Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4Matic+ review (2021): The V8 super saloon is well and truly alive

Cars like the Mercedes-AMG E63 S form part of the automotive realm that is on the verge of extinction as ever more stringent emissions regulations force manufacturers to reduce the cylinder count and look towards electrification.  It was not always this way, of course, with the powerful AMG-badged big saloon cars being some of the seminal products in the evolution of the AMG story. Think back to products such as the W124 E-Class that received the AMG treatment back in the mid-1980s, earning the nickname ‘The Hammer’ in the process.

Many will remember the first E-Class sedan to wear the AMG badge, the W211 E55, which features a 5.4-litre supercharged V8, cementing this product as one of the first super saloons that could truly take the fight to the supercars of the period. The E55 was replaced by the heavily updated E63 in 2006 which ushered in the famous 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8.

The following W212 generation E63 features a twin-turbocharged V8 which was available in E63 and E63 S guise for the first time, a trend which continues through to the current W213 generation, where Mercedes-AMG only offer the E63 S model locally. We were fortunate to spend a few days with the super saloon from Affalterbach recently.

Styling

Keen observers will note the stylistic changes made to the E63 S and the wider E-Class range in general. Up front there is now the signature Panamericana grille, revised Led headlights and reshaped air intakes. The side profile remains similar, however, at the rear, there are reshaped taillamps, the addition of a boot lid spoiler and a new rear diffuser. The updated design, to this writer’s eyes, looks fantastic, and improves upon what we believe is one of the best-looking super-saloon cars currently on sale.

Interior and space

Mercedes-AMG has been at work inside too, where the two 12.25-inch screens form a landscape-oriented slab across the dashboard remain, however, both the infotainment system and digitised instrument cluster that inhabit the screens now feature the latest MBUX infotainment software. This means improved connectivity, the addition of the voice-activated personal assistant, the AMG Track Pace built-in application, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. The system is brilliantly intuitive and is certainly an improvement over the pre-facelift model.

There is also a new steering wheel, which ditches the Blackberry-style scrolling pads in favour of other touch-sensitive pads that looks more well-integrated but are ultimately worse than the previous iteration, particularly in an era where our hands are perpetually coated in hand sanitiser, making inputs less accurate than if there was a more traditional set of buttons.

Aside from the infotainment and steering wheel upgrades, the interior is business as usual, with lashings of leather, carbon fibre trim inserts, ambient lighting, soft-touch buttons and a general fit and finish that is commendable, even at this price level. The big AMG is practical too, offering enough rear room for three occupants and 540-litres of boot space, meaning four sets of golf clubs and the accompanying tog bags can be swallowed with ease.

Performance and driving impression

Being an AMG, performance is an important consideration, an area where the pre-facelift E63 S excelled as an absolute hooligan of a machine. The updated model gets the same 450kW and 850Nm of torque from a bi-turbo 4.0-litre V8 which is paired with the same 9-speed automatic gearbox sending power to a variable all-wheel drive system. This results in impressive claimed performance figures, with a 0-100km/h time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 300km/h

Unfortunately for the E63 S, the combination of a slightly sluggish gearbox and the fitment of the Otto Particulate Filter (OPF) as part of emissions regulations has negatively affected the product, with a less pleasing aural experience both inside and outside the cabin. Straight-line performance has also been affected, particularly when launching from a standstill, where the latest model is less impressive than the previous iteration. This sentiment is backed up by local motoring media testers, who have clocked the previous E63 S as faster in a straight line.

The new model is by no means slow, it just lacks the edge of the previous model, however, having said that, the way that the car turns and manages tight, low-speed corners is genuinely impressive from something that weighs north of 2 000kg. AMG claims that it has made the new version more civilised and better over longer journeys, which is encouraging. In practice though, the E63 S still offers a firm ride, which translates into a highly communicative experience when you are driving dynamically, but an equally tiring sensation when you are taking it easy.

Safety

The E63 S forms part of the larger Mercedes-Benz E-Class line-up which was crash tested by the Euro NCAP new car assessment programme in 2016. The E-Class achieved the maximum 5-Star rating including 95% for adult occupant safety, 90% for child occupant safety, 77% for pedestrian safety and 62% for its safety assistance systems.

Fuel economy

Mercedes-AMG claims that the E63 S will consume fuel at a rate of 11.6L/100km, however, with just three days to experience the car, we were not concerned with trying to replicate the claimed consumption figures, a sentiment that we are sure the owner of a car like this will share. Glancing at the consumption figures as we returned the car revealed 15.7 L/100km, which is to be expected in a two-ton turbocharged V8 saloon car.

Pricing

Without options, the E63 S retails for R2 436 440 which includes a 5-year/100 000km maintenance plan, making it roughly R100 000 more than the BMW M5 Competition and a hefty R366 440 more than the Audi RS6 Avant.

Verdict

In isolation, the latest E63 S is everything that the budding super saloon car owner could possibly desire in a product such as this. It is fast, packed with tech, practical, fun to drive, sounds incredible, looks brilliant and is built beautifully, however, so is the Audi RS6 Avant and the BMW M5 Competition with which it competes.

The other problem that the car faces is from its own ranks, with a mildly used version of the pre-facelift model offering better performance and a slightly more appealing package. Considering the massive price discrepancy, we would recommend finding a low-mileage version of the previous version if you are after AMG thrills.