The Electrified Enigma: Why the Mercedes-AMG C63s E-Performance Outshines the BMW M5 Touring in the Performance Hybrid Arena
As an automotive industry veteran with over a decade immersed in the ever-shifting currents of vehicle development, I’ve witnessed firsthand the paradigm-altering pivot towards electrification. What began as a whisper in the halls of R&D has become a roaring imperative, transforming every segment from mundane commuter cars to the most audacious high-performance machines. Today, this relentless march of electrons has ushered in a fascinating, and at times perplexing, era for high-performance vehicles. Carmakers, under immense pressure to meet increasingly stringent emissions regulations while simultaneously satisfying the insatiable demand for power, are adopting diverse strategies for integrating electric propulsion into their flagships. This often leads to some truly unconventional, yet undeniably potent, creations.
Nowhere is this dynamic more acutely illustrated than in the recent emergence of two titans from the German performance hierarchy: the new G99 BMW M5 Touring and the Mercedes-AMG C63s E-Performance. These aren’t just mere updates; they represent foundational shifts in how these legendary marques define “performance” in a hybrid age. Having spent considerable time behind the wheels of both, pushing them to their limits on varied tarmac, I’ve gained an invaluable perspective on their respective philosophies. And I can tell you, the outcome of this BMW M5 Touring vs Mercedes-AMG C63s E-Performance showdown delivered a genuine surprise, challenging conventional wisdom about what makes a truly engaging Performance Hybrid Vehicle.
The conventional thinking often dictates that more power, more battery capacity, and more electrification automatically equate to a superior product. However, as these cutting-edge Performance Hybrid Vehicles demonstrate, the equation is far more nuanced, especially when the goal is an unadulterated, driver-centric experience.
Let’s start with the leviathan from Bavaria, the BMW M5 Touring. From the moment you lay eyes on it, its imposing presence screams power. Underneath its muscular skin lies a powertrain that, on paper, is nothing short of extraordinary: a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine complemented by a substantial electric motor and a sizable 22.1-kilowatt-hour battery. BMW claims 717 horsepower and 737 lb-ft of torque, but early dyno tests hint that the real-world output could be closer to an astounding 800 hp at the crank. This sheer force, unleashed via a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system and an eight-speed automatic gearbox, results in frankly alarming acceleration. From a standing start or a rolling punch, the M5 Touring pins you to your seat with a relentless shove that few vehicles can match. It’s an intoxicating rush, a visceral demonstration of brute force, and undeniably positions it as a top contender in the luxury performance hybrids segment.
The engineering brilliance of the M5’s powertrain extends beyond its headline-grabbing statistics. The electric motor, independently capable of 197 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, is impressively integrated within the gearbox. This allows the M5 Touring to operate as a surprisingly capable electric vehicle for dozens of miles. I found myself genuinely enjoying the M5 most in its silent EV mode, particularly for around-town commuting. It pipes in a subtle, almost futuristic acceleration sound through the speakers, and you even feel the shifts of the gearbox, despite the V8 being dormant. The all-wheel drive remains active, providing reassuring traction in diverse conditions. For a massive, almost 5,456-pound (2,475 kg) car, the M5 Touring feels remarkably brisk and refined as an EV, showcasing BMW’s commitment to advanced powertrain technology.
However, this is where the BMW M5 Touring starts to reveal its Achilles’ heel. That colossal 22.1 kWh battery, while providing excellent electric range for a PHEV, is the primary culprit behind its immense curb weight. The M5 Touring tips the scales heavier even than the fully electric i5 Touring M60, a fact that becomes glaringly apparent the moment you try to hustle it through a series of corners. To manage this extraordinary mass, BMW’s engineers have had to perform Herculean feats of suspension tuning. The result, unfortunately, is a strangely inconsistent ride quality. The car struggles to decide whether it wants to be a serene luxury cruiser or a taut sports sedan, oscillating between pillowy comfort and jarring stiffness. Mid-corner bumps, in particular, can be unsettling, often alarming, causing the car to transfer forces clumsily and erode driver confidence. It feels, for lack of a better analogy, like a world-class athlete forced to run with lead weights strapped to their ankles. The inertia is palpable, constantly threatening to pull the car into understeer when driven with any real spirit. For those seeking pure driving dynamics in a high-performance PHEV, this weight penalty becomes a significant detractor.
This is precisely where the narrative shifts dramatically to the Mercedes-AMG C63s E-Performance. Stepping out of the M5 Touring and into the C63s E-Performance was an immediate and profound contrast, a revelation that reset my expectations for modern Performance Hybrid Vehicles. Yes, the C63s is still a heavy car compared to its non-electrified predecessors, but its relatively lighter mass puts the M5’s heft into stark perspective.
The C63s E-Performance has been a lightning rod for criticism, primarily due to its move from a glorious V8 to a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Many purists cried foul. But dismiss it at your peril. This isn’t just any four-cylinder; it’s the M139 engine, a marvel of automotive engineering borrowed from AMG’s most potent compact offerings, augmented by a sophisticated electric supercharger. This powerplant, hand-assembled by an engineer who proudly affixes their signature to it, churns out over 400 horsepower on its own. Coupled with a rear-axle-integrated electric motor, the system collectively delivers a staggering 670 hp and an even more impressive 752 lb-ft of torque. That’s more torque than the BMW M5 Touring, in a car that’s approximately 880 pounds (400 kg) lighter. The difference is profoundly felt, making the C63s E-Performance a truly visceral AMG performance machine.
From a standstill, the C63s launches with a ferocity that borders on violent. The instantaneous surge from the combined electric and combustion torque, coupled with an incredibly effective all-wheel-drive system, makes it feel significantly quicker than its on-paper figures suggest – even more so than the M5. The electric supercharger plays a crucial role here, virtually eliminating turbo lag and ensuring the powertrain is incredibly responsive. While some lament the loss of the V8’s bellow, the M139, even with piped-in enhancement disabled, produces a characterful exhaust note, punctuated by the thrilling sounds of the turbo spooling and releasing pressure. For a genuine driving enthusiast, these mechanical symphonies add immensely to the experience.
But it’s through the corners where the Mercedes-AMG C63s E-Performance truly shines and differentiates itself. Unlike previous C63s models, which were glorious but often tail-happy beasts, this new PHEV feels like a precision instrument. It attacks corners with an agility and composure that the M5 Touring simply cannot match. The C63s offers an engaging, confidence-inspiring ride that encourages you to push harder, delivering an exhilarating track performance feel.
The genius of Mercedes-AMG’s approach lies in its philosophical departure regarding battery integration. While the BMW M5 Touring opts for a large battery mirroring its commitment to substantial electric range, the C63s E-Performance embraces a far more judicious strategy. Its battery capacity is a mere 6.1 kWh. This is tiny by most PHEV standards, yet it is precisely this smaller, purpose-built pack that allows the C63s to avoid the crippling weight penalty suffered by the M5. The electric motor, integrated into the rear axle rather than the gearbox, is primarily there to boost performance, not to provide extended EV range (though it can manage about 5 miles on electricity alone). This design choice underscores a clear intent: electrification as a performance enhancer first, regulatory compliance second. It’s an approach akin to what we see in true hybrid supercars like the Ferrari 296 GTB, where battery size is minimized to protect handling and driving purity.
This difference in battery philosophy profoundly impacts real-world efficiency and driving experience. The M5 Touring’s large battery allows it to achieve an impressive WLTP efficiency rating (almost 150 mpg or 1.6-1.7 liters/100 km), but this is only if the battery is consistently topped up. In the real world, as many PHEV drivers often neglect regular charging, its EPA combined rating plunges to a more realistic 13 mpg (18 l/100 km). The C63s, with its smaller battery and performance-first mandate, boasts a more attainable average of 34 mpg (6.9 l/100 km) in Europe. Even when driven hard, I found the C63s consistently delivered around 15 mpg, and its EPA rating of 20 mpg with a depleted battery is easily achievable without hypermiling. This demonstrates that for a performance hybrid vehicle, a smaller, performance-optimized battery can lead to more consistent and realistic efficiency, even if the headline numbers aren’t as striking.
As enthusiasts and industry experts, we at InsideEVs deeply appreciate the march of electrons and the potential of electric propulsion. However, for a vehicle whose primary mission is to deliver an unforgettable driving experience, simply stuffing in a bigger battery isn’t always the optimal solution. The target demographic for these premium PHEV models can afford the fuel, and unrealistic efficiency figures are secondary to raw engagement. Furthermore, performance cars represent a minuscule fraction of global vehicle sales, meaning their individual emissions impact is far less than mass-market vehicles where electrification yields far greater dividends.
The true differentiator for Performance Hybrid Vehicles lies in their engineering philosophy. Mercedes-AMG, despite initial skepticism surrounding its engine choice, has clearly demonstrated a more enlightened approach to performance hybridization with the C63s E-Performance. It feels significantly more special, more agile, and more engaging than the BMW M5 Touring, even with half the cylinder count. It’s still heavier than a purely combustion-powered C63 would have been, but as a PHEV, it delivers an excellent and exciting driving experience, upholding the legacy of AMG performance in a new era.
This contrast highlights a critical distinction that must be made: there are electrified cars designed primarily for efficiency, and then there are those where electrification is meticulously engineered to enhance performance. The second-generation Acura NSX, the Corvette E-Ray, and the Ferrari 296 GTB are prime examples of the latter. In these vehicles, the battery is deliberately kept compact (often under 8 kWh), preventing it from overburdening the chassis and preserving the crucial elements of handling and driver engagement. A few miles of electric driving become a welcome bonus, but the main purpose of the electric system remains performance augmentation. Even when the C63s battery runs low, a common concern for PHEVs on track, Mercedes-AMG’s clever system ensures a baseline charge is maintained, preventing significant performance degradation. After an extended session of spirited driving, I observed roughly 33% battery remaining, a testament to its effective power management for sustained performance.
In conclusion, the BMW M5 Touring vs Mercedes-AMG C63s E-Performance debate reveals that the future of Performance Hybrid Vehicles isn’t simply about piling on power and battery capacity. It’s about intelligent integration, a thoughtful balance between electrical assistance and core driving dynamics. While the M5 Touring offers staggering straight-line speed and impressive electric range, its sheer weight ultimately compromises its ability to deliver a truly engaging, unadulterated performance experience. The C63s E-Performance, with its audacious smaller-engine, smaller-battery strategy, emerges as the more compelling driver’s car, proving that less can indeed be more when it comes to crafting a truly exceptional luxury performance hybrid.
Ready to explore the nuances of these groundbreaking performance hybrid vehicles yourself? Delve deeper into the advanced powertrain technology and unparalleled driving dynamics shaping the future of high-performance automotive engineering. Contact your local luxury car dealership or visit our dedicated sections to learn more about the latest innovations in high-performance PHEV models. The future of driving excitement is here, and it’s electrifying.
