Overall rating
Car Buyers Guide
Mercedes-AMG S-Class Cabriolet S63
August 2016
Likes:
- Cabin is well thought out and luxurious
- Boot technology stops luggage being crushed when roof is dropped
- Engine is an absolute joy
- Few cabriolets eradicate wind noise quite so effectively
Gripes:
- Fuel economy figures make it hard to justify as an only car
- We didn't find a car parking spot that it actually fit in
- Rear leg room could be improved
- Steering wheel obscures view of top of speedometer and tachometer
The Mercedes-AMG S 63 Cabriolet takes the luxurious top-down motoring of the S-Class Cabriolet and adds a healthy dose of performance. It has the sumptuous and incredibly high specification interior that's expected from Mercedes' luxury models, and is equipped with a monstrous V8 engine.
Mercedes-Benz has a long history of making its S-Class models the pinnacle of in-car luxury and automotive technology. This new convertible isn't any different and it's immediately clear that this car puts opulence above all else. There is a multitude of driver assistance technologies and a climate control system that even has a choice of fragrances built in.
The dashboard is dominated by a pair of 12.3-inch TFT displays; the central screen houses the satellite navigation and COMAND system, while the driver-side screen displays the dials. With the complex roof reclined - it has three layers and double-glazed glass to keep noise levels down - wind intrusion is kept to a minimum by the optional AIRCAP wind protection system.
Despite the sumptuous interior, the experience is dominated by the engine. The hand-built 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 responds instantly with a howl the moment you put your foot down. It packs 577bhp and 664lb ft of torque, which contribute to a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds and a limited top speed of 155mph.
Boot space is decent and a clever movable tray stops the roof dropping if there's a danger of luggage being crushed. Unsurprisingly for such a large car with a powerful engine, economy figures make for difficult reading. The S 63 Cabriolet officially achieves 28mpg - though we struggled to achieve this even on a long motorway run - and emits 237g/km of CO2.
Mercedes-Benz has a long history of making its S-Class models the pinnacle of in-car luxury and automotive technology. This new convertible isn't any different and it's immediately clear that this car puts opulence above all else. There is a multitude of driver assistance technologies and a climate control system that even has a choice of fragrances built in.
The dashboard is dominated by a pair of 12.3-inch TFT displays; the central screen houses the satellite navigation and COMAND system, while the driver-side screen displays the dials. With the complex roof reclined - it has three layers and double-glazed glass to keep noise levels down - wind intrusion is kept to a minimum by the optional AIRCAP wind protection system.
Despite the sumptuous interior, the experience is dominated by the engine. The hand-built 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 responds instantly with a howl the moment you put your foot down. It packs 577bhp and 664lb ft of torque, which contribute to a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds and a limited top speed of 155mph.
Boot space is decent and a clever movable tray stops the roof dropping if there's a danger of luggage being crushed. Unsurprisingly for such a large car with a powerful engine, economy figures make for difficult reading. The S 63 Cabriolet officially achieves 28mpg - though we struggled to achieve this even on a long motorway run - and emits 237g/km of CO2.