2020 Mercedes-AMG C 63 Road Test and Review

2020 Mercedes AMG C63S front three quarter ・ Photo by Mercedes-AMG

There are labels in the world of high-performance cars. We’re all familiar with them. Tags like muscle car, sports sedan, and hot hatch quickly come to mind, and the machines are quickly bucketed based on a number of factors, like horsepower, body style, and country of origin. Usually, the world gets the label right — but every once in a while, we botch the job. This has happened with the 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63.

The high-performance version of the Mercedes C-class has long been labeled a sports sedan, while the two-door variants end up in luxury high-performance coupe and convertible buckets. These labels are dead wrong. These AMGs are muscle cars. Rear-wheel drive, V8-powered, tire-shredding muscle cars. They’re even built in Alabama. Some may interpret the muscle car label as derogatory. But we mean it as a compliment. A high honor. The 2020 Mercedes-AMG C63 is a favorite despite its long list of desirable rivals, which include the BMW M3 and M4, Audi RS 5, and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.

More AMGs Than Ever

AMG is Mercedes’ in-house tuner or hot-rod shop. It competes head-to-head with BMW’s M division, known for cars like the M3 and M5, and Audi Sport, which is responsible for that brand’s RS models. Since the 1970s, AMG’s engineers have been injecting performance into mainstream Mercedes models, creating some of the fastest and most powerful cars on the road. But they don’t just crank up their horsepower; sport-tuned suspensions, larger tires, and bigger brakes are also always part of the deal.

The brand and its products have never been more popular. Today, the number of AMG models is approaching 50, and nearly 10 percent of all Mercedeses sold in America are AMGs. With prices starting under $80,000, the AMG C63 and C63 S are its most affordable V8-powered models. They’re the big dogs of the C-Class lineup, boasting around 500 hp and 0-60 times of 4.0 seconds or less.

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Serious Turbocharged V8 Power

Every C63 model is powered by a smooth and energetic twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8. It’s one of the only V8s in its class, and it’s one of the best-sounding engines on the planet. Just its rumble is worth the price of admission. In the C63 the V8 is packing 469 horsepower, but it’s cranked up to 503 hp in the C63 S, which nearly makes it the most powerful car in the segment. For now, that honor goes to the 505 hp Alfa Romeo’s Giulia Quadifoglio, but the Alfa’s twin-turbo V6 can’t match the C63’s 516 lb-ft of torque. A smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic with a manual mode and paddle shifters is standard on all models. AMG stopped offering true manual transmissions a long time ago.

Slotting below the E-Class in Mercedes’ extensive lineup, the C-Class is one of the brand’s smallest and lightest cars, so packing it with 500 hp is like strapping a jet engine to a bicycle. You can’t help but smile when you drive this car. It’s a rush. The eyelid-peeling acceleration of our AMG C63 S sedan test car and the quick response of its chassis makes a food run feel like a lap at LeMans.

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Surprising Fuel Economy

High-horsepower rides like this have a well-deserved reputation for packing a serious thirst, swilling high octane fuel as if it were free. And if you drive the AMG C63 with a heavy right foot, its fuel economy will be nothing to brag about. Keep that gas credit card handy.

But if you don’t drive it like a rental car, its fuel economy isn’t that bad. Both AMG C63 models are rated at 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, which is high for its class. We averaged 21 mpg during a week of mixed driving around Los Angeles, which is right on the sedan’s combined rating. And on a 300-mile highway run, the sedan managed 26.2 mpg. Remember, this car has over 500 hp.

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Razor-Sharp Handling

Thanks to its well-tuned sport suspension and wide 19-inch tires, the C63 also handles extremely well, with the kind of sharp reflexes and chassis response expected in a rear-wheel drive machine. These days, most high-performance models are all-wheel drive, including most AMGs. The technology certainly has its advantages, especially in four weather, but many enthusiasts understandably prefer the feel of a hot rod driven solely by its back tires.

The C63 S corners with very little body roll, and its stability control system is tuned perfectly, maximizing performance but, more importantly, keeping you on the road without spoiling the fun. Steering effort is on the heavy side, which is perfect for a muscle car, as is the AMG’s flat-bottom steering wheel. Its optional carbon ceramic brakes are also spectacular, with a reassuring pedal and consistent bite for smooth stops. And they look incredible, with massive drilled rotors and huge gold calipers that pop from behind sinister black wheels.

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Firm, But Comfortable Ride

The Mercedes Dynamic Select System allows you to tweak the car’s personality and performance with the flip of a switch. There are five modes, including Comfort, Sport, and Sport+. Each modifies the firmness of the suspension, the throttle response, and the transmission shift points. The C63’s ride is certainly on the firm side, even in Comfort mode. You feel the road in this car, but it doesn’t beat you up. It’s also refined and comfortable enough for family duty.

The rear seats of the C63 coupe and convertible are very tight, but the sedan seats five comfortably. Although it’s not a huge car, it has plenty of rear legroom. Younger families will also appreciate its easy-to-reach LATCH connectors in the outboard seats and three easily accessed upper tether anchors. And the C-Class earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

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Best Interior in Its Class

Open the door and you’re met with one of the most beautiful interiors in the class. On the inside, the C63 looks like an auto show concept car with a mix of dynamic design, unusual shapes, and rich materials that include Nappa leather and carbon fiber trim. Its speaker covers are works of art, and the analog clock is a wonderful touch of tradition. Build quality is high. Everything feels as good as it looks.

Control placement is excellent, and the digital gauge cluster — which is configurable with three unique layouts — is worth the extra $750. The heated optional sport seats are firm but comfortable, with exaggerated bolsters to hold you in place during hard cornering. A large 10.25-inch infotainment screen is standard, along with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Unfortunately, it isn’t a touchscreen; a large knob on the console controls the system’s functions, and it isn’t always the most intuitive interface.

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Good-Sized Trunk

Storage inside the Mercedes’ interior is sufficient and well thought out. The center console is large and felt-lined, and there’s another covered bin for smaller items. Its door pockets are also sizable and have slots for water bottles. The C63’s two front cupholders are well-sized, though their placement could be better, as tall drinks can interfere with some of its switchgear.

The 2020 C-Class sedan offers 12.6 cubic feet of trunk space, which is about average for the class. The trunk of the coupe offers 10.5 cubic feet, while the convertible’s shrinks to 8.8 cubic feet. If more is needed, every C-Class comes standard with a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat, which easily fold flat for your larger items. A power trunk lid is standard.

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Advanced Safety Systems

Every C63 comes standard with valuable active safety systems, including blind-spot monitoring and a forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. Another standard system called PreSafe also takes action if the car senses an impending collision, tightening the front seat belts, adjusting the seats, and closing the windows and sunroof to better prepare the car and its occupants for impact.

Pre-Safe Plus, which protects in rear collisions, is optional along with many other systems. Our test car was equipped with several extra-cost safety packages that added a surround-view monitor, a self-parking system, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, rear automatic braking, and others. We applaud Mercedes for offering so much safety technology, but on a car this expensive, a larger number of them should be standard.

Photo by Mercedes-AMG

Final Thoughts

With its many options and a $995 destination fee, our 2020 AMG C63 S sedan test car cost $94,540. That’s quite a jump up from its base price of $76,695, so the optional extras can add up quickly. Just keep that in mind when you’re shopping.

The good news is the C63 looks that expensive, bearing a striking resemblance to the brand’s larger E-Class and S-Class with sleek lines, taut, sculpted sides, and a sporty low-slung silhouette. And AMG dresses it well, with oversized dual exhaust pipes, more aggressive bumpers, its signature grille, and appropriate badging, including V8 Bi-Turbo callouts on its front fenders. Overall, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG 63 delivers a unique and compelling combination of luxury and performance. It’s comfortable, it’s extremely fun to drive, and it features the best interior in its class. If you’re looking for a modern-day muscle car, it’s a very desirable choice.

Photo by Mercedes-AMG