Base / Loaded: $102,370 / $117 as tested

Fuel Economy: 17 mpg combined at 15 city / 21 highway

For the true performance enthusiast there are few thrills as great as the roar of a 577 horsepower biturbo engine at the point of start-up. Even more exciting is to be so lucky to hear the tamed, yet mighty rumble as the valet attendant makes his way towards you. And aside from the design magno alante gray matte finish on the exterior, what will wreck everyone in its presence while leaving you, the owner, smiling from ear to ear, is the thought that your station wagon is what’s blowing their minds!

Long before the crossover and the SUV took center stage, if you had a family, you owned a station wagon. Back then all cars had to have big engines to haul around the tons of steel with which they were made. But since the new-age SUV craze and the days of lighter, yet more durable materials, station wagons have sort of dwindled to a cult following, which is why the E-Class Wagon—particularly at the AMG trim level, is particularly worthy of note, especially for the Hombre Man.

With 577 horses under the hood producing a total of nearly 600 lb-ft of torque to deliver 0-60 performance in 3.6 seconds, the E63 Wagon moves with an ease of might the moment your foot calls upon the accelerator for power. The addition of being able to adjust the driving mode from comfort, to sport, sport+ or manual transmission, in addition to a separate control to take the suspension from sport to sport+, is like sending a kid to candy store without a chaperone.

The power, the glory—it’s all right there in the palm of your hands and total discretion to call upon when it’s time to escape a pack of freeway traffic or simply to show off at a traffic light. The combination of turning radius, maneuverability, swift handling and agility all serve to bring you to that mental space where it becomes quite evident that you are now the commander and chief of a mighty super-car. It’s just that awesome! And with multicontour seats that include power side bolsters to keep your body perfectly position regardless of which direction the vehicle is moving, you’ll be convinced that the title, “King of the Road,’ belongs to you

And while often times many manufacturers will choose to omit certain safety features, at the E63 Wagon level, you get them all. So should you desire to change lanes, you’ll know whether it’s safe. If by chance you’re distracted and approaching something too fast, you’ll be slowed or stopped and kept in your lane at the same time, thanks to DISTRONIC PLUS with steering assist—all part of the $2,800 Driver Assistance Package. Surround View camera makes visible all sides of the car to assist when maneuvering through tight spaces (AMG Parking Assist @ $800).

The cabin interior is loaded with rich and luxurious appointments beginning with illuminated sill plates the moment you open the front doors. An AMG sport steering wheel, carbon fiber trim across the dashboard and doors, touches of piano black throughout the center stack and sophisticated ambient lighting throughout the cabin at night—all serving to further enhance the performance aspects. The two pane sunroof and plenty of side windows brings ample light into the vehicle to accentuate the designo mystic red napa leather that’s as soft as a baby’s bottom, which feels particularly good this time of the year when using the ventilated option for both driver and passenger seats.

At the end of the day, the E63 AMG Wagon is just that—a station wagon. But as the commander and chief thereof, you’ll be the envy of every dad in town!