For a long time, I’ve been meaning to write a review comparing the Mercedes Amg E63 Estate, a natural rival to the Audi RS6 Avant, especially since there’s no BMW M5 Touring currently available. As someone who has owned multiple Audi RS models, including three RS6s, I can offer a perspective that isn’t biased towards any particular brand. A great car is simply a great car, regardless of the badge. However, for die-hard RS fans, be warned: the E63 AMG Estate brings some serious firepower to the table, and this review might challenge your loyalties.
This isn’t my first AMG; I previously owned an A45, which, to put it mildly, was a disappointment. It promised much but fell short in most areas, becoming something I actively disliked. I always yearned for a “proper” AMG, and the E63s Estate is undoubtedly the pinnacle. My model is a 2019 ‘s’ estate in classic black, equipped with essential options like surround-view cameras and a panoramic roof, which are often standard on these high-spec models. Don’t be fooled by listings boasting “massive spec” – many features like the panoramic roof and 360 cameras are frequently included as standard. My specific model boasts the ‘Premium Plus’ package, featuring comfort seats, a crucial head-up display, adaptive cruise control, and the night optics pack, among other features. Originally priced around £100k, I purchased it from Mercedes-Benz last year for £67k with approximately 19,300 miles on the odometer. The only modifications I’ve made are blacking out the trim and badges and retrofitting the ‘AMG Drive Unit’ buttons on the steering wheel from the 2020 model – a truly fantastic addition.
Much has been written about cars in this performance bracket – the RS6, M5, and E63s. Each is brilliant in its own right. Some require tweaking to unleash their full potential, as was the case with my A45, which needed aftermarket modifications to perform as it should have from the factory. I wanted something that was inherently savage right out of the box, requiring no aftermarket enhancements. One area where Audi has consistently lagged is exhaust sound. Even the ‘sports exhaust’ on my B9 RS5 was underwhelming, necessitating a non-resonated Milltek system. The pre-OPF (pre-2020/2021) Mercedes AMG E63s Estate, however, delivers a mighty roar, not quite as earth-shattering as older AMG models, but still incredibly potent and truly outrageous when pushed.
Let’s delve into some technical comparisons:
Audi C7 RS6 Performance:
- 597 bhp
- 553 lb ft torque
- 0-62 mph: 3.7 seconds
- 1950 kg weight
- 4979 mm length / 2086 mm width
- 75-liter fuel tank
- Boot space: 565 liters / 1680 liters (seats down)
Mercedes-Benz E63s AMG Estate W213:
- 604 bhp
- 627 lb ft torque
- 0-62 mph: 3.5 seconds
- 2070 kg weight
- 5000 mm length / 2065 mm width
- 80-liter fuel tank
- Boot space: 640 liters / 1820 liters (seats down)
The Not-So-Good Aspects of the E63s AMG Estate
Let’s address the downsides, although they are minor in the grand scheme of things:
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Aesthetic Subtlety: The looks can be a double-edged sword. From the front, the flared arches and AMG double-bar grille are undeniably aggressive. However, the rear profile closely resembles a standard E-Class, save for the quad exhaust pipes and badging. In contrast, the RS6 boasts a more overtly aggressive and distinct stance, instantly recognizable as a high-performance model. As a fellow car enthusiast aptly described my blacked-out E63s, it could easily be mistaken for a “hearse” from the rear. That being said, this understated design contributes to its “Q-car” status. Debadged and with blacked-out exhaust tips, it can be incredibly stealthy, delivering a shocking surprise to unsuspecting drivers.
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Ride Comfort: The E63s AMG Estate prioritizes performance over plush comfort compared to the RS6. While equipped with air suspension that can raise or lower the car at speeds up to 50 mph, offering some adjustability, the underlying chassis and damping are inherently firm. It’s not unbearable, but it’s certainly not a long-distance, supremely comfortable cruiser, despite what marketing materials might suggest.
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Fuel Economy: Realistically, expecting stellar fuel economy from a 600+ bhp performance wagon is wishful thinking. While it features cylinder deactivation, which seems to engage intermittently, average fuel consumption hovers around 20-24 mpg. On a long motorway journey, I managed 31 mpg, but that required conscious effort. The RS6 felt slightly more fuel-efficient in comparable driving conditions. The larger 80-liter fuel tank is a necessity given the car’s thirst.
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Infotainment Complexity: My 2019 model features the older ‘Comand’ system, which is less intuitive than the newer ‘MBUX’ system. The absence of a touchscreen means navigating Apple CarPlay via the rotary dial, which can be prone to freezing. While the screen displays are clear, the system feels overly complex. The inclusion of pre-loaded race track layouts in ‘Race’ mode seems excessive for most drivers. In terms of user-friendliness, I rank BMW’s iDrive system as the best, followed by Audi’s MMI (with its exceptional Virtual Cockpit), and then Mercedes-Benz’s Comand. The Mercedes system feels overly intricate, although this could be subjective.
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Column-Mounted Gear Selector: The gear lever stalk on the steering column is a signature Mercedes design element. While you adapt to it, selecting reverse can be somewhat unintuitive, requiring careful brake pedal application to avoid accidentally engaging neutral and unintentionally revving the engine, potentially making you look foolish.
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Heated Seat Quirks: The heated seats have an annoying tendency to switch off automatically after a certain period. Once they decide you’ve had enough warmth, they cannot be reactivated, regardless of settings. This is particularly frustrating in cold weather. There might be a buried menu setting to adjust this, but it’s a persistent annoyance.
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Busy and “Blingy” Interior: The interior design can feel somewhat cluttered and overly adorned. The head-up display, surprisingly, offers less information than the simpler system in my older BMW 5 Series. With multiple display settings to cycle through, it contributes to the overall sense of technological overload.
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Low-Speed Tire Scrub: At full steering lock during slow maneuvers, the tires emit a scrubbing sound, resembling grinding brakes. This is more pronounced in cold weather and is considered a known “quirk” with no apparent fix. It’s just an unpleasant noise, not indicative of any damage.
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Depreciation: Audi RS models tend to hold their value remarkably well. Used car prices reflect this, with older, discontinued RS6 models sometimes commanding prices comparable to younger M5 or E63s models. While the M5 and E63s are arguably superior driver’s cars, RS models demonstrably retain their value more effectively.
The Exhilarating Highs of the E63s AMG Estate
Now for the compelling reasons why the E63s AMG Estate is truly exceptional:
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Unadulterated Power: Prepare to be blown away. This car is the most ferociously powerful and aggressive vehicle I’ve ever owned. Factory power figures seem to be conservative guidelines, as many dyno tests reveal outputs exceeding advertised numbers. My own dyno run indicated at least 620 bhp and 660 lb ft of torque at the wheels, with some stock examples reportedly closer to 700 bhp. The acceleration is simply ballistic, effortlessly outclassing most other cars on the road. It’s still genuinely startling, which is a desirable trait in a performance car. Using the onboard timer, I achieved 0-62 mph in 3.39 seconds (over 167 feet) and 0-30 mph in a blistering 1.46 seconds, with a three-quarter full fuel tank. With less fuel and optimized technique, 3.1-3.2 seconds to 60 mph seems achievable. Another owner on a forum reported 0-100 mph in a staggering 6.73 seconds over 580 feet. These are figures typically associated with tuned sports cars, achieved in a completely stock, two-ton estate car. Quarter-mile times are around 11.2 seconds. Anyone who recalls the CarWow drag races featuring the C8 RS6 will remember the AMG and M cars decisively outperforming the RS – a stark reality check. The RS6 is undeniably quick, but the E63s AMG Estate operates on another level of savagery. Having owned two C7 RS6s, the AMG is unequivocally the more thrilling car. If you crave a car that grabs your attention and delivers a visceral thrill, the E63s AMG Estate is the definitive choice. The best analogy I can conjure is the scene from the movie ‘Logan’ where Wolverine injects himself with a massive dose of serum and rampages through the forest with unstoppable force – that’s the E63s in Sport+ or Race mode, complete with a soundtrack to match. It’s utterly insane. Furthermore, the engines are hand-built, each bearing an individual builder’s plaque – a touch of bespoke craftsmanship. Countless egos of drivers in other performance cars have undoubtedly been bruised after being effortlessly overtaken by this unassuming estate. The AMG Drive Unit simplifies mode switching, consolidating controls for driving modes, suspension, and exhaust, previously scattered across the center console.
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Surprising Handling Prowess: While not a grand tourer or dedicated cruiser, the E63s AMG Estate’s taut damping and sophisticated suspension enable it to handle with remarkable agility. Its handling approaches that of an M car; my previous M3 Competition was the best-handling car I’d ever owned. On twisty B-roads, the E63s allows for significantly faster and more engaging progress than an RS6. The car feels alive and communicative, moving beneath you in a way that feels almost animalistic – you feel actively involved in the driving experience, not merely a passenger, as can be the case in some other high-performance cars. It handles with a dexterity that belies its size, living up to the cliché of “handling like a smaller car.” The M5 might offer marginally sharper handling still, but it undoubtedly lacks the sheer drama and visceral excitement of the AMG. The E63s features AWD with the ability to fully decouple the front axle, transforming it into a rear-wheel-drive machine. This enables drifts and power slides, capabilities I’m unlikely to explore, but it’s reassuring to know they’re there. Frankly, no Audi RS model I’ve owned has ever matched the handling finesse of a BMW M car or the E63s AMG Estate.
You can find insightful comparisons between the C7/C8 RS models and the AMG in these videos:
https://youtu.be/MiGlJqgPE9c
https://youtu.be/m8MQTE5uOoU
https://youtu.be/PdA6dqeL7OI
Other notable highlights include the powerful brakes, adaptive LED headlights, the updated steering wheel, and the aforementioned AMG Drive Unit, which streamlines vehicle controls. The inclusion of a genuine IWC clock in the dashboard (discontinued in the 2021 model, unfortunately) is a sophisticated touch for watch enthusiasts. The 360-degree cameras provide crystal-clear, high-definition visuals.
E63s AMG Estate vs. RS6 Avant: The Verdict
In summary, the Mercedes AMG E63s Estate is an overwhelmingly impressive machine. It’s the kind of car that, within minutes of the test drive, you instinctively know you must own. This immediate connection has only happened twice for me: with this car and the M3. It’s a legendary vehicle and possibly the last of the V8-powered E63s, which is a poignant thought. The new C63s ‘E Performance’ adopts a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with electrification, boasting a staggering 680 bhp but also a substantial weight increase to over 2.1 tons, somewhat blunting performance. The use of exhaust pipe speakers is also a concerning trend. AMG’s core appeal has always been raw power and intoxicating sound, and this character is being diluted, much to the dismay of many enthusiasts. Long live the V8!
To directly compare it to the RS6:
- For long-distance comfort, combined with immense power and iconic design: Choose the RS6 Avant.
- For a deeply thrilling and exhilarating driving experience, sacrificing some long-distance comfort, but offering unparalleled driver reward: The E63s AMG Estate is the definitive choice.
Having owned the E63s for over a year, the question of “what’s next?” is proving difficult. My shortlist includes the Audi R8, AMG GT, BMW M8, and Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo, but finding a car that matches the sheer excitement of the AMG will be a significant challenge. Considering the road conditions in my area, a slightly less extreme, fast (but not outrageous) 4×4 might be a more practical next step. However, my time with the AMG has solidified its place as the best high-performance driver’s car I’ve experienced to date.
