2018 Mercedes-AMG E63S Test Drive Review

• Published On: 19 December 2018
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The Mercedes-AMG is a practical luxury sedan with the power of a supercar.

If you’re in the market for a supercar such as the Mercedes-AMG GT R, you might have always thought to yourself, is it worth the sacrifice of luxury and comfort just to enjoy the power? Well, Mercedes has an answer. Say hello to the Mercedes-AMG E63S. A 4- door luxury sedan that has 612 HP. Well if that wasn’t enough this Mercedes can go from 0-100 km/hr in 3.4 seconds and has a top speed of 300 km/hr! This beast is based on the most popular Mercedes in India- the E Class.

Exterior - On the outside, the E63S has all the AMG accessories to help it distinguish itself from the regular E-Class. It’s a perfect balance between looking sporty and looking sophisticated. The front looks muscular with the two-slat grille and the creases on the bonnet. The rear looks mean with the quad chrome tip exhausts and the carbon-fiber lip spoiler. The jet black alloy wheels along with the matte grey finish give it a lot of presence on the road. You also get a huge sunroof. The E63S is based on the short wheelbase version of the E-Class as compared the long wheelbase version which is sold in India.

Interiors - The layout of the dashboard is similar to the regular E-Class. The dual screens for the infotainment as well as the instrument cluster look quite modern. You also get a 360-degree parking camera along with ventilated seats. The quality of the interior and all the materials are very good. There are some interesting elements such as the Burmester speakers which rise into action along with the clock at the center.

The seats are comfortable and supportive. The car is loaded with equipment and carbon fiber touches. Due to the sporty nature of the E63S, the cabin is finished in all black which may not feel as airy as the regular E-Class. The rear is not spacious as compared to the regular E-Class. Also, seating 3 people at the back may be a bit difficult due to the high transmission tunnel.

Performance - Powering this monster is the same 4.0-litre, bi-turbo, V8 motor as the one powering the flagship AMG GT R. It has 612 HP and 850 Nm of torque. Top speed is limited to 250 km/hr but you can purchase the AMG Driver’s Package to increase the top speed to 300 km/hr! There is some lag lower down but as soon as the turbos kick in this AMG can hit 0-100 km/hr in 3.4 seconds. That’s supercar territory. The rev-happy engine redlines close to 7000 RPM.

The 9-speed gearbox is very quick providing you with all the torque you need. You can also take control of the gears manually. The exhausts sound mean and throaty. You can enhance the sound of the exhaust to make it pop on downshifts with the help of a button. Mileage is around 4km/l and tank capacity is decent coming in at 66-liters. There are 4 driving modes on offer- Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Race. Race is the most insane mode allowing you to launch the car while other modes alter various components such as the engine, gearbox, suspension and the steering.

Driving Dynamics - By default, the E63S runs on all-wheel-drive mode. However, there’s a Drift mode on offer which allows you to channel all the power to the rear wheels only. The ride quality is very good. It’s stable at high speeds and is able to tackle bad roads well. It also has a lift button which lifts the nose of the car to allow it to clear tall speed breakers thanks to the air suspension. By default, you get steel disc brakes but you can also opt for carbon ceramic brakes for improved braking performance. The brakes offer impressive stopping power to stop this beast.

Safety and After Sales Service - The all-wheel-drive nature of the E63S allows it to have a very responsive traction control system. Apart from this, the E63S has a lot of safety tech such as 7 airbags, ABS, Stability Control etc. to keep you safe. These systems allow you to enjoy the power of this car while still feeling safe. The E63S also gets a 5-star safety rating from the Euro NCAP.

Verdict - While the E63S may not offer the same amount of comfort and space as the regular E-Class, its performance and dynamics are unlike any car. Its muscular looks grab a lot of attention and so does the loud exhaust note. It’s a practical 4 seater with a supercar engine, a deadly combination. The premium interior along with a 5-star rating doesn’t disappoint.