Mercedes E-Class AMG

Mercedes E-Class AMG: Which Version to Buy and Why

Choosing a Mercedes E-Class AMG from this catalogue means deciding between three distinct powertrain eras. The early cars use naturally aspirated Gasoline engines and RWD; later versions add a Compressor or Turbo, while the sixth generation moves to a Plug-in 2999 cc engine, AWD and a 9-speed Automatic. The key choices range from the first-generation 3.6 AT with 272 hp to several 612 hp versions.

Choosing a Mercedes E-Class AMG from this catalogue means deciding between three distinct powertrain eras. The early cars use naturally aspirated Gasoline engines and RWD; later versions add a Compressor or Turbo, while the sixth generation moves to a Plug-in 2999 cc engine, AWD and a 9-speed Automatic. The key choices range from the first-generation 3.6 AT with 272 hp to several 612 hp versions. Body styles in the data include Cabrio, Sedan, Estate 5-door and Coupe. The catalogue contains 10 generation entries, with restyled models grouped below their corresponding generation rather than treated as additional generations.

Mercedes E-Class AMG generations: what changed?

First generation, 1994–1996 — Cabrio, five versions. The entry-level choice is the 3.6 AT with 272 hp and 385 Nm; three database records use this exact name, with displacements of 3598, 3606 and 3604 cc. The performance alternative is the 6.0 AT, producing 381 hp and 470 Nm from 5956 cc. Every version has RWD and a 4-speed Automatic. Acceleration ranges from 5.4 to 7.2 seconds, while kerb weight ranges from 1540 to 1710 kg.

Second generation, 1996–2002 — Sedan, followed by a restyled Estate 5-door; four versions before restyling and five after it. The initial range includes the 3.6 AT with 279 hp, the 5.0 AT with 347 hp and two 5.4 AT records with 354 hp, distinguished by RWD and AWD. The restyled catalogue again includes a 3.6 AT with 279 hp, plus four 5.4 AT records with 354 hp across the Estate 5-door and Sedan data. The 5.4 AT reaches 100 km/h in 5.7–6.2 seconds, depending on version, whereas acceleration for the 279 hp 3.6 AT is not measured.

Third generation, 2002–2009 — Estate 5-door, followed by a restyled Sedan; two versions before restyling and three after it. The 476 hp E55 5.4 AT uses a Compressor, RWD and a 5-speed Automatic, delivering 700 Nm. Restyled data retain an E55 5.4 AT with the same 476 hp and 700 Nm, then add the naturally aspirated E63 6.2 AT with 514 hp and 630 Nm in two records. Both E63 records use RWD and a 7-speed Automatic.

Fourth generation, 2009–2016 — Estate 5-door, followed by a restyled Sedan; four versions before restyling and five after it. The pre-restyling choice divides between the naturally aspirated E63 6.2 AT with 525 hp and the Turbo E63 5.5 AT with either 525 or 557 hp. Restyled E63 5.5 AT records provide 557 or 585 hp; one 557 hp version has RWD, while the other four records have AWD. The quickest acceleration figure improves from 4.4 seconds among the initial 525 hp records to 3.6 seconds for one 585 hp restyled version.

Fifth generation, 2016–2024 — Coupe, followed by a restyled Estate 5-door; 10 versions before restyling and two after it. The Coupe data include E43 3.0 AT with 401 hp, E 53 4Matic Coupe with 435 hp, several 3.0 AT records with 401 or 435 hp, and 4.0 AT records with 571 or 612 hp. Every listed version has AWD and a 9-speed Automatic. Restyling narrows the Estate 5-door range to 53 AT with 435 hp and 63S 4.0 AT with 612 hp.

Sixth generation, from 2024 — Estate 5-door, four versions. All records use a Turbo, Inline, 6-cylinder, 2999 cc Plug-in powertrain, AWD and a 9-speed Automatic. The 53 3.0 AT produces 585 hp, while the 53 3.0 AT Dynamic Plus produces 612 hp. Duplicate names represent separate catalogue records with different acceleration, top-speed, consumption, emissions or weight figures.

Mercedes E-Class AMG engine and specs comparison

The table consolidates repeated records only when their engine, output, transmission and drive specifications match. Repeated names remain distinguished by power or configuration.

Power density explains much of the generational change. The first-generation 6.0 AT produces about 64 hp per litre, while the third-generation E55 5.4 AT reaches about 88 hp per litre. A fifth-generation 612 hp 4.0 AT delivers about 154 hp per litre, and the sixth-generation 612 hp 53 3.0 AT Dynamic Plus reaches about 204 hp per litre. These are arithmetic comparisons derived from the listed power and displacement.

Performance, fuel consumption and mpg data

The first-generation 6.0 AT is the performance choice among the earliest cars: 0–100 km/h takes 5.4 seconds, versus 7.0–7.2 seconds for the measured 3.6 AT records. Its combined consumption is 11.9 l/100 km. The measured 3.6 AT records return 10.4 or 11.7 l/100 km; one 3.6 AT record has consumption not measured.

In the second generation, the quickest 5.4 AT takes 5.7 seconds to reach 100 km/h. Other 5.4 AT records require 5.9 or 6.2 seconds. Combined consumption spans 12.1–13.0 l/100 km. The 5.0 AT takes 6.2 seconds and returns 11.6 l/100 km. For both listed 3.6 AT records, acceleration and fuel consumption are not measured.

The third-generation E55 5.4 AT reaches 100 km/h in 4.5–4.7 seconds, with combined consumption of 12.9–14.0 l/100 km. The E63 6.2 AT takes 4.5 or 4.6 seconds and consumes 14.3 l/100 km combined. The E55 therefore has up to 54 hp less than the E63 but as much as 70 Nm more torque.

Fourth-generation performance depends strongly on specification. The initial E63 6.2 AT and 525 hp E63 5.5 AT both record 4.4 seconds, but the 557 hp E63 5.5 AT reaches as low as 3.7 seconds and the 585 hp version as low as 3.6 seconds. Combined consumption is 14.3 l/100 km for the naturally aspirated 6.2 AT, 9.8 l/100 km for the 525 hp Turbo 5.5 AT, and 9.8–10.5 l/100 km across the 557–585 hp records.

Among fifth-generation cars, the 401 hp E43 3.0 AT records 4.6 seconds and 8.4 l/100 km combined. The 401 hp 3.0 AT takes 4.7 seconds, but its consumption is not measured. The 435 hp E 53 4Matic Coupe takes 4.4 seconds and returns 8.8 l/100 km. The 435 hp 3.0 AT records take 4.5 seconds and return 8.5–8.9 l/100 km where measured. The 571 hp 4.0 AT reaches 100 km/h in 3.5–3.6 seconds; consumption is 9.1 l/100 km for one record and not measured for another. The 612 hp 4.0 AT needs 3.4–3.5 seconds; one returns 9.1 l/100 km and another is not measured. The restyled 63S 4.0 AT combines 3.4 seconds, 300 km/h and 11.6 l/100 km, while the 53 AT records 4.5 seconds, 250 km/h and 8.8 l/100 km.

The sixth-generation 53 3.0 AT takes 4.0 or 4.1 seconds, reaches 250 km/h and records combined consumption of 1.0 or 1.1 l/100 km. The 53 3.0 AT Dynamic Plus takes 3.9 seconds and reaches 275 or 280 km/h, with 1.1 l/100 km combined. City and highway consumption for every sixth-generation version is not measured.

Dimensions, weight and wheel specifications

The lightest listed E-Class AMG is the second-generation 3.6 AT at 1425 kg kerb weight; its gross weight is 2080 kg, ground clearance is 160 mm, tank capacity is 80 litres and wheel size is not measured. The first generation spans 1540–1710 kg kerb weight, 1980–2200 kg gross weight, 135 mm clearance and 70–90-litre tanks; wheel sizes are not measured.

Third-generation kerb weights run from 1680 to 1925 kg. Gross weights range from 2275 to 2495 kg, clearance is 122 or 160 mm, and tanks hold 80 litres. Listed wheels are 245/40 R18 and 265/35 R18; some records have wheel size not measured.

Fourth-generation models weigh 1840–2045 kg and have gross weights of 2390–2580 kg. Their clearance is 150 or 160 mm, tank capacity is 66 or 80 litres, and wheel combinations include 255/40 R18 with 285/35 R18 or 255/35 R19 with 285/30 R19.

Fifth-generation records span 1765–2055 kg kerb weight, with some kerb or gross figures not measured. Measured gross weights range from 2415 to 2600 kg, clearance is 97–160 mm, and tanks hold 50 or 66 litres. Wheel choices range from 245/40 R19 with 275/35 R19 to 265/35 R20 with 295/30 R20.

Sixth-generation kerb weight is 2315 or 2360 kg, gross weight is 2920 or 2975 kg, tank capacity is 50 litres, and every version uses 255/45 R19 and 285/40 R19 wheels. Ground clearance is not measured. The 2360 kg, 612 hp 53 3.0 AT Dynamic Plus carries about 3.86 kg per horsepower. A fifth-generation 1880 kg, 612 hp 4.0 AT carries about 3.07 kg per horsepower, giving it the lower weight-to-power figure by about 0.79 kg per horsepower.

Which Mercedes E-Class AMG version should you buy?

For the lowest measured combined consumption among non-Plug-in records, choose the fifth-generation E43 3.0 AT: its 8.4 l/100 km figure is 0.4 l/100 km lower than the E 53 4Matic Coupe, although it has 34 hp less and needs 0.2 seconds longer to reach 100 km/h. A 435 hp 3.0 AT returning 8.5 l/100 km offers nearly the same economy with the additional 34 hp.

For the strongest fifth-generation performance, choose a 612 hp version. The pre-restyling 4.0 AT can reach 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, matching the restyled 63S 4.0 AT. The 63S 4.0 AT adds a listed 300 km/h top speed, compared with 250 km/h for the pre-restyling 4.0 AT records, but its combined consumption is 11.6 l/100 km rather than the measured 9.1 l/100 km of one earlier record.

For a balance of V8 output and lower mass, the fifth-generation 612 hp 4.0 AT at 1880 kg is the standout arithmetic choice. It weighs 485 kg less than a 2360 kg sixth-generation 612 hp 53 3.0 AT Dynamic Plus while matching its power and exceeding its torque by 100 Nm. The older car is also 0.5 seconds quicker to 100 km/h than the 3.9-second Plug-in version.

For the newest powertrain and the lowest listed combined consumption, choose the sixth-generation 53 3.0 AT. The 2315 kg record has 585 hp, reaches 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds and records 1.0 l/100 km. Moving to the 53 3.0 AT Dynamic Plus adds 27 hp, reduces acceleration time by 0.1 second, and raises top speed from 250 km/h to either 275 or 280 km/h. Its torque remains 750 Nm.

For an older, less complex specification within the supplied categories, the first-generation 6.0 AT combines a naturally aspirated 5956 cc V-shaped 8-cylinder engine, RWD and a 4-speed Automatic. It produces 109 hp more than the first-generation 3.6 AT and cuts the best listed 0–100 km/h time by 1.6 seconds, although combined consumption rises by 1.5 l/100 km compared with the 10.4 l/100 km 3.6 AT record.

The data therefore point to different winners: the fifth-generation 612 hp 4.0 AT for acceleration and weight per horsepower, the restyled 63S 4.0 AT for its 300 km/h top speed, the sixth-generation 53 3.0 AT for the lowest listed combined consumption, and the first-generation 6.0 AT for a naturally aspirated RWD configuration. Reliability, problems, purchase prices and repair costs are not measured in the supplied data, so they cannot support a version recommendation here.