At first glance, the 2021 Mercedes AMG E 63 S Wagon might look like your ordinary, run-of-the-mill station wagon. But look closer, and you’ll notice a few things that stand out, like its hunkered-down stance, those 20-inch forged wheels, the quad-exhaust tips out back (that emit a menacing note when you fire up the car), and tons of carbon fiber. Yes, this isn’t any ordinary wagon, not by a long shot.
2021 Mercedes AMG E 63 S Wagon: Don’t be Fooled
Beneath this “responsible” exterior lies a supercar in sheep’s clothing, with a twin-turbo 4.0L V8 engine under the hood that pumps out an incredible 603 hp and 627 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a fast-shifting AMG-tuned 9-speed automatic transmission. And thanks to the AMG 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system, it has no trouble putting down all of that power. Talk about the ultimate sleeper, right?
The idea of a station wagon that can rocket from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds and can top out at 180 mph (electronically limited) might seem absolutely ludicrous, and you’re not wrong. Nobody really needs a station wagon that delivers supercar performance. But it’s no different than super SUVs like the Lamborghini Urus, Range Rover Sport SVR, or Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, which all deliver similar performance numbers. But this super wagon is way more engaging to drive!
When you’re ripping around town behind the wheel of the 2021 Mercedes AMG E 63 S Wagon, it’s easy to forget that you’re driving a wagon unless you look in the rearview mirror, as it drives like a proper supercar. You’re low to the ground and it delivers breakneck acceleration, lightning-quick shifts, and handling like you wouldn’t believe. Plus, those carbon ceramic brakes stop on a dime. Not to mention that intoxicating exhaust note.
But unlike your traditional Ferrari, Lamborghini, or McLaren supercar, which only has seating for you and a passenger, the Mercedes AMG E 63 S Wagon has room for the whole family! This stealthy beast can smoke a Dodge Challenger Hellcat from a red light, take the kids to soccer practice (where you’ll be the envy of every dad), and even has enough room in the trunk for 20+ bags of mulch from Home Depot. It simply does it all.
After spending a week with the E 63 S Wagon, I can’t understand why station wagons went the way of the dinosaur when SUVs came around (except for niche cars like the Subaru Outback and Volvo V60/V90), as they offer the best of both worlds, delivering that car-like driving experience, with the cargo space of an SUV. And they get better gas mileage to boot … you know, unless you’re driving a 600 hp wagon like this, in which case good gas mileage goes right out the window.
The 2021 AMG E 63 S Wagon Gets a Facelift
While the current-generation E 63 S Wagon first arrived in 2018, it received extensive updates for 2021. Up front, there’s a completely restyled front fascia, with vertical slats and a larger central star, along with flatter, LED multibeam headlamps, aggressive flared wheel arches, and a rounded-fit hood with twin power domes. The reshaped front bumper in a jet-wing design with three large, functional air intakes and a front splitter not only enhances the overall proportions but also significantly reduces lift at the front axle.
Moving back to the rear, the two new, flatter tail lights are immediately eye-catching, now extending into the trunk lid, where they are visually linked with a trim strip in high-gloss chrome on top. The spoiler lip on the liftgate of the wagon is painted in the color of the vehicle or can be had in carbon fiber with the optional AMG Carbon-Fiber Package II.
The reshaped rear bumper emphasizes the broad width of the wagon and provides improved aerodynamics as well. The lower part of the bumper is high-gloss black with a silver trim strip running along the entire width of the car, taking up the contour of the reshaped twin-tailpipe trims. (This trim strip is available in high-gloss black with the AMG Night Package or in carbon fiber with AMG Exterior Carbon-Fiber Package I.)
The rounded 3.5-inch trapezoidal twin tailpipes have a titanium matte finish with fluting on the inside and outside. The rear section is rounded off by a high-gloss black diffuser with two longitudinal fins.
Interior Design That Combines Luxury, Tech, and Sportiness
At first glance, you can see there’s a lot going on in the cabin of the E 63 S Wagon, with a nice mixture of luxury, technology, and sportiness. Exclusive Nappa Leather with contrasting stitching covers the seats and dash, while trim pieces are wood or optional carbon fiber.
The flat-bottom AMG performance steering wheel feels great in your hands, with a combination of leather and Dinamica microfiber in the center where you want maximum grip. And the active front seats are amazing, with not only an extensive massage feature but also dynamic side bolsters that inflate in the corners/curves to support your body.
The real star of the show here is the MBUX infotainment system, which can be accessed via a touchpad, touchscreen, thumbpads on the steering wheel, or through a virtual assistant. The instrument cluster and multimedia displays are made up of two 12.3-inch screens, with three gauge cluster displays to choose from (Modern Classic, Sport, and Supersport). The Supersport mode is particularly cool, with a central, round rev counter and horizontal displays on the left and right of the rev counter, creating the spatial impression of depth.
While the MBUX system offers a ton of features, it’s not exactly the easiest thing to navigate, with some features requiring you to drill down through multiple screens to get to the desired feature. In addition, the new steering wheel has a pair of sensors to operate the instrument cluster (on the left) and media display (on the right), and it’s a poor design that leaves a lot to be desired, making something as simple as switching radio stations an exercise in frustration. Physical buttons or knobs would make much more sense. Like they say, keep it simple, stupid.
Sneaky Supercar Performance That Others Won’t See Coming
As I said, the 2021 Mercedes AMG E 63 S Wagon is the ultimate sleeper, thanks in part to the AMG 4.0L V8 biturbo engine under the hood, which puts out 603 hp and 627 lb.-ft. of torque. Coupled with the quick-shifting AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9-speed transmission and 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system, the car just pulls like a freight train, reaching triple digits in the blink of an eye. Needless to say, if you’re not careful, that lead foot of yours could land you in the slammer.
For improved traction and driving dynamics, Mercedes AMG E 63 S models are equipped with an electronically regulated rear-axle limited-slip differential. This reduces the slip on the inside wheel when cornering, without any control intervention in the braking system, allowing the driver to accelerate out of bends earlier and with more power. The car remains more stable when braking from high speeds, and the locking differential improves traction when accelerating.
The air suspension setup on this car is nothing short of remarkable, allowing for an absolutely pillowy ride that soaks up any highway imperfections when you want a comfortable ride. But when the roads get twisty, you can switch it from Comfort to Sport or Sport+ and the wagon takes on a whole new personality, allowing you to pull some serious G forces as you dive into corners. It seems impossible for a giant station wagon to handle so well, but Mercedes AMG has figured out a way to defy the laws of physics.
Complimenting the handling dynamics of the car are 20-inch Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires (265/35R-20 in front and 295/30R-20 at the rear), which should ensure maximum grip in conjunction with everything else. Sadly, our tester was still riding on winter tires even though it had warmed up, so we couldn’t really push the car to its limits in that respect. But Michelin PS4S tires are the gold standard in performance, so I have no doubt that they would help the car stick to the road even better than it already was.
Incredibly, the 2021 Mercedes AMG E 63 S Wagon has a Drift Mode feature, should you want to turn those expensive PS4S tires into clouds of rubbery smoke. When Drift Mode is activated, the E 63 S Wagon becomes a purely rear-wheel-drive vehicle. Since our tester was still on winter tires, I couldn’t really “test” this feature, but, damn, it sounds like fun!
Lastly, a car this brutally fast and this large needs to have some heavy-duty brakes up for the task of matching all the horsepower. And that’s exactly what Mercedes AMG has delivered, with the E 63 S Wagon equipped with the optional AMG Carbon Ceramic brake system, massive brake discs measuring 15.8 x 1.5 inches on the front axle, and 14.2 x 1.3 inches on the rear axle. They’re not exactly cheap at $8,950, and they’re rather squeaky around town, but they stop on a dime and resist fading.
Shut Up And Take My Money … Oh Wait, It Costs How Much?
Pricing for the 2021 Mercedes AMG E 63 S Wagon starts at $112,450, and our heavily optioned tester clocked in at an eye-popping $140,460. While that might sound like a lot of money, it’s pretty much on par with the Audi RS6 Avant, and much less than the Porsche Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo, which has a starting price of $181,700.
A high-horsepower sports wagon is a niche offering for sure, but it’s something Mercedes has been offering here in the U.S. since 2005. And after spending a week with this wild ride, I can definitely see the appeal of it. It’s the perfect solution for the well-to-do family man who wants a supercar but has a wife and kids to think about. The Mercedes AMG E 63 S Wagon gives him the best of both worlds!
Price one out for yourself and schedule a test drive at MBUSA.com.
