Has AMG Gone Crazy? (Mercedes C63 Hybrid 2024 Review)
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- Опубликовано: 16 авг 2024
- The Four-Cylinder C63 Is Good…And Bad. Detailed review and test of the 2024 C63 PHEV, including acceleration, handling, interior and more.
European emissions regulations are making it harder to sell high-performance ICE cars, and AMG’s way of future-proofing the petrol C63 has been to dump the V8…for a four-cylinder plug in hybrid powertrain.
Surprise: AMG is actually pretty good at engineering and the new C63 drives well. But when you can still buy a non-hybrid, six-cylinder M3, RS4, RS5 or Giulia, should you seriously spend $200,000 on a 2024 C63?
Let’s find out.
Time codes:
0:00 - Intro
0:32 - Independent test
0:56 - Hype reel
1:24 - Interior
3:37 - Back seats
4:02 - 280 litre boot space
4:45 - We want the C63 wagon
5:42 - Exhaust sound
6:20 - No more V8
7:12 - How does it drive?
7:48 - Four-cylinder hybrid engine
9:01 - Best PHEV I have driven
10:00 - Using it as a hybrid
10:50 - New C63 vs old C63
11:20 - Weight
11:45 - Handling
13:15 - Refinement
13:40 - Fuel range
13:55 - Too expensive vs rivals
14:30 - Ride quality
16:49 - Hybrid for performance
17:44 - Safety systems
17:54 - Final thoughts on driving
18:33 - Verdict and conclusions
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Авто/Мото
Moment of silence for the V8
They are going back to V8 for 2025 models going forward.
💔💔💔💔💔
@@champagnefinest кто сказал?
@@jeyx6175right? Who tf said that?
Mercedes@@_whoaskedtho_
No way I’d choose this over an M3
Presently I’d still choose an M3 manual in this segment, I think. But still interesting to see AMG’s take on the future, even if it may be somewhat premature.
This will destroy an m3 so bad that bmgay will make tractors next
The new m3 is a really well rounded animal
@@chasingcars 0:08 in addition, a missing turbocharger. But, they added an electric motor. Now, I have to worry about blowing a turbocharger or a fuse. Question is which fuse will it be the one in the car or the one in my head! Frankly this is quite confusing. So, already my head is not a good start.
Jokes aside, the problem with this car is heritage. If they named this “AMG C 63 Formula One Edition”. And then the AMG CLE 63 with a straight in-line 6 as a replacement of the old AMG C 63. Maybe, just maybe… (I almost forgot what I was talking about there) the spec sheet would not be so polarising (or boring) to read.
And, we have to see long term maintenance. It is a good engineering project that’s for sure. Now, if the apply that passion to engineering into the interior mainly material quality that would also be great.
Great Review. I hope I didn’t offend anyone especially the engineer who put in the work to develop this and the older AMG models. Without them we would not be talking about this car. Or, maybe the marketing was the problem here. Cheers 🥂
Or better still a Giulia QV.
A disgrace to call this car a C63 AMG
That’s what I thought until I drove one. Even the first drive I thought it was rubbish. After the 2nd drive I was hooked. Better in every way except no V8 grumble
It's a lot of power for a 4-cylinder engine, plus an electronic complication, it sounds like a headache in the workshop .
Will be interesting to see the long term durability.
if you gonna turbocharge and electrify it so much why not just go pure ev with the car honestly i rather have an ev if this is the future if ice cars.
It is a true disaster. 50% is broken down
With a 9 speed transmission connected to the ICE engine and a 2 speed transmission connected to the electric motors. I can only imagine the amount of things that can go wrong.
Out of warranty. ouch.
$200k for a 4 cylinder 😂😂😂
I dont need a review but thanks xx
You’re right, this should’ve been the C43. They could’ve given it 420HP, and at least 30 miles of useable range. I owned a W206 AMG C43 for a brief period of time (which Mercedes had to buy back due to various issues) and felt as though the car was too clunky and had no emotion. I now have a M340i and smile everytime I drive it.
I bought a W206 C43 as my first Merc a few months ago, trading out of a rear-drive G80 M3. Its easily the worst modern car I've ever owned, particularly the drivetrain and atrocious gearbox performance. Its nice to hear the C63 has worked out some of the kinks but after driving a W205 C63 a few weeks ago its really hard to understand how Mercedes thought this new direction would be a good idea or attractive to its existing customers in any way - particularly at such an unacceptable price premium.
This hybrid is pointless. No emissions savings. Just no V8 and more weight.
Interesting, what kind of issues? I work at a mercedes dealer in ireland and we have a c43 estate as a demo, brand new, but it won't start and apparently its a PITA to figure out whats wrong. Still in the workshop
@@allen7800 within the first 100 miles I had a “coolant system malfunction” and some parts of the coolant system had to be replaced (about $6k in warranty work.) Then the steering would lock mid turn and I couldn’t do anything. That happened 3 separate times (while driving) and they updated it. Finally they decided to replace the whole steering rack. Unfortunately parts were on back order for 3 months. I complained enough to MBUSA and they ended up buying the vehicle back.
@@Javonn143_ Hmm we have had steering rack recalls on the w205 c63's, and a bunch of the I6 diesel engines had to have cooling system replaced because the coolant was getting into brake lines through the vacuum hoses. Mercedes is no longer a good engineering company like it once was
Thanks for your honest review. As a previous 2020 C63 S Coupe owner & an AMG purest, I would never buy this car. The fake engine sound is filtered through both front speakers similar to BMW. The worldwide sale figures for this vehicle are low and nowhere near those of the previous V8. I would rather be looking at the new CLE53 to buy, which combines the E Class coupe with the C Class interior, produced with an in-line 6 cylinder making 449hp. Don't waste your money on this last gen C63 'one-off' AMG mistake.
Yes CLE is absolutely magnificent car. What do you think price will be for 53?
@regnorum Price advised from the MB dealership will be, depending on options, approx. $200K Australian dollars.
In germany its supposed to start at 91k€. @@regnorum
No, get a proper v8 get the e63 or GT63s
@@C63Bez Yes, but both these cars cost more. It's ironic that your username is C63Bez. Based on your opinion, should your new username be E63Bez?
Everyone: your cars are unreliable.
Mercedes: let's add another drive train power source!
200k bah, that'll depreciate as fast as it accelerates. Agree with your idea on calling it C43 Ed but nobody would spend $200k on a C43 - should've been a C53
I’m sure you’re right on that Dave. But at $150K, it’d be very much in the mix
Pick these up in 2 years for 80k… no way I’d spend 200k on this new.
@@AdamTSLA picking it up for 80K in a few years means you're just going to be making up the difference in mechanical and electric repair costs.
@@thisaraperera3678 I wouldn’t touch this car with a barge pole but these will depreciate massively. You’re right tho - heaven help you when something goes wrong.
50k is fair value for this horrible 2 liter.
You are an incredibly talented car reviewer, glad I've found your channel!
Will Western Sydney still buy the latest C63? Ask your local underworld figure to find out.
Not a chance
Awesome then you can own one without it getting stolen
they'll steal some from Mosman
😂😂😂
lol definitely not
I counted three elephants in the room. That's a big room
Almost a zoo.
I'm sorry but that exhaust noise compared to the old C63 it bloody awful. The earth-shattering rumble you experienced when starting the old C63 put a smile on your face as well has turned the heads of everyone round you. This is nothing more than a hybrid A45.
Two things:
1. Why does it weigh like a Model S Plaid, which is much bigger, has three motors and a big 100kw/h battery?
2. I sat for the first time in a C class, and was appalled by the quality. The lower part of the door cards is a cheap hard plastic, the plastic around the rear vents is hard and cheap, and the wood/trim on the dashboard is hollow to the knock, and please don't try and push on the plastics.
I urge you to go back touch these plastics. Embarrassing
The weight is really significant especially as the battery weighs less than 90kg, Mercedes claims. As for the interior, it’s certainly not as well made as the W204 generation but it’s better than the W205. In this segment the M3 and the RS4/5 are the kings of interior quality
This is what happens when design direction is dictated by accountants and people who have no actual interest in cars. Anyone intending to buy a car in this segment is looking for excitement and emotional thrills, not efficiency figures.
Succinctly said.
Will be recalled soon for some issue
The options you don't need is the 4 cylinder engine and battery. Go back to V8 and the car will sell like fury
" Quite a large Hot Hatch "
Sums up the new C63 perfectly 😂
200k for a 4 Zylinder 😂 u must be mad paying this 😅
That 4 cylinder engine my friend can haul like nothing in its class in fact the V8 won’t take this engine, I know this because I’ve driven a CLA 45s coupe against a GT63 and the GT couldn’t lose me.
@@Happytruth doesn't matter a V8 is a V8 ... I don't care what a 4 Zylinder is capable off....
@@HCD488 That’s ridiculous it’s like saying I’d only drive a V12, performance is based on what the car can do not specifically the engine size so open your eyes and do your research or even better go drive one of the 4 pot engines and if you are worried about sound get a modded exhaust system which sound even better IMO.
@@Happytruth I drive a 4 Zylinder (I30n and i love it ... great car and really fun to drive) ... I dont talk about only buying V8 but someone who buys a v8 wants a v8 .... they dont care about what a 4 Zylinder is Capable of ... the 4 Zylinder is perfect in somethin like a A45 or a S3 Golf R etc. but a c63 should have a v8
they should have call it diffrent ... not C63
@@HCD488 The world changes if you don’t change with it you become a dinosaur.
Beautiful driving roads and photography
Thank you very much!
Struggle to think of another channel that does e photography and content so well. Just superb work.
Subscribed, great review.
As someone with an M3 on order due to arrive imminently, I test drove the C63 E performance yesterday and was genuinely pleasantly surprised. Not enough to change the order, but man it is quick and composed on the road. And sounds way better than I’ve seen in reviews. I don’t know what they did but low range revs in race mode sound like the old 4.0 from the outside.
EDIT: When I said it sounded like a W205, I meant as someone standing behind the car listening to it, which is why it’s uncanny. Also, the lower trim in the car (door cards etc.) does not compare to an M3, all of which come with full leather in Australia. Scratchy plastics on a 200k+ vehicle is not on.
Good comments, I think I basically felt the same. Decent car, hard to pull away from the bigger engined stuff this early though.
Fake sound bro in race mode… thats how they do it
It sounds like that because it has a fake engine sound filtered through both front speakers similar to the new M4 Coupe fake sound,sorry.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@konkombotis5549 from the outside. I had a mate tell me they have speakers at the exhaust but I’m not sure about that.
Merc are truly losing it. Their dust-magnet dashboards called 'hyperscreens", their EV which look like overweight lumps and now this...And they are losing market share to BMW
I have w205 c63s and already tried the new gen… v8 biturbo all day long. I am pretty sure that once launched the w205 from 50 mph it’s faster and has real sound.
Thanks for an honest review rather than whining about the V8 being gone!
Hi Tom, thanks for your review. Quite a good review and realistic too. I actually agree, it shouldn't be a C63s but should be in the C43 range. Good point. I don't like halving the engine size and just sold my old C63s and bought an low km E63s. I feel much better now. I'm so glad I didn't wait for this C63s model to come out. Thanks for the review Tom.
Since that Kallenius guy became head of MB , things started looking grim.
You will own a 4 cylinder AMG and be happy
Unless you buy a CLE53 six cylinder!
You will lease a 4 cylinder AMG and be happy. WEF 2024.
I think they should have kept the V8 or switched to six cylinder for this generation, and have this setup for the next gen when hopefully the technology has scaled and is much cheaper. $200k is crazy.
With my 2017 C63s, after nearly 7 years of ownership I still get excited just starting it up in the garage. The exhaust sound is phenomenal. No reason to swap it for anything else. I believe the 4 litre is nowhere here it’s full potential at 375kW, and with the 700 nm torque, no need to wring its neck to get performance out of it. Long live simplicity and the V8! 😊
The whole point of going I4 was to “save the environment” but with the quoted 500-600km driving range it doesn’t consume less than the M3… so no thanks, I’ll stick to the S58 powered land beast.
Just look at official emissions that‘s all they care about and there it does much better than the M3. That being said there is no benefit for the customer - it‘s just about co2
Pretty sure I read M3 Wagons are running at 25% of M3 orders. Pay attention to Tom and the market MB.
Love your review.............you are almost the most politest people in the world in reviewing this car.
"Let's stick an iPad under the air conditioner and call it a center console." -Mercedes Benz
The newest generation of Mercedes interiors is electronic tryhard bullshit
Spot on! That's why I like your videos and those done by your fellow journalists. Massive fan here, keep up the good work!
Will do!
I was fortunate enough to have been given a test drive as a current W204 and W205 C63 owner. It's just doesn't feel AMG and I feel I'd be better off in a CLA45s. You have to really want it but what's the reason to pick W206 over the M3,M4 and it even comes in estate and option for manual. We brought C63 because it was the only car in the segment with V8.
The C63 is going through an identity crisis right now. The 63 badge used to actually mean something when you saw it. Hell, you could hear it before you saw it. Today, however, it feels void of the characteristics which gave meaning to the name. To say that it is a shell of its former glory would be the understatement of the decade. I do not really know or understand what Mercedes were thinking when they, as you said, "...cut the engine in half...", but to call it a 63 after that is an absolute disappointment for Mercedes.
Remember when the 63 badge used to be accompanied by the AMG badge before the AMG name lost all meaning (except for maybe the AMG One)? This feels like the 63 badge is following suit. The 63 is no longer a 63 like its predecessors. It's lost its identity.
I went to Tasmania once. There for about 10 days. That was 10 days without seeing a single straight road :)
Great review. Thank you for your honest opinion. As an owner of the V8, where I can fit a set of golf clubs and electric buggy in the boot with space to spare. A Toyota Yaris I simply can’t. I know this not based upon specs, rather it was the exact car that my mother wanted to down grade to so I got her one (she averages 500 kilometres per year) and wanted something smaller than her aging merc. I’m also not convinced with the power plant. I agree with the 43 comments as the 63 needs to be different and not just more of the same thing. My next car will now not be a Mercedes. Fully electric? For me, not yet as I do cover a lot of kilometres and the range just isn’t there and I don’t have time to wait for an under supply of charging stations (especially the lack of the super chargers). I’ll be testing it out, however I’ll also be testing the competition.
The C63 of the past was about speed and a huge engine not just speed only
C63s e performance is my favorite car 2024
I have the 2024 GLC 43. My biggest criticism is exactly what you said, an unhappy marriage between the engine, electric power and transmission. The motor is high string and grabby on the clutch at low speeds. Otherwise I think it’s a fine car. Hopefully this can be tuned in a future software mapping update?
EASILY ONE OF THE BEST RUclips CAR REVIEWERS. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK TOM. I TRUST YOUR OPINION. BEEN WATCHING FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW. WELL DONE!!
In order for me to spend $200k on this car, I would need there to be very decent fuel consumption figures- almost non-existent fuel consumption. Just out of curiosity, how much fuel were you using when just driving it normally (not driving hard)? My Dad was a die hard BMW man for the first 40 years of my life. The last beamer that he ever owned was an F10 535d twin turbo diesel with 240kw (it was fast). Around town, the diesel 5 hovered around 7.4l/100km. Dad replaced his 535d with an AMG C43 which was 270kw 3.0 V6 twin turbo. It hovered around 9-10l/100km. Other than that, I agree with you. It shouldn't be called the C63. I'm probably even more old school than most of the V8 fans, because I reckon I'd take the 6.2l NA V8 over the 4.0 TT.
Urban: around 6.5L/100km driven gently
Highway: similar
Driving hard: 10-13L/100km
That’s all just running it without charging it
honestly i still think for the price there are better options even in german car category
Pre gen e63 same price but with a v8
Good point regarding the naming convention. C43S AMG E or similar makes sense.
Excellent review. Articulated with smooth fluency and clarity.
I guess this is our future. I do feel fortunate to have lived through the pinnacle of NA ICE cars.
Quite a beautiful design inside and out, just wish the engine was different
At $150,000 and renamed, maybe. I have had three C63s and this is not on my list. Local AMG salesman told me on the quiet it is not selling (neither is the C43 AMG).
Good review, thanks for clarifying everything. Interesting about the drivetrain, all other reviewers said it’s very jerky and not a smooth transition between the power systems.
I hope they sell 0. The people at Mercedes that came up with this need a lesson in what their customers want.
Sorry Mercedes, I will never give up my E-550 until you bring back 5.5+ v8/v12 outside of the Maybach. No issue going hybrid, but I want the v8 baseline feeling.
It's the first time I hear this, but it makes sense. This car should've had a different name, it would've worked.I think so far they've sold about 1 unit worldwide. I could be wrong maybe less.
Best review of this car for me! Too many came in with the natural bias. I agree the name should have been different. Retire C63 with the new premium strategy as they are keeping the V8 for the more expensive cars.
comes down to stretching what the 63 stood for, gone are the comparisons with the OG 6.3 or the M156 6.2, the 4.0TT got away with using the name but this just doesn't work.
Putting a 4 cylinder engine in a C 63 is like putting an inline 6 cylinder in a Lamborghini Aventador, I don’t give a a hoots how much power it gives you’ve killed the entire car and experience of owning one.
Shit where’s the V8 for 200k!!!
I’m so glad I got a G80 M3 instead. The C63 is ridiculous. What was AMG thinking? The only reason why people bought the C63 was for the old V8 lol
Best in class by far.
Amen on the lack of wagons. Same here in Canada ughhh!!
It’s atrocious.
Wow. As much charm, practicality and personality of an .....A Class hatch.
This is not just a bad buy compared to the M3, my M340i is literally half the price and with a tune, just as potent.
Sorry Mercedes : No V8 = no purchase !!
Thankfully we still have the old 6.2 and 4.0
Nice review!! Well done!!
Thanks!
I love the new c63, although I would rather have a i6 maybe mild hybrid with 585 hp or a 550 hp 4.0 v8 bi-turbo
I love this car. I would gladly accept it as a gift.
great review
Tasmania is so beautiful. Which place was this video shot at?
Launceston and surrounds in northern Tassie.
Why I chose this car over the M3
More horsepower
More torque
For wheel steering
Better gas mileage
Better technology
More luxuriousness
Better performance
Level two autonomous driving and Wayne change the M3 just has the cruise control level two
The Soundsystem is better than the M3
And last, but not least I owned an M3. It was an amazing car, but this is better and all the haters who cares if it doesn’t have a V8, the lack of sound and every other category compared to your precious. V8 I also can put two car seats in the back. I can’t do that with an M3.
Great, and thoughtful review as usual. Weird to say this but sometimes a lot of power is too much , especially when it adds 300kg ( four adults !) to the weight.
the m139 is crazy A stage 2 45s with a good tune will make 540hp 660nm
The thing is this thing isn't much faster than its peers or simply faster than electric sedans like a tesla or Chinese EVs while sacrificing the signature V8
Truly insane decision making at Mercedes Benz
For me, I don't need a car that can go 0 to 100 in 3.4 secs as a daily driver. If I'm buying a car like the c63 it's for the overall experience and that means the v8 in all its glory, not a car that sounds like a toyota camry. If you want to go fast at less than half the price go buy a Tesla Model 3 performance which is 0 to 100 in 2.9 secs and costs about $85k
2165 kg lardarse. Super Complex. It would probably be better just as a 350kW ice sedan and way lighter.
Model 3 Performance weights 400 kilos less. People trash on EVs for being heavy lmao
Nope, not feeling it. At $200K, you need to experience the emotion in driving the car but it has to have something special. This thing does not do it. Technically advanced yes, but just not causing that "I really want that" feeling, and at that price it really really needs too.
Love the detail in your reviews.
I appreciate that.
Calm down everyone - you've got to realise that V8 or 4 cylinder, we are on the same side. Would you have preferred an all electric silent C63???? This is all we have left, and we need to get behind it.
Yeah - a bucket-load of this. Very on-point observation. The C63 SE doesn't have an identity crisis, it has just been mis-named. @chasingcars got it right when saying we need to think of it in the same way as a fast Renn Sport Audi, rather than holding onto the v8 and wishing the future wasn't so.
It was a dog when it was reviewed 6 months ago (then it disappeared), today it sounds like an expensive designer dog that looks like it’s ancestor. Confused.
The AMG boss came out recently and said they may of got it wrong, sales are woeful and there is too much tech & mass. Missed opportunity indeed.
Wouldve been so much more convenient for both the customer and mercedes if they kept the old v8 and just added 4wd 😂
They should of halved the price since you are getting half the engine
I was expecting another Merc bashing but I'm pleasantly surprised by your balanced nuanced review. Having said that, I'm sure you'll remember the outcry when Porsche launched the 996 911. Personally I admire Merc for having the guts to lead the way even though they knew they'd probably lose sales in the short term.
People always bemoan change, same thing happened when the 6.2 naturally aspirated V8 engine in the W204 was replaced by a biturbo in the W205 and when BMW replaced the E39 with the E60.
Beautiful car, beautiful location but 100% missing V8. I keep dreaming of an S206 with the M156 6.2 V8. What a shame, really.
It's an experiment. A well executed one, but an experiment nonetheless.
The new E53 has launched and, given its inline 6 hybrid powertrain, at least on paper, it's the right car at the right time.
The CLE in-line 6 is what this car should have been.
not worth the $$$ price wise
If i wanted a 4 cylinder hybrid I'd get a Prius.
I still love my 2012 c63 🤗
Cinematics look so good!
They put more weight in car to get 30g reduction in CO2. That is beyond stupid to lose V8 and not get any emissions savings really.
I normally love your videos, but this review was anything but fun, real reflection of the car. Fast isnt fun
I fear you may have missed a lot of the nuance in this video. Never in my career have I equated fast and fun, including in this review.
@@chasingcars oh im not implying that at all, I just mean that its so difficult to make this thing look like a laugh. Seems extremely focused on fast while sacrificing literally everything else that made AMG an AMG
seems like they really improved it over the press cars during the release but still... this car is not what we as AMG customers search. i stick to my 205 for now and options are slim to none unless i look at a mustang as my next car... an SL/GT is way over my budget and can't be used as a daily car
Is that 200k USD??? and a c63 with a 4 cylinder? Most mercedes deppreciate fast even modern c63s from the previous years 2 years later with 20k-40k miles are worth half of the msrp sometimes a bit less. I say from experinece as a Benz owner (not amg model) but my mercedes has lasted me slmost 10 years as long as you maintain (and not a rebuilt) they will last. These new ones im not sure but id do the same and get warranty for years incase anything happens they cover and i pay a deductible when buying a car like my henz was 34k with taxes and warranty, closing cost should i say and well if i would to buy my var now its worth a fraction what i paid for it but its done me good no major issues almost have driven 200k miles myself.
This is an Aussie site so ... 😮 aud
Easy pick: S58 in line 6 cylinder M3 CS with 510 ps for 100 k euros
Excellent review. Nail conclusion.
No way in hell I’d trade my 507 for this. EVER.
Even with the reliable issues, I reckon they should bring back the M156!
Yeah or the m159! But it would never happen due to emissions regulations
Miss my home state, what a great video :)
I cant wait for the CLE53
Great honest review