2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 Sedan

It's too bad that sedans are a dying breed because Mercedes-AMG is not-so-quietly building some of the best four-doors in the business. The 2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 S sedan is a superlative example, working especially well when you need to be conscious of size. As fun as the C-Class is, it feels a little small for an adult family. And the S-Class is huge. But the E-Class platform is small enough to be a nimble, high-performance machine, and large enough to not be overwhelmed by the 603 horsepower produced by the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 under the hood.

Newly facelifted for 2021, what you get for that is a smorgasbord of power, luxury, and handling, most of which is done for you through modern technology. The interior is a mix of a computer program and a tightly designed bank vault. The gauges are three-dimensional screens and the electronic nannies are paying attention, always. Of course, if the mood strikes, one can always turn off the all-wheel-drive system and go full hero in drift mode. The E63 isn't alone in its ability to do this, however, as the BMW M5 seemingly mirrors the AMG's performance specs and drivetrain shenanigans, although both are more hooliganish than the Audi RS7.

Mid-life facelifts tend to be subtle, but somebody forgot to give Mercedes-AMG the memo. You can tell the new model apart quite easily thanks to the newly reshaped 12-slat grille with a larger, more prominent three-pointed star, and the new A-frame lower grille. The most significant difference is found at the rear of the 4-door sedan, where it features all-new slimmer light clusters that are more closely aligned with Merc's current design language. LED lights are standard front and rear, and a new set of 20-inch twin five-spoke alloys are standard fitment. Like every other 'proper' AMG, the Mercedes E63 has squared-off quad tailpipes.

The facelifted 2021 AMG E63 is slightly smaller than its predecessor, primarily due to the redesigned front and rear. The total length is 196.2 inches, down from 196.4. Its maximum width with mirrors is 81.3 inches, while the overall height is 57.4 inches. The 115.7-inch wheelbase provides loads of interior room. Despite more compact dimensions, the curb weight is rated at 4,497 pounds, which is more than the BMW M5.

For 2021, Mercedes-AMG added Cirrus Silver, Graphite Grey, and designo Brilliant Blue to the color palette, taking the number of available hues to 12. Standard black and white are the only no-cost options, while the metallic colors retail for $720. The metallic palette now consists of Obsidian Black, Graphite Grey, Mojave Silver, Lunar Blue, Cirrus Silver, and Selenite Grey. Merc's designo colors make the car pop, especially with those new five twin-spoke alloy wheels. Cardinal Red costs $1,080, while Diamond White adds $1,515 to the price. The matte finishes of Selenite Grey and Brilliant Blue both retail for $3,950.

The available color palette allows for a lot of customization, which fits nicely with the car's split personality. You can have it in basic white with the standard alloys, in which case only its quad exhausts will attract attention. Or you can go for the Brilliant Blue and matte black alloy options, in which case it looks positively sinister.

The 2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 is only sold in S guise in the USA, which means it gets the full-fat version of one of the all-time great V8s in automotive history. It's a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. This colossal power output is a direct result of the German power war, which is essentially an ongoing phallus measuring contest that will likely only end when everything goes electric. The resulting power outputs meant that both BMW and Mercedes-AMG eventually had to let go of rear-wheel drive in favor of an all-wheel drive system. Imagine how smug Audi's engineers must have been.

In any case, it's not a standard all-wheel-drive system as we know it, and it responds differently depending on the drive mode. In Slippery, for example, it will do everything within its power to keep the car in a straight line. Race mode sends most of the power to the rear, using only the front wheels to pull in back in a straight line after some mild sideways fun. It's a very natural progression, and most of the time, the E63 S feels rear-wheel driven. There are no understeer tendencies, and you only really notice the front axle when it helps pull you out of a corner. This is AWD done right.

If you reckon you're a driving god, you can activate the drift mode, which uncouples the front axle completely, and deactivates traction and stability control. In drift mode, it doesn't take much to get the E63 S sideways with the full 627 lb-ft of torque dumped on the rear wheels. The all-wheel-drive system also makes it easier to get closer to Merc's claimed 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds and the electronically limited top speed of 186 mph. Rear-wheel-drive AMGs were notoriously tricky to launch off the line, but in this, you simply hold down the brake with your left foot and let the car build some revs, and then let go. The consistency is mind-blowing.

Mercedes-AMG's 4.0-liter hot-vee twin-turbo V8 is a masterpiece used in a wide variety of both AMG and Mercedes products. It has so many applications, and in the E63 S, its primary goals are to provide speed and noise. The engine delivers 603 hp at 5,750 rpm and 627 lb-ft of torque from 2,500 rpm in this specific tune. It's not as rev-happy as some of its naturally-aspirated predecessors, but you need only drive a car equipped with this engine once to realize that it just doesn't matter. Here it's mated to Mercedes-AMG's Speedshift MCT nine-speed automatic transmission, sending the power to the AMG Performance version of Merc's 4Matic+ AWD system.

It's a rocket, it's a lightning bolt, it's a laser beam, or any other manner of supernaturally fast force. But it's not just the power, it's the delivery. Mercedes uses a nine-speed gearbox, which means any gear is ready at any time. And in one of the more aggressive drive modes, it'll shove you back in the seats as it grabs two or three downshifts at a time. But the experience can be tailored to suit.

In addition to your traditional drive modes (Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus, Individual, and Race) the E63 S also has four AMG Dynamics modes (Basic, Advanced, Pro, and Master), overarching computer programs that adjust the differential, all-wheel drive, and other parameters. The combinations are nearly endless. In Sport, Sport Plus, and Race, all you have to do is pin the brake, then pin the throttle for perfect launches.

We like Sport Plus engine and transmission mode the best, but we tweaked it with a softer suspension for our customizable, Individual setting. That means takeoffs are immediate, but the suspension isn't too jarring.

Even in that softer suspension mode, this E63 is stiff, though. The 20-inch wheels with low-profile performance tires don't do it any favors either. But on the bright side, that double-wishbone front and multilink rear suspension, combined with the speed-sensitive steering, make this sedan feel like a much smaller car. Outputs are immediate, so much so that you'll have to get used to starting your turns later than you'd normally expect to. Between the speed and control, hitting gaps in traffic is an easy point-and-shoot affair.

If this particular segment matters to you, might we point you in the direction of the BMW 5 Series Hybrid? According to the EPA, the E63 Sedan consumes fuel at a rate of 16/23/18 mpg city/highway/combined in the US. It looks bad, but there is some good news. The BMW M5 Competition does 15/21/17 mpg, and the all-new Audi RS7 does the same combined mileage figure. So while it might not be the most frugal car on the planet, it's the most environmentally friendly super-saloon out there right now. We know we're clutching at straws here, but if you're trying to convince your significant other that the E63 S is the right car, you have to use what you got.

The E63 S should be able to get around 380 miles from its 21.1-gallon tank, but be aware, it has a thirst that's only quenched by premium gasoline.

The E63 S interior is a glorious mix of old and new. There are two distinct layers, separated by a metal strip, creating a nice cocoon effect, even in this spacious cabin. On the old-school luxury side, there's leather and wood. Not the faux kind you get in less expensive Benzes, but the real Nappa kind. The selection of wood grain trim is modern, but you can add metal mesh or carbon fiber for the full sporty effect. Both look sensational.

On the tech side, Mercedes carried over the dual 12.3-inch displays but now running MBUX software. This means you no longer have to navigate the infotainment via the annoying touchpad. You can either touch the screen directly or tell the car what you want it to do by using the phrase, "Hey, Mercedes." We have mixed feelings about the new steering wheel, however. The overall design is superb, and the layout of the buttons is ergonomic, but Mercedes could have been more restrained with the badge in the center of the wheel.

The cockpit of the E63 is surprisingly tight, with heavily bolstered seats meant to keep you in place during high-speed maneuvers. Our tester had leather and suede chairs, but buyers can opt for full leather in a few different colors. They were adjustable enough to get a snug, comfortable fit, but they might be a bit too narrow for larger buyers; we'd advise a test drive before pulling the trigger.

The cabin seats five, with a medium amount of room in the back. Legroom in the second row measures 36.2 inches, a tiny bit smaller than the BMW M5. It's the same with rear headroom at 37.6 inches, and the M5 has a little more shoulder room, too, but the differences really are minimal and most occupants won't have any gripes being shoved into the back seats.

There are four Nappa leather trim options available for your E63's interior, all at no extra cost. The selection consists of Titanium Gray/Black leather with yellow stitching, black leather with silver stitching, Macchiato Beige/Black, and Nut Brown/Black. Considering this is an AMG product, we're disappointed that red leather isn't an option, although the seatbelts can be had in silver with the all-black upholstery.

As for the trim, there are three no-cost wood options: Natural Grain Black Ash, Brown Ash, Natural Grain Grey Ash, and Natural Grain Brown Ash. The designo Black Piano Lacquer retails for $1,300. The rest of the trims are more AMG-ish. Aluminum with Carbon grain is a no-cost option but a bit on the shiny side. For the full AMG effect, go for either Metal Weave ($600) or AMG Carbon Fiber for $2,850.

The E63 S is relatively practical. It has a 13.1 cubic foot trunk, which is slightly less than the BMW M5's 14 cube trunk. Thankfully, the rear seats do fold down in a 60/40 split to create a larger cargo area. There is a way to get around this, however. Mercedes-AMG also builds a wagon version of this same car, and the only sacrifice you have to make is to be fine getting to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds instead of 3.3. The upside is a standard 35 cubic feet trunk, growing to 64 cubes with the rear seats folded flat. Also, we think the wagon looks a lot cooler.

The sedan provides adequate interior storage. There are two cupholders up front, two in the rear, and a storage space under the center armrest. The center console also has a wireless charging spot for one phone.

Mercedes-AMG offers a lot as standard, but some features are left on the options list that really should be included in a $100,000 car. The two USB chargers for the rear seats, a head-up display, and the Advanced Driver Assistance Package are just three examples.

That being said, there is enough to justify the high asking price of the 2021 AMG E63. The dual 12.3-inch displays are stunning, and the 64-color ambient lighting system is a nice touch. The E63 S is also equipped with power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, a heated armrest, heated steering wheel, hands-free access, and a push-button start, a surround-view camera system, dual-zone climate control, a power tailgate, and wireless charging.

The AMG E63 S comes standard with Mercedes' MBUX infotainment system. It consists of two 12.3-inch screens connected in the middle so as to look like a continuous piece. The instrument cluster gets three display themes called Modern Classic, Sport, and Supersport. It's the last one that features futuristic 3D graphics and is where we left it for most of our test. Plus, when paired with the head-up display, you can configure what info is displayed where.

The system uses a touchpad for the main control. It has a steep learning curve and even after a few days we were finding more features. Thankfully everything can be controlled from the touchscreen, as well as the steering wheel and voice control, saying "Hey, Mercedes" to get help. It can forecast weather, answer common questions, and some uncommon ones using descriptions from Wikipedia. The colors are vivid and everything reacts quickly, we also love the permanent, hard buttons for mode switching. Swipes, pinches, and taps work, just like your phone.

As for functionality, there's full Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, onboard navigation, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and a standard Burmester surround sound system with 13 speakers and 590 watts. Buyers can also opt for a 23-speaker system from the same supplier, totaling 1,450 watts. Lastly, Mercedes has included the option of augmented reality for navigation, using the head-up display to show driver's where to turn and which lane to be in.

The E63 S has had several recalls issued over the years, and despite only just coming to market in 2021 guise, it already has three to its name. These include a starter power cable that may short circuit, a blinking rearview camera display, and a seat position limiter that positions the occupant too close to the airbag, which can be disastrous in an accident.

Every E63 S is covered by a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty. The drivetrain is covered for the same period.

Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has crash-tested the E63 specifically, which isn't surprising given its retail price. Luckily, lesser E-Class models have been smashed up, and the news is good. The NHTSA review of the E-Class awarded it an overall rating of five stars. The 2021 E-Class received a Top Safety Pick + award from the IIHS, but this is only applicable to models built after November 2020 and with the optional front crash prevention. We have no doubts that if either agency did review the Mercedes-AMG E63 Sedan separately, it would emulate the results of the standard E-Class.

For such an expensive car, the E63 S doesn't have a lot to brag about. It comes with seven airbags including side curtain airbags and a driver's knee airbag, driver attention, and drowsiness detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, a surround-view camera, and Merc's Pre-Safe collision preparation system. There are a host of driver assistance features available from the options menu, though, including an onboard dashcam, various states of semi-autonomous cruise control, lane keeping assistance, parking assists, and evasive steering assistants, to name but a few. An extra two airbags can also be equipped for rear occupants, taking the total to nine.

When we talk about the German super-sled triumvirate, we're talking about three road trip killers from Audi, Mercedes, and BMW. The M5 and this E63 S are closely matched. The M5 comes with 600 hp, and this with 603. The M starts at $103,500 while the E63 S comes in at $107K. An Audi RS6 sedan would be the perfect comparison to these hot rods, but that moniker is currently reserved for the gorgeous Avant wagon, leaving the more expensive, less powerful RS7 to do battle with 590 hp. Ultimately, these are three high-performance competitors that all follow a very similar brief.

This fifth-gen E-Class has been around since 2017. Four years usually means the kinks have been worked out. Everything, from electronics to drive modes, worked flawlessly in our week with the vehicle and we can't recommend it enough, even over the bigger S-Class. This E 63 is big enough to carry adults in comfort but small enough to still feel nimble when shooting gaps in traffic. And nothing sounds like a Mercedes AMG at full tilt.

What you should do is skip the super sedans and get the wicked Audi RS6 Avant wagon. It has similar power but way more space. However, if you're stuck on sedans we'd start the test drives at the Mercedes dealer with this E63 S. The BMW M5 would be our next choice. It seems a little more boring because it looks more like the standard car than the Mercedes and isn't quite as vocally arousing, but it's a sharper driver's tool if that's what you're after.

There is only one model to choose from, and it has an MSRP of $107,500. This excludes Merc's destination charge of $1,050. Since there is only one model to choose from, we decided to see what the price of the E63 S Sedan looks like after you add some extras. We went for the epic matte Brilliant Blue ($3,950) and coupled it with matte black 20-inch wheels for an additional $2,000. We then added both AMG Carbon Fiber packages. We kept it relatively simple on the inside: Black Nappa leather and metal weave to add a bit of sparkle. We chose the high-end Burmester surround-sound system, head-up display, and fast-charging USB ports for the rear seats from the standalone options. Obviously, the Driver Assistance Package is a must. The total for all of this, including the destination charge, is $122,900. That's still getting away lightly, though, and fully loaded, the price of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 Sedan can reach nearly $150,000.

The 2021 Mercedes E63 is available in a single trim - S - but it's all you'll ever need. It's powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 603 hp mated to a nine-speed AMG Speedshift transmission. Power is sent to an all-wheel-drive system, but a rear-wheel-drive drift mode is standard.

Standard equipment includes 20-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lights, a performance exhaust, dual 12.3-inch digital displays, one of which is dedicated to infotainment. Thankfully, Mercedes ditched the old Comand operating system in favor of MBUX. This system is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. Additional standard fare on the inside includes wireless charging, two USB charging ports up front and two in the rear, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, a 13-speaker Burmester sound system, and a 64-color ambient lighting system.

On the styling side, there are two AMG Exterior Carbon Fiber packages to choose from. Package 1 costs $2,950, while Package 2 is less at $1,750. It essentially adds some carbon fiber exterior accents, like side mirror caps and side sills. The Exterior Lighting Package ($900) is more useful, as it includes intelligent LED lights and adaptive high-beam assist, while some buyers may like the $1,000 standalone panoramic sunroof.

On the inside, there's more to be hm such as multicontour front seats with massage functionality for $1,320, the AMG head-up display for $1,100, a 23-speaker Burmester sound system at $4,550, or augmented video navigation at $350. The Driver Assistance Package is worth a look too, costing just $1,950. This adds a total of 15 additional safety features, including adaptive cruise control, steering assist, active blind spot assist, and active brake assist with cross-traffic function, to name a few.

Lastly, those who take performance seriously might want to consider the ceramic composite braking system, which is pricy at $8,950 but will pay dividends if you see the track regularly.

If you're stuck on the E63 S, and we wouldn't blame you, there are only a few option packs to choose from. The first two are carbon fiber-related, but we'd skip these visual enhancements and add something more meaningful in the $1,950 Driver Assistance Package with all of the semi-autonomous features. The AMG head-up display is another nice-to-have, and pairs brilliantly with the augmented reality navigation.

The AMG E63 S is the top of the food chain in E-Class land, but you can get yourself another AMG for a smaller price that will be almost as fun as this brawler. It's called the E53 and instead of the handcrafted 4.0L twin-turbo V8, it comes with Mercedes' buttery smooth 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six making 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque with a little augmentation from an electric motor to sweeten the pot. It's also about $34,000 less than this E63, making it a tempting choice, and probably the value proposition we'd pick.

This is one of the oldest battles in automotive history, and it's always interesting to see how they evolve in the same way. The BMW follows the same recipe as the Mercedes: a twin-turbo V8 for power, sent to an all-wheel-drive system. Heck, BMW even offers a drift mode. In standard guise, the M5 has a little less power at just 600 hp and 553 lb-ft, but opt for the Competition Package, and 617 hp starts looking a whole lot healthier. The AMG's 627 lb-ft still trumps the M5's 553 lb-ft and is the main reason it manages to be equally fast despite weighing more.

There's very little separating these cars. The BMW has a larger trunk, but the Merc's interior is more memorable. Traditionally, the BMW M5 has always been just a tiny bit sportier, and once again, this is the case. Especially in the Competition guise, which is the S's natural rival. Historically, this meant the BMW was always in the lead, albeit by the slightest of margins. These days it is too close to call. We reckon it will come down to either brand preference or which car you prefer after driving both.

We will say this, however. Traditionally, the best car is the newest. It's no longer possible to look at this duo without considering the Audi RS7 as well.

The Mercedes-AMG E63 Sedan's $100k+ sticker price is quite shocking. That's what supercars cost not that long ago. For that reason, we'd look a little further down the range at one of AMG's new in-between models, explicitly created to fill the gap between the humdrum sedans and the absolutely insane full-on AMG products. In this case, it's the $73,900 E53.

The E53 uses a 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six with hybrid assistance to produce 429 hp. That's a massive power deficit, but you have to ask yourself if you need 600+ horsepower daily. The E53 is also more economical, boasting EPA-estimated figures of 21/28/24 mpg. The practical side of our brain is bellowing that the E53 is more than fast enough, more practical, and friendlier to the environment. But the fun side of the brain can't help but be charmed by the Gatling gun soundtrack and the stupid amount of power, plus the fact that 0 to 60 comes up a full 1.1 seconds quicker. Knowing that internal combustion is on a slow march toward death, we can't let the opportunity to own one of the great powerplants of all time pass us by. For that reason, we'd be completely illogical and get the full-fat E63 S, even if it does come at the cost of $3,000 per tenth of a second.