Mercedes-Benzes – especially high-end models like AMGs – are notorious for shedding value faster than you can say “lease return”. But the last AMG E63 S Wagon will likely prove to be the exception. Given its rarity, burly twin-turbo V8, and room for the whole family, this ultimate wagon has all the ingredients to reach a high depreciation floor – and perhaps even creep upward in value as the years pass.
The E63 S Wagon Is Primed For Cult Status
2018 Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon Front 3/4 ViewMercedes-Benz
Station wagons were once ubiquitous in America, but the family hauler has largely disappeared from suburban driveways. The body style first lost market share to minivans. Then the SUV boom arrived, almost leaving the wagon – and some other segments – for dead. Today, the few wagons still sold in the US largely occupy expensive luxury niches, and even those are shrinking. Longtime wagon champions such as Subaru and Volvo have exited the segment or are preparing to do so, leaving fewer choices for buyers who still appreciate a longroof.
2019 Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon Exterior Finished In WhiteMercedes-AMG
There are just five wagons currently on sale in America: the Audi RS 6 Avant, BMW M5 Touring, Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain, Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon, and Volvo V60 Cross Country. That rarity gives them an appeal to buyers who don’t want to drive the same vehicle as everyone else, while the high-performance versions make particularly good sleepers. Nobody expects what looks like a boring family hauler to move with the urgency of a sports car. As the body style continues to disappear, these high-performance versions such as the E63 S Wagon are primed for cult status.
The E63 S Wagon arrived in the US for the 2018 model year and received a mid-cycle refresh for 2021 that brought revised styling and Mercedes’ latest infotainment system at the time, while leaving the powertrain untouched. That means buyers looking for the most bang for their buck shouldn’t be afraid of the older model years. The 2023 model year was the last, as the redesigned sixth-generation E-Class arrived for 2024. That new E-Class never spawned an E63, instead offering a tamer E53 Hybrid with a plug-in-hybrid powertrain built around an inline-six. If anything, that makes the older V8-powered E63 S Wagon even more desirable.
Performance That Borders On Absurd
2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon engineMercedes-Benz
The powertrain is the centerpiece of any conventional AMG, and the E63 S Wagon’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 is one of the best. Hand-built at Mercedes-AMG’s Affalterbach headquarters in Germany, it produces 603 horsepower at 6,500 rpm, but more importantly, for real-world driving, the peak torque of 627 pound-feet is already achieved at just 2,500 rpm. This is an engine that combines direct fuel injection, twin-scroll turbochargers, and dry-sump lubrication to deliver huge thrust across the rev range. It also sounds gloriously mechanical, with a deep burble that turns into an angry roar as the revs climb.
2018-2023 Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon
Engine
Twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8
Transmission
9-speed automatic
Power
603 hp
Torque
627 lb-ft
0-60 mph
3.4 seconds
Top Speed
180 mph (limited)
MSRP
$106,950–$121,100
The engine is connected to a nine-speed automatic known as the AMG Speedshift MCT. Compared to a conventional torque converter-based setup, the transmission uses a wet multi-plate clutch to transfer power directly between the engine and transmission, allowing quicker shifts, sharper throttle response, and a more immediate connection to the wheels.
Drive is to all four wheels, via a fully variable all-wheel-drive system, and the rest of the chassis also gets some special hardware, including AMG-tuned adaptive air suspension, a limited-slip rear differential, massive brakes, and sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires. There’s even a drift mode that disconnects the front axle to help with some sideways action.
When pushed hard, the E63 S Wagon feels like a rocket-powered sled that Mercedes somehow made comfortable. AMG quotes a 0–60 mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed governed to 180 mph. Honestly, though, it feels like that acceleration figure is conservative, which is crazy when you think that this is a 4,700-lb family wagon.
Yet despite this, you can drive it like a comfortable cruiser when slotting the drive mode selector into Comfort mode. Select Sport or Sport+, though, and the beast wakes up. The refreshed 2021 version features an even comfier ride thanks to retuned suspension.
2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon interiorMercedes-Benz
Unlike many performance cars, the E63 S Wagon doesn’t ask you to sacrifice luxury or practicality for speed. It comes with the same luxuries offered in the regular E-Class, including Nappa leather trim, an IWC analog clock, heated and ventilated front seats with massage function, a Burmester audio system, and a panoramic sunroof. There’s also 35 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 64 cubic feet with them folded, giving it genuine family-hauler credentials.
How Much To Pay Today
2019 Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon Exterior Finished In WhiteMercedes-AMG
When the E63 S Wagon launched for 2018, it carried a starting price just below $107,000. By its final year, that figure had crept above $121,000, which actually looks pretty reasonable considering what Mercedes was offering. After all, that’s only a little bit more than what you’ll pay today for a top-shelf performance pickup truck.
On the used market, prices start just above $50,000, according to listings on the CarBuzz Marketplace and other popular classifieds sites. Even at this level, mileage isn’t necessarily extreme. We found a 2018 example with approximately 88,000 miles asking around $54,000.
2018 Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon Interior View Driver AreaMercedes-Benz
Bump the budget to around $70,000, and you’ll find examples with closer to 60,000 miles, while an $80,000 budget can get you into an E63 S Wagon with fewer than 50,000 miles. Note that because this is such a rare car, listings are limited. This means prices can vary considerably based on mileage and condition, not to mention the options fitted.
Still, around $70,000 appears to be the floor for a clean, reasonably low-mileage example. If you don’t rack up too many miles, there’s a good chance these cars could hold around this level for years to come, making the E63 S Wagon a potentially better buy compared with luxury sedans and SUVs that continue to shed value.
The Audi RS 6 Avant, the E63 S Wagon’s closest rival, is also holding around the $70,000 mark for clean examples. There’s a catch, though. The RS 6 is considerably newer, having only arrived in the US for 2021, so it’s still too early to know where its true depreciation floor will settle. The same goes for the BMW M5 Touring, which only arrived for the 2025 model year and remains considerably more expensive on the used market. The E63 S, meanwhile, has had more time on the market and thus its pricing today is a better reflection of what it might be tomorrow.
Be Prepared For Expensive Repairs And Maintenance
2018 Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon Front WheelMercedes-Benz
The E63 S doesn’t have a reputation for catastrophic reliability, but owners should budget accordingly. RepairPal estimates average annual repair and maintenance costs at $2,238, while individual jobs can quickly reach four figures. And the figures can climb quickly if you encounter one of the AMG’s more complex systems, so a healthy emergency fund is a smart idea. Because of the latest E63 S’ rarity, reliability data is hard to come by.
In fact, CarComplaints doesn’t have any data on the latest E63 range to identify major recurring problems. However, it does flag the previous-generation E63 for potential trouble with air suspension, brakes, and driveline components. Furthermore, as a performance model, previous owners are likely to have driven the car hard. In other words, a thorough pre-purchase inspection and complete service history are essential. Spending more upfront for a well-maintained example could also save you considerably down the road.
One Car To Do It All
2018 Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon Front 3/4 ViewMercedes-Benz
The Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon could be the ultimate one-car garage. It combines supercar-rivaling pace with long-distance comfort, genuine luxury, and enough cargo space to handle family duty. Add a dwindling supply of high-performance wagons and a potential depreciation floor, and this 603-hp AMG looks like a smarter buy than its current used pricing suggests.
Sources: Mercedes-Benz, CarComplaints, RepairPal
