No One Thought This Incredible Car Would Make It to America

One of the biggest surprise automotive announcements of 2025 takes what was already assured to be a historic year for American wagon fans to epic new heights.

An abstract collage of images of the Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon in red and blue

By Ben Bowers

Published April 9, 2025

·

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

“This car shouldn’t exist in 2025 America,” writes Motor1’s Christopher Smith. “Whoa, Another New Performance Estate!” reads the headline of Motor Trend’s Justin Banner’s coverage.

That’s just the taste of the reaction coming from automotive journalists in response to Mercedes-Benz’s announcement that its 2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon is coming to America this year.

So why all the surprise about a station wagon (or estate car for those of you across the pond)—one that’s already been sold in Europe for a while and is mechanically identical to a sedan already in the US?

Here’s what you need to know.

A Cult-Favorite Category

mercedes amg e63 side red 2021 — Our former motoring editor, Will Sabel Courtney, called the 2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 S “Just About Perfect.“

The car enthusiast community will forever be enamored with super-powered station wagons.

They epitomize “if you know, you know” cars. In other words, their revered status among aficionados stems partly from the fact that they may look (relatively) ordinary on the surface, at least to Luddites, while secretly, under the hood, they are anything but.

They’re also a rare class of maximalist vehicles that offer nearly everything one could want from a daily driver – room for five passengers and cargo, responsive handling, a comfortable ride, and neck-snapping speed and acceleration, with little obvious compromise. That’s assuming, of course, you can afford one and find one sitting on a lot.

Audi RS 6 Avant GT rear — Audi’s RS6 Avant GT is one of the most distinctive super wagons ever made.

Despite fans b*tching to the contrary, scarcity is also a feature and not a bug of the performance wagon’s mystique. Traditionally, only a handful of models ever make it to U.S. shores each year, if that, in very limited quantities.

But 2025 was already shaping up to be a bumper haul for American buyers, thanks to releases like BMW’s M5 Touring edition and the 2025 Audi RS6 Avant GT.

Now, Mercedes’s surprise announcement adds yet another option that should be more affordable and perhaps easier to find than either.

A New Goldilocks Super Wagon

The 2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon is shown from the side in grey in a rendered black warehouse. — Though the sedan version of the E53 is already available in the US, few if anyone expected Mercedes to introduce the wagon version.

Unlike BMW and Audi, Mercedes’ has maintained a relatively consistent presence in the niche through various incarnations of its E63 AMG wagon. But the last time that car was available was 2023.

So naturally, when Mercedes announced the newest generation of the E-Class just last year, which Motor Trend named 2025 Car of the Year, many assumed that it was only a matter of time until a new generation of the beloved E63 AMG wagon broke cover.

Instead, it’s the middle sibling of the E-Class wagon family, the 2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon, that’s now officially confirmed for the US and expected to arrive later this year.

A fully-loaded Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon offers 604 total horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, which essentially matches the performance of the old E63 for anyone keeping score at home.

Mercedes-Benz

From what we know now, it appears to be identical to the European edition of the wagon already on sale and the mechanical twin of the AMG E53 Hybrid Sedan already in the States.

Though it can’t match the pure petrol power of the V8-equipped E63 wagon, the E53 wagon still offers plenty of oomph to distinguish itself from your typical family hauler.

Its hybrid powertrain marries a 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six gas engine found in the baseline E450 to an enhanced electric motor.

The open trunk of the 2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon — Since it’s a wagon, the Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon naturally offers decent cargo room that an equally powerful sports car can’t match.

Working together at their peak, the pair can generate up to 604 total horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, which essentially matches the performance of the old E63 for anyone keeping score at home.

When fully equipped, the wagon can also reach a top speed of 175 mph. And in ideal conditions—i.e., with the car’s Race Start feature engaged—it can go from zero to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds.

Other standard driving-focused features include active rear-axle steering, all-wheel drive, and an adjustable AMG Ride Control suspension with adaptive dampers.

Performance add-ons like active engine mounts, beefy 15.4-inch front brakes with signature red calipers, and an AMG electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential are also available.

Plug-In Hybrid Perks

The open hood and engine bay of the 2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon — Exact EPA stats aren’t available yet, but most expect the Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon to deliver roughly 40 miles of electric-only driving range.

Beyond the impressive take-off stats and top speed, its hybrid powertrain provides other practical benefits.

Its biggish 400-volt battery pack underneath the trunk should provide drivers with a functional electric-only driving range, at least for those with shorter commutes.

The exact EPA stats haven’t been shared yet, but it’s safe to assume figures might be a hair less than the 42 miles of electric-only range offered by the E53 sedan.

Thanks to support for DC fast-charging up to 60 kW, refilling the battery from 10 to 80 percent should take roughly 20 minutes.

Distinctive Looks and Comfort

The 2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon in white shown against a light grey background. — Various trim options and paint selections can dial up the sporty look of the Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon.

It’s admittedly a bit unfair to call the E53 wagon’s appearance ordinary.

Details like wider front fenders, enhanced intakes, quad exhaust tips, and a bevy of vents give it a distinctly sportier appearance than the average E 450 wagon.

Owners also have the option to choose between twelve different paint color options and three different trims, including blacked-out and carbon fiber variations, to draw or deflect attention as desired.

A shot from the passenger side door of the interior of the 2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon — A 14.4-inch central touchscreen comes standard. A separate 12.3-inch screen is also available for passengers as an add-on.

As a premium take on the E-Class, it offers all the interior luxury and amenities one would expect, including a 17-speaker Burmester sound system and a 14.4-inch touchscreen central multimedia display. A separate 12.3-inch screen is also available for passengers as an add-on.

Mercedes is also offering a special limited Edition 1 build for early adaptors. It includes an exclusive Alpine Grey paint color with a sports black exterior trim, AMG graphics, 21-inch wheels, and unique upholstery, in addition to other distinguishing perks Mercedes plans to reveal later.

The 2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon in white shown from the back right corner.

Pricing and Availability

While MB has confirmed that the car will go on sale “later this year,” exact pricing is still TBD.

Given that the E53 sedan starts at $88,000 before destination charges, we’d expect the wagon edition to sell for at least a few grand more.

That’s not cheap, but for perspective’s sake, the BMW M5 Touring and Audi RS 6 Avant start at ~$125,000. And though neither are technically direct competitors with the E53, it’s not exactly going out on a limb to think the demand for this less powerful but more affordable alternative will be through the roof.