I remember two distinct experiences while driving the last-gen Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. The first was a 2010 model year vehicle with rear-wheel drive. It was a hoot.
A bit too much play in the steering, a bit too soft and an assload of power. It wasn't a track car but it certainly made for an excellent and comfortable cruiser.
Fast forward to the all-whee drive, refreshed E63 S. When I drove it around the Bay Area I found it downright annoying with its harsh suspension tuning, too heavy to get out of its own way feeling and pulling to the right when I'd throttle it. What went wrong?
To me, it's clear that the best-in-breed brand right now is Mercedes. The company's products are firing on all cylinders with great designs, amazing execution on its interiors and, frankly, remarkable driving dynamics/experiences.
So, can the E63 S continue the hot streak? See Autocar's first impressions below.
Should I buy one?
The dynamic experience suggests you ought to be interested in one, if you’re in the market for a car like the E 63 S, which means you might also consider an Audi RS6, Porsche Panamera Turbo or BMW M5.
What about some prosaic and more relevant E 63 points though? The interior feels lovely, as it does in regular E-Classes. There’s a digital instrument pack, and although one or two of the dials look a bit too much like a dartboard for my taste, there’s no denying you can put a shedload of information up there. Then there’s the massive central screen, which displays one of the best infotainment systems on the market, and the front seats, which are exceptionally supportive yet very comfortable. Plus it’s big in the back seats and in the boot...
...And that, let’s face it, is how you’ll drive it most of the time. A large executive saloon that’s marginally less refined than a big diesel executive saloon but still one that’ll cosset and nurture and ease your troubles away with a gentle woofle at the end of a long day. And sometimes, just sometimes, it’s a 603bhp supercar. More than you need, of course, but there are times when too much is just enough.
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