Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance Is Cheaper Than Expected

The configurator for the 2024 Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance has quietly gone live on the automaker’s customer-facing US site, and it’s appeared with a pleasant surprise: pricing is lower than we originally anticipated. First revealed for the 2023 model year in late 2022, the S63 E Performance offers 791 horsepower and a top speed of 180 mph, and when it went on sale in Europe a little more than a year ago, it was priced higher than expected with a base MSRP of €208,392.80, which translated to a little more than $227,000 at the time. Thankfully, the American MSRP is around 40 grand lower.
 

Cheaper Than Expected, Not Cheap
The base MSRP in the US is $182,250, excluding $1,150 in destination charges, but that’s not exactly a bargain, and don’t forget – there are still options to be considered. 10 no-cost color options are on offer, but the really special hues will set you back another $1,750, $3,250, or $6,500 depending on which finish you opt for. As standard, 20-inch wheels are included, but 21-inch options are available for $2,300 or $3,300 a set, again depending on which option you choose.
 
Upholstery choices are similarly plentiful, five of which cost an additional $3,110, and trim options add as much as $3,700 to your total build cost. With every possible option and extra added, our China Blue configurator build reached a total of $235,430 fully loaded (including destination). That’s not far off what European buyers pay without options, but it’s worth noting that there are cheaper alternatives out there, and you can still drive German.
 
How Does The S63 Compare To The Alternative BMW 7 Series?
Hopping over to BMW USA’s build site, the priciest and most performance-oriented 7 Series is the electric i7 M70 variant, and this starts at $168,500 (excluding $995 for destination & handling). However, options can cost you dearly, with some paint finishes commanding a $5,000 premium. Fortunately, wheels (all 21 inches in diameter) cost no more than $1,300. Interior upholstery choices cost up to $6,450 but trim accents are all no-cost options. All in, with every option excluding extended maintenance packages, our total came to $208,595.
 
On the one hand, the 7 Series is cheaper and offers novelties like the massive Theater Screen, but on the other, you only get up to 650 hp. For those wanting the ultimate in luxurious limousine performance, the S63 has bragging rights, but it’s also a lot more expensive – which would you choose? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.