Mercedes E 63 AMG review

On paper, the Mercedes-AMG E63 S is one of those cars to make you question reality, or at least the reality of how much power you actually need in a luxurious car. After all, here is a car with more grunt than some supercars. Really, we're not joking: this thing kicks out 603bhp that's backed up with 627 lb ft of shove from it's frankly bonkers 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged petrol engine. And just to add to its otherworldly aura, that's the same engine that you'll find in a supercar, because it's also used in the Mercedes-AMG GT.  

Does any five-seater really need so much welly? Well, to compete with the likes of the Audi RS6, the BMW M5 and the Porsche Panamera Turbo it does according to AMG – that’s the performance arm of Mercedes-Benz, by the way. And the fact is that all of those performance cars have similar outputs or, in some cases, even more. 

There are a few obvious design tweaks compared with the regular E-Class. The E63 is marginally wider and beefier looking, for a more aggressive persona. If you fancy using your V8 machine for the school run or trips to Centre Parcs there's even an Estate version, which manages to do everything the saloon does well – i.e., go really, really fast – with a boot full of stuff. Just make sure that 'stuff' is tied down if it's breakable, or you’ll be in trouble.

Read on over the next few pages to find out about what the E63 S is like to live with every day, and to see how the it compares with its rivals. And if, by the end of this review, you're dead set on buying one, don't forget to check out our New Car Buying deals here. It’s where you'll find great savings on nearly every new car without any haggling.