Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 2021 review
Test Drive

Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 2021 review

It feels like all the Mercedes-AMG hype has been on the lower end of the scale lately.

Just recently, the flashy GLA 45 S arrived in Australia, delivering more kilowatts and Newton meters than any compact SUV.

But here we're doubling the number of cylinders to eight, arranging them in a V-shape, and lighting the fuse of AMG's powerful midsize sedan, the newly restyled E 63 S.

While the ferocious twin-turbo V8 engine and the rest of this beast's powertrain are unchanged, the car has been brought up to speed with some aerodynamically-focused styling changes, Merc's latest widescreen digital cockpit, as well as the MBUX infotainment system. tricky new multi-function sports steering wheel.

2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: E63 S 4Matic+
Safety Rating
engine's type4.0 L turbo
fuel typePremium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency12.3l / 100km
Landing5 Places
Price from$207,000

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10


So, first of all, let's deal with the price. Priced at $253,900 before road expenses, this car’s competitive set is a strong, all-German trio consisting of an Audi RS 7 Sportback ($224,000), a BMW M5 Competition ($244,900), and a Porsche Panamera GTS ($309,500) dollars).

And it's no surprise that it's packed with all the luxury features you'd expect from this part of the market. Here are the highlights.

In addition to the standard safety technology and equipment found on the E 63 S (discussed later in this review), you'll also find: Nappa leather trim (seats, upper dash, upper door cards and steering wheel), MBUX multimedia. (with touchscreen, touchpad and "Hey Mercedes" voice control), 20" alloy wheels, three-zone climate control, interior lighting, automatic LED headlights (with "Active High Beam Control Plus"), eight "activation programs comfort." (with Energising Coach), Active Multicontour front seat package, Air Balance package (including ionisation), and keyless entry and start.

It comes with 20" alloy wheels. (Image: James Cleary)

Also included is a "widescreen" digital cockpit (dual 12.25-inch digital screens), a 13-speaker Burmester audio system with digital radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, head-up display, augmented reality. satellite navigation, Parktronic automatic parking system, power front seats, front seat cooling and heating (rear heated), heated front center armrest, power adjustable steering column, automatic rain sensor wipers, wireless charger, illuminated door sills. as well as Amazon Alexa, etc., etc., etc.

And our test car showed a couple of tasty options too. An exterior carbon package ($7500) and professional-grade AMG ceramic composite brakes ($15,900) at a proven price of $277,300.

It includes a 13-speaker Burmester audio system with digital radio. (James Cleary)

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10


The E 63 S has been changed for 2021, starting with flatter headlights, AMG's signature "Panamericana" grille, and a glossy black flap at the top of the curved "Jet Wing" section that defines the lower nose.

At the same time, the vents at both ends are larger and have double cross louvres to direct cooling air to where it is needed.

It's all about what AMG calls "optimized aero balance," but the form is as attractive as the function. Characteristic "power domes" on the hood emphasize muscularity, as well as thick wheel arches (+27 mm on each side) and 20-inch wheels with characteristic aerodynamic inserts.

The optional carbon fiber exterior package for this car consists of a front splitter, side sills, flares near the fender badges, exterior mirror caps, a spoiler on the trunk lid, as well as a lower apron around a redesigned diffuser and four tailpipes.

The intricately styled new LED taillights are also flatter, but there's more going on inside.

The new AMG sports steering wheel features three round double-spokes and new paddles at the bottom to control the vehicle's dynamic settings.

The E 63 S has been updated for 2021, starting with flatter headlights and AMG's signature "Panamericana" grille. (Image: James Cleary)

It also re-imagines the small touch controllers used to set up instruments and control other functions such as phone calls, audio, and cruise control.

Not sure I'm in love with them at this stage. In fact, the words clumsy, inaccurate and frustrating come to mind.

Nappa leather covering the premium AMG sports seats, upper dash and door belts remains standard, but the highlight is the "Widescreen Cab" - two 12.25-inch digital screens for the MBUX media interface on the left and instruments on the right.

Show stopper - "Widescreen Cab" - two 12.25-inch digital screens. (Image: James Cleary)

The instrument cluster can be set to Modern Classic, Sport and Supersport displays with AMG-specific readings such as engine data, gear speed indicator, warm-up status, vehicle settings, as well as G-meter and RaceTimer.

To borrow the official term of automotive design, it looks like a chick. Overall, with touches such as open pore black ash wood trim and brushed metal accents, the interior looks efficient yet stylish, with obvious attention to detail in the layout and execution.

How practical is the interior space? 8/10


With a length of just under 5.0 m, the E-Class sits at the top of the midsize luxury car range. And almost 3.0 m of them falls on the distance between the axles, so there is plenty of space inside.

There's plenty of room for the driver and front passenger to breathe, and there's surprisingly plenty of room for those in the back, too.

Sitting in a driver's seat sized for my 183 cm (6'0") height, I had more than enough head and legroom. But back and rear access is a full-size adult struggle.

The rear doors open far, but the limiting factor is the size of the opening, requiring excessive contortion of the head and limbs in order to stow and retrieve the car.

Connectivity is via two USB-C (power only) sockets in the front center storage compartment, as well as another USB-C socket (power and media) and a 12-volt outlet in the center console.

Speaking of the front center storage compartment, it's a decent size and has a padded split lid so it can be used as an armrest. The front console has two cup holders, a roomy glove box, and long door compartments with recesses for large bottles.

Sitting in a driver's seat sized for my 183 cm (6'0") height, I had more than enough head and leg room. (Image: James Cleary)

There's a pair of USB-C along with another 12-volt outlet at the rear, located under the climate control panel with adjustable air vents at the rear of the front center console. Good.

The folding center armrest includes a lidded (and lined) storage box, as well as two pull-out cup holders. Again, there are bins in the doors with room for smaller bottles.

The trunk has a volume of 540 liters (VDA) and is able to accommodate our set of three hard suitcases (124 l, 95 l, 36 l) with extra space or a substantial Cars Guide pram, or the biggest suitcase and pram combined! There are also hooks for securing cargo.

Don't bother looking for replacement parts of any description, a repair/inflation kit is your only option. And the E 63 S is a no towing zone.

The driver and front passenger are given plenty of room to breathe. (Image: James Cleary)

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 9/10


The E 63 S is powered by the M178 version of the all-alloy 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine found in many AMG models from the C-Class onwards.

Thanks in no small part to direct injection and a pair of twin-scroll turbines (located in the engine's "hot V" to optimize throttle response), this all-metal unit delivers 450 kW (612 hp) at 5750-6500 rpm. min and 850 Nm at 2500-4500 rpm.

The E 63 S is powered by the M178 version of the all-alloy 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine found in many AMG models. (Image: James Cleary)

And in keeping with AMG's standard practice for their Vee engines, this car's powerplant was built from the ground up by a single engineer in Affalterbach. Thank you Robin Jaeger.

AMG calls the nine-speed gearbox used in the E 63 S MCT, which stands for Multi-Clutch Technology. But it's not a dual clutch, it's a regular automatic transmission that uses a wet clutch rather than a conventional torque converter to hook it up to the engine on takeoff.

Drive is sent to all four wheels via a Merc 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system based on an electro-mechanically controlled clutch that connects the permanent rear axle drive (with a locking differential) to the front axle.




How much fuel does it consume? 7/10


Claimed fuel economy for the combined (ADR 81/02 - urban, extra-urban) cycle is 12.3 l/100 km, while the E 63 S emits 280 g/km of CO2.

This is quite a large number, but it corresponds to the proportions and capabilities of this car.

And Merc-AMG has gone to great lengths to keep fuel consumption to a minimum. In addition to the standard "Eco" stop-start function, cylinder deactivation becomes active in the "Comfort" drive program, the system can deactivate four cylinders in the range from 1000 to 3250 rpm.

There is no physical hint that half of the balloons are leaving the party. The only clue is a blue icon on the dashboard indicating a temporary switch to V4 operation.

However, despite all that effort, we saw a dash-claimed 17.9L/100km combined with city driving, highway cruising and some spirited performance.

The recommended fuel is 98 octane premium unleaded gasoline (although it will work on 95 in a pinch), and you'll need 80 liters to fill the tank. This capacity corresponds to a range of 650 km according to the factory statement and 447 km using our actual result.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 10/10


The snow-white connoisseurs of the three-pointed star took to the city in the E 63 S, and the car is as good as it gets in terms of active and passive safety technologies.

It can be argued that this car's dynamic ability is its strongest factor in collision avoidance. But a wide range of features specifically designed to keep you out of trouble include AEB for forward and reverse (with pedestrian, cyclist and cross-traffic detection), traffic sign recognition, Focus Assist, Active Assist Blind Spot Assist, Active Distance Assist, Active High Beam Assist Plus, Active Lane Change Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Steering Assist. That's a lot of gear.

There is also a tire pressure monitoring system and pressure drop warning, as well as a brake bleeding function (monitors the speed of the accelerator pedal being released, moving the pads partially closer to the discs if necessary) and brake drying (when the wipers are active, the system periodically applies sufficient brake pressure to wipe water off the brake discs to optimize efficiency in wet weather).

White-cloaked three-pointed star connoisseurs head into town on the E 63 S. (Image: James Cleary)

But if an impact is imminent, the Pre-Safe Plus system is able to recognize an imminent rear-end collision and turn on the rear hazard lights (high frequency) to warn oncoming traffic. It also reliably applies the brakes when the car comes to a stop to minimize the risk of whiplash if the car is then hit from behind.

If a potential collision occurs from the side, Pre-Safe Impulse inflates the airbags in the side bolsters of the front seatback (within a fraction of a second), moving the passenger towards the center of the car, away from the impact zone. Marvelous.

In addition, there's an active hood to minimize pedestrian injury, an automatic emergency call feature, "collision emergency lighting", even a first aid kit, and reflective vests for all passengers.

Recall that in 2016 the current E-Class received the maximum five-star ANCAP rating.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10


All AMG models sold in Australia are covered by a five-year, unlimited-mileage Mercedes-Benz warranty, including 24-hour roadside assistance and accident assistance throughout the duration.

The recommended service interval is 12 months or 20,000 km, with a 4300-year (prepaid) plan priced at $950 for an overall savings of $XNUMX compared to a XNUMX-year pay-as-you-go plan. program.

And if you're willing to shell out a little more, there's a four-year service for $6300 and five years for $7050.

What is it like to drive? 9/10


AMG's main goal in updating the E 63 S was to keep its dynamic response and ferocious performance, but add the extra comfort that customers said they wanted.

As such, the 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system has been refined for a smoother ride, as has the Comfort option in the dynamic setting. But we will check it soon.

First, that 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 in the nose is claimed to get this roughly 2.0-tonne sedan to 0 km/h in just 100 seconds, and it seems to be just as fast.

With 850Nm available in the 2500-4500rpm range and nine gear ratios to help you work in that Goldilocks range, mid-range pull is monumental. And thanks to the bimodal sports exhaust, it sounds beautifully brutal.

Thanks to the bimodal sports exhaust, it sounds beautiful and brutal. (Image: James Cleary)

The nine-speed car's wet clutch, unlike a conventional torque converter, is designed to save weight and optimize response. And while some will tell you that a car with a single input shaft will never be as fast as a dual-clutch one, the shifts are quick and direct. The gearshift paddles are also larger and lower.

The AMG Ride Control+ suspension with multi-chamber air suspension and adaptive damping is surprisingly good. The setup is multi-link front and rear, and despite riding big 20-inch rims wrapped in low-profile Pirelli P Zero high-performance tires (265/35 fr - 295/30 rr), the Comfort setting is incredibly...comfortable.

Activate Sport or Sport+ mode and the car is instantly stiffer, but much less pliable and forgiving. An impression enhanced by shifting the engine, transmission and steering into a more closed mode at the same time.

Standard dynamic engine mounts play a big role here. The ability to make a soft connection for maximum comfort, but switch to a hard connection if necessary.

The 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system has been tweaked for a smoother ride, as has the Comfort option in the dynamic setting. (Image: James Cleary)

But no matter what mode you're in, the car dampens well and feels perfectly balanced in fast corners. And the variable ratio electromechanical steering of the E 63 S is progressive, comfortable and precise.

The 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system is based on an electromechanically controlled clutch that alternately connects the permanently driven rear axle (with locking differential) to the front axle.

Torque distribution is imperceptible, the big V8 aggressively cuts power, and various electronic systems tie up the loose ends as you aim for the next corner.

 Even a 100 percent RWD Drift mode is available in the Race settings, but this time without a race track at our disposal, we'll have to wait until next time.

The optional ceramic brakes feature huge rotors and six-piston front calipers, and their stopping power is huge. And the good news is that they run quickly but progressively at regular city speeds. No warm-up is required to bring them to the optimal temperature zone (as is the case with other ceramic sets).

Verdict

The E 63 S perfectly fills its niche in the Australian AMG model range. More mature than four-cylinder hatchbacks and SUVs, but not as overbearing as some of its larger sedans, GTs and SUVs. And its ability to seamlessly switch between serene comfort and dynamic performance achieved the goal of this 2021 update.

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