Is the 2025 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance a Good Car? 4 Pros, 3 Cons
The Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance is a tremendously powerful and exciting sports sedan that lives up to its name and competes with similarly luxurious and sporty alternatives like the BMW M3 and Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing. An update for the 2024 model year ditched the previous version’s powerful (but thirsty) 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine for a 469-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder, which the automaker claims is the most powerful four-banger ever used in a production car.
Related: 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance Review: My, What a Big Turbo You Have
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Shop the 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 near you
The update brings a lot more than just the new engine, too, with a 201-hp electric motor augmenting the four-cylinder. The resulting total of 671 hp and 752 pounds-feet of torque handily outguns the M3 and CT4-V and drops the claimed 0-60 mph time to just 3.3 seconds. Other new goodies include an array of additional drive modes, chassis control settings and go-fast hardware. For 2025, there are less exciting updates, such as an updated infotainment system and 5G capability.
The new powertrain in the AMG gets the job done and then some, as Cars.com West Coast Bureau Chief Conner Golden discovered during testing — but not all is perfect. Tap the link above to read his expert review, or for a quicker rundown, read on for four things we like about the Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance and three things we don’t.
What Do We Like About the Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance?
1. Tech Tricks
In addition to a big increase in horsepower, the new C63 gets a variety of other performance-boosting tech features, including rear-wheel steering, an electric turbocharger, an adaptive suspension and mechanical all-wheel drive. If that isn’t enough, there are eight different drive modes to choose from, a configurable exhaust and a two-speed transmission for the electric motor that helps deliver a 174 mph top speed.
2. Impressive MPG
For all its power and performance, the C63 achieves better fuel mileage than you might expect despite Mercedes-AMG engineering the hybrid system for performance rather than good fuel economy. But with an EPA-rated 40 mpg-equivalent combined, the C63 delivers both; unlike many plug-in hybrids, however, the C63 is limited to just 3 miles of range on solely electric power. Regardless, the relatively small 6.1-kilowatt-hour battery can be charged using a Level 2 setup or a household outlet.
3. Canyon Carver
With its blistering acceleration, loads of grip and powerful brakes, the C63 is right at home on back roads, especially for a vehicle weighing close to 5,000 pounds. Combining an ideal 50/50 front-to-rear weight distribution with specially tuned dampers and nicely weighted steering, the new C63 feels balanced and controlled with minimal body lean. The overall driving experience is more like that of a Nissan GT-R or Porsche 911 Turbo than a four-door sedan.
4. Smooth Delivery
Relying on a big turbo to increase horsepower in a small four-cylinder engine can often result in at least a bit of turbo lag followed by a burst of power. With the C63, engineers have done a commendable job of smoothing that out for seamless acceleration with an electric motor that takes up the slack. Anywhere between 25% and 80% of the motor’s power is always on tap depending on the driving mode.
Read More About the Mercedes-Benz C-Class:
- How Much Is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
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- 2023 Mercedes-Benz C300 Review: Losing Its Way
- Is the 2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class a Good Car? 4 Pros and 4 Cons
- Research the Mercedes-AMG C63
What Do We Dislike About the Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance?
1. Hefty Hauler
The added hybrid hardware and other updates have caused a substantial weight gain of almost 700 pounds over the prior generation, with the latest C63 cracking the scales at 4,817 pounds. While Mercedes-AMG have done a yeoman’s job of masking the additional girth, the C63 is no lightweight and it shows, especially in tighter twisties.
2. Odd Brake Regeneration
We noticed that the brake pedal tends to provide a firmer feel in some driving modes, which is not necessarily a problem but can be hard to adjust to for regular driving. The regenerative system does provide significant boost in its most aggressive setting, though, delivering up to 120 kilowatts of energy to the battery.
3. Aural Experience
The new C63 delivers the goods to outperform its V-8-powered predecessor, but some drivers will undoubtedly miss the old engine’s powerful soundtrack. While less buzzy and frenetic than the Mercedes-AMG CLA45, the new C63 sounds more like a rorty four-cylinder than a rumbling V-8.
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