Mercedes-Benz is known for making some of the most impressive luxury vehicles in the industry. It sets the bar for every other brand and then exceeds the very standards it established. The 2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 S is a prime example.

Though station wagons don’t get as much love as SUVs and trucks, the wagon division is picking up speed. Wagons offer many of the same features that make driving an SUV fun, but they’re also easier to climb in and out of. So what makes the Mercedes-AMG E63 S so special that MotorTrend is raving about it?

The Mercedes-AMG E63 S is designed to outperform the competition

Mercedes-AMG didn’t mess around when it came to designing the E63 S. According to MotorTrend, “The AMG is a hot-rodded version of the (no doubt) excellent E-Class Wagon.” 

Though that’s extremely impressive, Mercedes-AMG took it to the next level with a hand-assembled 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 603 hp and 627 lb-ft. It’s paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. That’s an insanely powerful engine, especially for a wagon.

All-wheel drive comes standard, as does a drift mode that turns off the power to the front axle. With all of that power, it’s necessary to have good brakes, and the E63 has them. Large carbon-ceramic rotors are 15.8 inches in the front and 14.2 inches in the rear. 

The E63 S ranges in price from $113,500 to $129,120. That’s not cheap by any means, but for those who can afford it, this Mercedes-AMG boasts serious speed.

The Mercedes-AMG E63 S’s amazing track times

Most large vehicles don’t perform well on the track. Though NASCAR has a truck division, there’s a reason why trucks and cars don’t race on the same track. That being said, even though the E63 S is no tiny wagon, it flies.

When MotorTrend tested it on the track, it roared from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.0 seconds. For reference, some of the world’s fastest cars, such as the Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye, take 3.6 seconds to reach that speed.

The Mercedes-AMG E63 S can hit a quarter-mile in 11.2 seconds at 124 mph. When it comes time to braking, it takes 104 feet to come to a complete stop. 

Why did MotorTrend call this wagon a ‘bloodthirsty animal’?

Likening vehicles to animals isn’t new in the automotive world. Take, for instance, Jaguar, the Mercury Cougar, or even the Shelby Cobra. 

It’s another thing when an esteemed publication like MotorTrend dubs a vehicle an animal. And when it’s a bloodthirsty animal? That’s sure to get heads turning.

MotorTrend calls the Mercedes-AMG E63 S “a stonking, snarling, fuming, bloodthirsty animal of a car.” The publication fervently adds, “It roars, claws out with its teeth bared in a way that few other cars do. The variety of emotions this thing elicits from its driver is staggering in magnitude. You’re terrified, wowed, impressed, shocked, and then giddy seemingly all at once.”

Considering everything the Mercedes-AMG E63 S brings to the table, it’s obvious why MotorTrend feels so strongly about it. No one could’ve expected a wagon would boast performance times like these. As crazy as it sounds, the E63 S is one of the world’s fastest cars. And it’s worth every penny.