“Think of it as a muscle car,” Evans
said, meaning in the traditional sense:
goes real quick, doesn’t stop or turn
so hot. Especially not compared to
the other two. A caveat to all this—the
RS 6 is brand-new, whereas the E 63 S
wagon and the Panamera Turbo S Sport
Turismo are both midcycle refreshes,
meaning the latter two’s engineers have
had more time to fiddle and make things
right. Also, an RS 6 Performance version
is probably on the horizon. Still, this was
a disappointing showing by Audi.
Next up, let’s talk AMG.
“The opposite of the Audi,” Evans said.
“It’s an engaging experience, in every way.”
Yeah, there is a feel to the E 63 S wagon
that’s just ... good. Look, we just named the
thing our 2021 Car of the Year (the E-Class
as a whole), so we collectively, surely dig
the platform. Then you take those great
bones, add gnarly, cacophonous emotion,
and poke it with a sharp stick, and the
result is a machine you can love.
“The engine is wonderful,” Walton
said. “It sounds glorious everywhere
from 4,000 to 7,000 rpm; it rips.” I drove
the Porsche Panamera before I drove
the AMG, and I was bowled over by how
much more engaging an experience the
Mercedes delivers. Same is true whenyou compare it to the RS 6. The Hammer
brings the drama.
The Porsche? It’s a bit of a sensory
deprivation tank, but man, does it fly
down the road well. Walton nailed it with
his comments: “Wow, what a machine.
It has a fluidity to it that the Mercedes
certainly doesn’t have. I could get in and
go without hesitation because it gives me
so much confidence. I could detect the
four-wheel steering, but in a good way,
actually helping it rotate.
“The way the Sport Turismo puts
power down on the exits is amazing,” he
continued. “The solution is always more
gas. Its steering provides actual feel as
well as precision. The brakes are mightyCOMPARISON
Mercedes presents the driver with sweeping
screens crammed with information.