to shoehorn in the rear seats.
The E63 really eliminates the problem of compromise, assuming you have the $114,000 price of admission. As Wes mentions, that's a ton of money, but it's not at all outrageous for a car of this caliber. I've driven far more expensive cars that didn't offer the E63 AMG wagon's level of visceral engagement. For those who have the need to “be seen,” the E63 may not attract Bentley levels of interest from the club crowd, but real car people who spot it do a triple take and offer an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
After all, what could be cooler than a big 577-hp station wagon? I'll tell you what: Nothing. And the fact you can enjoy your 590 lb-ft of torque while you're enjoying a gentle massage in the leather-and Alcantara-covered heated seats, gripping a properly fat AMG steering wheel? That the kids can fit comfortably in boosters in the back without being smashed by Daddy's seat and you can throw the dog and some suitcases in back if you need to? That a dual panoramic moonroof brightens up the Germanic interior, COMAND dials up satellite radio and navigation and AWD keeps things pointed in the right direction no matter the weather?
Unfortunately my time with the car didn't include access to any racetracks, but I have zero doubt the E63 AMG wagon would take to Michigan International Speedway or GingerMan Raceway as well as it did to Woodward Avenue. Find an open spot, press the AMG button and mat the throttle from a standing start and the effect is addictive, the V8 soundtrack screaming despite being fed through a pair of turbochargers while you're thrust back in those leather thrones. Time to rein in the fun? Stomp on the brakes and the car stops now, straight, no questions asked. The steering and handling -- suspension settings are adjustable via a console-mounted button -- match the car's character ideally.
Really, it's perfect. I defy you to find fault with this car, considering that the MSRP isn't really a defect, per se, and the fuel mileage is actually pretty impressive for the power output and AWD.
The E63 AMG wagon is an exclusive, attractive, high-performance family machine that looks insanely badass and delivers on every front.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Wagon is equipped with a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8.
Other than that, the E63 AMG wagon remains one of the nastiest sleepers on the block, and that goes for almost any block this side of the Sultan of Brunei's custom-ordered lineup of God knows what. Excellent utility, power, performance -- though like any 2-ton-and-change AMG beast, it's no sports car. But as I said in my entry regarding the CLS63 AMG S-Model, in most real-road situations and encounters, it will deliver big-time other than a finicky gearbox, semi-numb steering on corner entry and, of course, all that weight. But its torque, power, traction and utility make the E63 one of the baddest creations available to well-heeled enthusiasts. Its existence alone makes me wish I fit that description.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Wagon pushes out an impressive 577 hp with 590 lb-ft of torque.
Seriously, despite the 1,000 words already penned by Messrs. Raynal, Stoy and Morrison, enough cannot be said about this car. The power (hang on!), the ride and handling (sublime in comfort mode, seriously hardcore in sport-plus, especially given its 4,675-pound heft), the accouterments, the luxe interior, the utility; this car wants for nothing. For all you get with this package, I'd say it's more than fairly priced.
Compare that with the stripper BMW 328d xDrive sports wagon we had in the office, audaciously asking for $50K, and you quickly realize that not all prices are created equal. Where I would never for a moment entertain paying so much for that Bimmer, I would gladly fork over the six bills asked of by this big Benz, gleefully shouting “Thank you!” all the while. The experience is a singular one, constantly sought but rarely captured in a car at any price point. You actually feel special driving this car.
Consider: Every moment in that BMW was a reminder that the car lacked something. Back out of the driveway and the screen sitting atop the center stack displayed… nothing. Get turned around in an unfamiliar part of town and… pull to the side of the road to open the free mapping app on your smartphone. And then remind yourself you actually paid $500 extra to get that fancy red paint.
But this, this glorious, coddling, cosseting, bahn-burning, screaming machine. Every moment with this Benz only reminds you how lucky you are. And that feeling counts for a lot.
I could only find one downside (and granted, perhaps it's might just be my age and mommy-ness showing; this could be an upside to you). Throttle tip-in is far too abrupt. Even when I tuned the tranny setting down to comfort mode, it would still jackrabbit with the slightest provocation.
Still, not a deal breaker.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Wagon receives an EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined fuel economy.
Under the hood is a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 and it means business. No sound generator or symposium here. Just raw terror screaming and it sounds as it should with 577 hp and almost touching the 600 lb-ft mark on the torque meter. When it comes to the actual drive of the E63, it exceeds every expectation that I had for a car in the six-figure range.
Handling around town was a breeze, comfortable and predictable. The electronic adjustable drive modes allow for multiple levels of handling characteristics. But for the most part, in comfort mode the Benz maneuvered with typical Mercedes class. With a quick turn of a knob and a push of a button, the E63 was in sport plus mode and AMG was engaged. Talk about a sleeper. It's a rocket ship, but a totally controllable one. Cruising at highway speeds posed little to no effort for the high-strung V8 under the hood, and the sounds will leave you in automotive heaven.
Now the price tag might be a bit of sticker shock for some buyers. But I, like Andy, would purchase this car if I had the means to do so. And to that point some will say, “Sure if I had that kind of money, I would buy…” But in retrospect, this car is worth every penny.
The interior of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Wagon is above and beyond the stereotypical wagon.
So what makes the S-Model special? For starters, the 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 gets about 1.5 pounds more boost pressure (14.5 psi total) for 577 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, which is up from 550 hp and 531 lb-ft that the engine would make in a non-S-Model. According to Mercedes, it will hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 186 mph.
There's also a limited-slip rear differential, exclusive suspension revisions with a 0.9-inch wider front track, 10-spoke titanium gray painted wheels (our test car has the optional black-painted examples) and red painted brake calipers.
All E63 AMGs are now equipped with 4Matic all-wheel drive, which is good cause it helps get the power to the ground and probably make it a better all-season vehicle with the proper tires installed for the cold months. However, there was something so cool about driving the old E63 AMG Wagon that had all the power going to just the rear-wheels.
But what a badass car this 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model Wagon is. It's sinister looking and will make you chuckle when you push the engine start button and the engine barks to life with a thunderous exhaust note. Give the right pedal a couple of jabs and the chuckles become laughs. The first expressway acceleration run with the throttle pinned brings more laughs along with amazement about what the car can do and that a company would actually build something like this.
It's not just straight line lunacy here, though. Nope, the AMG adaptive sport suspension keeps things nice and tidy around corners when you take corners and the sport plus mode is used. Steering feels good for a Mercedes with sharp turn in response, while the generously bolstered front AMG seats hold you tightly in place. As Andy mentioned, it would be interesting to see how well this would do around a road course like GingerMan Raceway. I gladly volunteer to go find out.
When you're not bombing around on your way back from the grocery store, you can punch up the suspension's comfort mode and just cruise in relative comfort on the low-profile 19-inch tires. Don't expect a Lexus ride quality, but it's relaxing enough.
With BMW not selling a 5-series wagon or Audi bringing an A6 Avant over to the U.S. anymore, it is Mercedes catering to midsize wagon lovers with the E-class wagons. That they build an AMG version of it is more reason to be thankful to them.
I guess I have to agree with a lot of my colleagues above: this would be the car for me if I could only have one car and had a lot of disposable income.
2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Wagon
Base Price: $103,295As-Tested Price: $113,675
Drivetrain: 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8; AWD, seven-speed multiclutch sequential manual
Output: 577 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 590 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
Curb Weight: 4,675 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 15/21/17 mpg
AW Observed Fuel Economy: 15.3 mpg
Options: H73 carbon fiber trim ($2,850); 997 driver assistance package including Distronic Plus with steering assist, active blind spot assist, active lane keeping assist, BAS Plus with cross-traffic assist, Pre-Safe Plus, Pre-Safe brake with pedestrian recognition ($2,800); 276 designo mystic red leather package including designo mystic red napa leather ($1,800); B14 carbon fiber engine cover ($1,500); 995 AMG parking assist package including surround view camera system ($800); P60 AMG exterior night styling ($750); 752 19-inch AMG 10-spoke wheels-black ($500)
