Audi RS4 vs. Mercedes-AMG C63 S
Audi has fast estate heritage but Mercedes has had the upper hand in recent years - what's the result in 2018?
More than that, however, is the very fact that this is Audi heartland; more than the huge wagons, more than the R8 and arguably more than anything with five cylinders, doing compact and potent estates is the foundation on which the Audi Sport legend resides. The RS2 was like nothing else at the time; the first RS4 was within 20hp of a Ferrari which cost twice as much; the B7 RS4 was the first fast Audi anybody could quite happily buy over an M3. There's heritage, put simply, heritage that Audi will be only too aware of and keen to add to.
However, there's competition, too; limited in scope, yes, with the focus currently on uber SUVs rather than their estate counterparts, yet no less formidable. The Mercedes-AMG C63 picked up in 2015 where its predecessor had left off in spectacular fashion: a more serious prospect, certainly, yet still offering a compelling blend of V8 muscle, rear-drive hooliganism and haul-the-family practicality.
Yet it's not scary, even in January with single-digit temperatures on the display. In fact your first thought - tough ride notwithstanding - is what a big charmer this 510hp, rear-wheel drive car is. It rumbles along purposefully below 3,000rpm as the fluids come up to temp, the throttle response is great and the steering is good, if not a patch on the old hydraulic system.
Playing the V8 cruiser has never been an AMG problem however; what's transformed for this latest generation, and thrown into the starkest light on a cold and dark Monday morning, is just how good they are as driver's cars. There's precision, accuracy and confidence you simply wouldn't credit the car with, an ability to deliver and entertain on a B-road that even AMGs of a generation ago didn't have.
By the time Nic arrives with the RS4, the C63 feels near-invincible. January really shouldn't suit it, yet the way it's embraced the conditions without feeling diluted or dim-witted really is some achievement.
Even in a spec that doesn't especially suit it, the RS4 does the fast estate aesthetic very well. The arches are appropriately blistered, the wheels fill them just so, and there's just enough to look out for that identifies this as not just another A4. Let's call it a score-draw on the styling front; it's the best spec of C63 we've seen, and the least desirable of RS4, so there isn't a clear victor.
There's no doubting the effectiveness of those six cylinders, two turbos and 2,891 cubic centimetres, though. It feels even more urgent than the C63 at low revs, eager and keen to get going while the Mercedes takes the most momentary of pauses. The Audi's automatic gearbox feel a fraction sharper to up and downshift also. The key numbers might be lower, but the RS4's performance is never in doubt.
You know there's a 'but' coming, don't you? Put simply the C63's powertrain remains more of an event: it's the better sounding, the more powerful, the more entertaining. The Audi is frantic and fast, but far less memorable.
We tried two RS4s in our test, cars with and without the Dynamic Ride Control suspension. While the latter delivers some additional comfort at low speed, it does so at the expense of control, the car feeling vague and imprecise. The more aggressive modes restore some order with ride quality taking a hit, making it feel a rather awkward compromise. The standard set up, though firmer around town, does at least give a sense of purpose and connection to the RS4's suspension.
For those after the fastest all-conditions estate there is, the RS4 remains the choice, and for all those people it will continue to impress, delivering on all the Audi virtues that have made the brand such a success story in the UK. If you're willing to sacrifice just a bit of that speed, however - and probably not as much as you think - it's the AMG C63 which delivers the more rewarding, more enjoyable and more immersive fast estate experience.
So is it the RS4 or the AMG C63 that takes your fancy? Let us know in the comments below; or for a range of great deals, checkout PH Classifieds and choose from hundreds of used cars on sale .
SPECIFICATIONS - AUDI RS4 AVANT
Engine: 2,894cc, biturbo V6
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, Quattro permanent all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 450@5,700-6,700rpm
Torque (lb ft): 443@1,900-5,000rpm
0-62mph: 4.1sec
Top speed: 155mph (optional 174mph)
Weight: 1,790kg (including 75kg driver
MPG: 32.1 (NEDC combined, 19-inch wheels)
CO2: 199g/km (19-inch wheels)
Price: £59,740 (as tested £77,720 comprising £645 for Misano red paint, £900 for head-up display, £1,250 for driver assistance pack- tour, £1,000 for parking assistance pack advanced, £400 for red brake calipers, £525 for advanced key with boot opening, £2,000 for 20-inch five twin spoke edged design forged alloy wheels in silver, £200 for electrically adjustable front seats with memory function for the driver's side, £850 for RS Matrix LED headlights with LED rear lights and dynamic front and rear indicators, £175 for storage pack, £100 for extended LED interior lighting - multi-coloured, £1,200 for RS sport exhaust system, £2,000 for RS sport suspension plus with dynamic ride control, £1,250 for panoramic sunroof, £300 for heated front and outer rear seats, £125 for folding, auto-dimming and memory function door mirrors, £1,450 for top speed restriction increased to 174mph, £350 for full leather pack, £250 for tyre pressure monitoring display, £50 for smoking pack, £750 for Bang and Olufsen, £325 for Audi phone box with wireless charging, £630 for delivery charge, half a tank of fuel and number plates, £1,200 for road fund license and £55 for first registration fee)
SPECIFICATIONS - MERCEDES-AMG C63 S ESTATE
Engine: 3,892cc, V8 twin-turbocharged
Transmission: 7-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 510@5,500-6,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 516@1,750-4,500rpm
0-62mph: 4.1secs
Top speed: 155mph (electronically limited)
Weight: 1,800kg
MPG: 33.6 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 196g/km
Price: £70,130 (as tested £82,735 comprising £1,695 for Driving assistance package including active blind spot assistance, active land keeping assist, BAS Plus with cross traffic assist, Distronic plus with steering assist and Stop and Go pilot, pre-safe brake with pedestrian detection and presafe plus, £2,595 for premium package including exclusive package, keyless-go comfort package, Burmester surround sound system, LED intelligent light system, panoramic electric glass sunroof, £700 for AMG interior carbon fibre trim package including analogue clock, centre console in carbon fibre optic, door panels in aluminium trim, £765 for AMG driver's package, £335 for 360-degree camera, £1,000 for AMG performance exhaust, £4,285 for AMG high performance ceramic composite braking system, £585 for AMG night package and £645 for brilliant blue metallic paint)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Surely, PH should be asking why? PH is speed matters, but not at the cost f the planet. Audi and MB should be able to do more with less.
I owned the previous generation C63 and I no longer see the point, except for bragging prowess.
Speed limits in the UK are failing everywhere and this type of gas guzzling car makes no sense and should be outlawed. Efficient vehicles must be those that manufacturers should be pushing, not these expensive behemoths.
Christ.
Mumsnet is thataway. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Surely, PH should be asking why? PH is speed matters, but not at the cost f the planet. Audi and MB should be able to do more with less.
I owned the previous generation C63 and I no longer see the point, except for bragging prowess.
Speed limits in the UK are failing everywhere and this type of gas guzzling car makes no sense and should be outlawed. Efficient vehicles must be those that manufacturers should be pushing, not these expensive behemoths.
k off
Surely, PH should be asking why? PH is speed matters, but not at the cost f the planet. Audi and MB should be able to do more with less.
I owned the previous generation C63 and I no longer see the point, except for bragging prowess.
Speed limits in the UK are failing everywhere and this type of gas guzzling car makes no sense and should be outlawed. Efficient vehicles must be those that manufacturers should be pushing, not these expensive behemoths.
What a wuss, its Governments listening to people like you that have ruined a lot of the fun in life
Surely, PH should be asking why? PH is speed matters, but not at the cost f the planet. Audi and MB should be able to do more with less.
I owned the previous generation C63 and I no longer see the point, except for bragging prowess.
Speed limits in the UK are failing everywhere and this type of gas guzzling car makes no sense and should be outlawed. Efficient vehicles must be those that manufacturers should be pushing, not these expensive behemoths.
Is this a windup Jerry or are you really this wussy?
Surely, PH should be asking why? PH is speed matters, but not at the cost f the planet. Audi and MB should be able to do more with less.
I owned the previous generation C63 and I no longer see the point, except for bragging prowess.
Speed limits in the UK are failing everywhere and this type of gas guzzling car makes no sense and should be outlawed. Efficient vehicles must be those that manufacturers should be pushing, not these expensive behemoths.
Is this a windup Jerry or are you really this wussy?
ks to take a risk on an older one - looks like I've answered my own question! :0)Surely, PH should be asking why? PH is speed matters, but not at the cost f the planet. Audi and MB should be able to do more with less.
I owned the previous generation C63 and I no longer see the point, except for bragging prowess.
Speed limits in the UK are failing everywhere and this type of gas guzzling car makes no sense and should be outlawed. Efficient vehicles must be those that manufacturers should be pushing, not these expensive behemoths.
Gonna testdrive a new 530d rwd (perhaps add a quaife), good real world performance, some fun to be had in the chassis (I hope) and very low emissions (high mpg and can fuel it with 2nd gen biodiesel making it better than any Tesla, and about the only diesel (with the 520d) that has very low real world nitrous oxide emissions).
And no, there is no comparison, just trying to find a car that adresses all aspects in a complex world with uncomplicated responses (f*ck off, not here).
To those that actually have one of these. Please enjoy them, who knows you're a vegetarian and fly very seldom, which would be two personal choices with far greater impact than the somewhat low mpg on these...
I suspect both have great presence though and I wouldn't complain if I owned either of them. Something still awesome about a fast estate car.
As for the tree huggers in this thread, bit of an odd response. I doubt many of these will be used to do 20k a year or traipsing round town but for a car that does everything, these are great.
Oh, C63's are used a lot here in town. One could pass past my window ten times within an hour
Surely, PH should be asking why? PH is speed matters, but not at the cost f the planet. Audi and MB should be able to do more with less.
I owned the previous generation C63 and I no longer see the point, except for bragging prowess.
Speed limits in the UK are failing everywhere and this type of gas guzzling car makes no sense and should be outlawed. Efficient vehicles must be those that manufacturers should be pushing, not these expensive behemoths.
C63 for me everytime. Fantastic car.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff