At first look, the Mercedes CLS63 is just another big, mid ‘10’s Mercedes sedan. But three letters take this modern land yacht from meh to magnificent. Blending luxury and staggering performance, it was no surprise that the CLS63 AMG cost over $100,000 upon arrival in 2017. But now? Depreciation means you can get one for less than half that.

How much horsepower does the CLS63 AMG have?

As you’d expect from a car with the AMG distinction, the CLS63 AMG packs a whallop. By the time it ended production in 2018, the CLS63 AMG had a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 powerhouse under its rather sizable hood. That setup sent 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque through the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

That gearbox is paddle-shifted with a manual mode, though even the automatic will let you hit redline before slotting into the next gear. Plus, Race Start is the AMG’s version of launch control, taking the CLS63 AMG from zero to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds in Car and Driver instrumented testing.

How fast in the last Mercedes CLS63 AMG?

Aside from its rampaging run to 60 mph, the CLS63 AMG continues on to reach 186 miles per hour at full song. You’ll note, though, that both acceleration and power seem limited compared to this car’s staggering horsepower and torque figures.

That handicap is all thanks to weight, as this four-door sports sedan tips the scales at over 4,400 pounds. It’s far from a nimble car, as well. The V8 makes the CLS AMG a front-heavy beast, and 4MATIC all-wheel drive doesn’t help matters. Even the well-tuned AMG suspension can’t remedy all of that heft up front, and the result is heavy steering and an overall lack of front grip, even before you reach the limit.

Big car, small space

Despite a length of 195.6 inches, the Mercedes CLS63 AMG is a fairly compact car inside. Leg room up front measures 42.1 inches while in the back there are just 35 inches to work with. To put that in perspective, the new Honda Civic offers 42.3 inches of front legroom and 37.4 inches in the back. And because the CLS is a 2+2 configuration, this lengthy beast can’t even seat five.

Some of that cabin space does appear to land in the trunk, where 15.3 cubic feet of room await. However, that’s just 1.2 cubes bigger than the current VW Jetta and just half a cube larger than the aforementioned Civic. Instead, it appears a wealth of the CLS’s length belongs to the longitudinally-mounted twin-turbo V8 up front.

How much is a used CLS63 AMG?

Today, you can take home the magic of that 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 for between $45,000 and $60,000 depending on where you look. Considering that new, the CLS 63 AMG would deduct $110,000 or more from your bank account, that’s a pretty steep discount. If you’re willing to go back to the previous generation, things get even better. A 30k-mile example went for just $46,000 on Bring-a-Trailer earlier this year. If you’re willing to settle for higher mileage, you can dip below $30,000 for a V8-powered AMG Mercedes.

Are there any problems with buying a used AMG CLS 63?

As with most high-powered European cars, the CLS63 AMG does have a few headaches, especially with higher-mileage models. Many owners report stretched timing chains and oil leaks from the cam position sensors as two common faults. Another reported issue is excessive heat from the turbos burning up the valves on cylinders one and five.

Heat management is always an issue with any turbocharged car, so some added heat shielding around the turbos is never a bad idea. Still, it might be worthwhile to check a vehicle history report to ensure the vehicle in question isn’t prone to this expensive problem.

Finally, this car was caught up in the aluminum radiator recall of 2021. Unprotected grille openings would subject the radiators to damage, including coolant leaks and overheating.

The ultimate luxury at nearly 200 mph

While it’s no track weapon, there’s no doubting the pedigree of the Mercedes-AMG CLS63. Its smooth ride and potent powerplant make it an enjoyable highway cruiser. Considering it’s about half the price today as it was new, it offers a big bang for your buck as a used luxury sports car.