C63s E-Performance Estate: Wrong engine or wrong badge?

Back in 2015 AMG introduced for the very first time, a 4-banger in their new entry-level A45. Now, 9 years later, the four-cylinder is making its way into the C63s, SL43 and even GT43 models… We are driving the criticized C63s E-Performance in the Estate variant. Will this car live up to its badging? Let’s find out…

‘Aesthetics’ on point

As everyone is so obsessed with it these days, let’s counter one of the most likeable feautures of this all-new C63s E-Performance estate (ugh).

That being its aesthetics. It was hard before not to turn your head when seeing a C63 out on the road, and it will certainly stay that way with this W206.

An interesting fact; they do not use true alcantara anymore! They now use their own variant called ‘microcut’, which is supposed to be more ‘environmental friendly’. Haha.

The elephant in the room

The 4-Cylinder. I know. We all do. And let me cut to the chase here, I did not mind it. Here’s why;

First of all, this car still carries the aura from what the C63 used to be. The question is, does this represent it well, if you look purely at aesthetics and experience? Yes, it does. Soundwise it doesn’t even come close to the V8, of course. They have tried to compensate this with sound design inside and outside the cabin, yet it did not succeed in my opinion. But drive one. You’ll forget it weighs 2.1 tons, and you will most likely be impressed by its performance abilities. It still has the occasional exhaust ‘pops and bangs’, as well as a fairly deep exhaust note.

The M139 engine has already proven to be a capable unit in models like the Mercedes AMG A45 S where it makes 421 horsepower and 500 nm. The 2023 AMG C63 S features the same engine, but as part of a (complex) PHEV drivetrain. Its combined output is 680 horsepower and a whopping 1020 nm of torque! Those are some insane numbers. The combustion engine alone makes 476 horsepower and 545nm.

With the nine-speed, 9G-Tronic transmission, a 0 to 60 mph sprint takes a mere 3.2 seconds, on to a top speed limited to 250 km/h. The M139’s turbocharger also features an electric motor that practically eliminates turbo lag, to my experience. The rear axle features an electric motor with 204 horsepower 320 Nm, connected to a two-speed automatic! Impressive huh?

Having F1 tech means it’s not meant for long-distance cruising on electricity, but rather to discharge the batteries for when you need full power and then charge them back up (very, very) quickly. The 400-volt architecture and 6.1-kWh battery allow for only 8 miles (13 km) of electric range, which don’t really allow you to use it as a true plug-in hybrid vehicle. Because yes, you can plug it in. Yet, why would you? I was able to charge the battery up to %80 by just doing some sporty driving. That’s nuts! So basically the battery is always there to assist you when needed.

The weight distribution is said to be divided 48-52 between front and rear axle, which does make for a very planted car.

A good hybrid?

Well, as I said in the paragraph above, it functions well as a performance-hybrid, yet it doesn’t compared to a usual plug-in hybrid. I decided to pay attention to the electric range during a 1-hour drive. It drove me nuts to constantly see it going down, and back up because it regenerates like a lunatic. So, it is user-friendly for sure, as long as you don’t pay attention to what it is actually doing. Which in the end is a good thing.

2.1 tons?

That’s correct! Let’s talk handling. As previously mentioned, the car is said to have a 48-52 weight distribution between the front and rear axle. That makes it feel very planted. But how does 2.1 tons get around a corner easily and efficiently?! Well, of course thanks to the rear wheel steering, which helps a lot. But what also helps is the fact that this is a hybrid car with a smaller combustion engine. This makes it have a lighter front end, which together with the torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system makes for very crisp cornering. However, torque steer, is a real issue with this one! Floor it from a standstill and you will have difficulties with keeping the wheel straight.

Tech fest

Whenever I get into modern AMG’s, I’m always a bit overwhelmed by the amount of screens they put in the car. There’s even two small ones attached to your steering wheel! Now, once you use them it does make sense.

The driving modes are easy to find, and easy to configure. Such as individual, in which you can individualize about everything there is to your own taste. It’s what I drove in most of the time!

Now, as long as you just need to adjust driving modes, you’re good. But as soon as you touch anything else on that steering wheel, the very sensitive and not always functioning ‘Touch’ feature comes into life. And I hate it. Then, you’d think things are on the easier side on the center-display. Yet they aren’t. There’s so many different menus that I almost couldn’t even find the Apple CarPlay function, until I realised it was just hiding itself in the top left corner. That’s just as far as my experience goes, it took some getting used to!

‘Roomy’ estate?

Well, since it carries the battery on the rear-axle, they did need to sacrifice some space. Such as the lower-compartment underneath the boot’s floor cover. It does still have 360 liters of bootspace, however, you would expect a bit more from an estate. The rear seats offer plenty of comfort and such a cool view towards those bucket seats, I wouldn’t need entertainment riding passenger in one of these, that’s for sure.

A difficult summary

This is a hard one! That’s what she said… I do have to conclude that overall, this is a great performance car. And it also feels like a true AMG. Yet, as soon as you start looking at the way it’s being advertised, there’s something wrong. The badging should’ve been reconsidered on this one, I bet thet wouldn’t have had this many comments on the car either! Or… Just re-invent this chassis with a V8! As there are rumours that the needed space is there… Exctiting times ahead! I feel like this car is going to age in a similar way as the Porsche 996 did, everyone hated it, but in the end it’s so unique because it was different to all the others. Only I’m not so sure about if this C63 will keep its worth as well… Place your bets!