Mercedes-Benz isn’t just about to bring a wagon to America — it’s about to bring a very fast one. The 2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid wagon will come with an inline-six and up to 604 horsepower.
If you’re feeling like you want your family hauler a little greener than that, then don’t worry. Because it’s a plug-in hybrid that should deliver around 50 miles of all-electric range when you don’t need the go-fast pedal.
Benz Is Bringing Fast to the Family Who Doesn’t Want an SUV
It’s been a couple of years since Mercedes-Benz last sold a wagon in the U.S. That’s if you exclude the E-Class All-Terrain, which is basically an E-Class wagon that’s gotten the Subaru Outback treatment.
If you don’t mind the extra height, or plan on tackling some gravel roads, the E450 All-Terrain is probably fine. But if you want something that will out-handle the AMG GLE 63 or the BMW X5 M without giving up cargo room, then the E53 wagon is the car you are looking for.
After AMG has had its way with the 3.0L twin-turbo I6, under the hood the engine makes 443 horsepower. All-wheel drive and an AMG-tweaked nine-speed automatic are standard. A 161-horsepower electric motor is integrated into the transmission, and is powered by a 21.2kWh battery that keeps another 7 kWh in reserve for rapid acceleration demands.
PHEV Delivers Massive Power Output
The total is 577 horsepower, or 604 horses with the AMG Dynamic Plus package in Race Start mode. Total torque output is 553 pound-feet, and the wagon should hit 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds with Race Start. It takes a whole 4.0 without, and the top speed is as high as 174 miles per hour.
Mercedes-Benz didn’t say how far the car could go on the large battery pack. But, based on the size and the car, we’d expect in the neighborhood of 50 miles — enough to make the school run or get to the office without using gas. Unless you want to.
The Dynamic Plus pack on the 2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 Wagon gets you more than just extra power. It also includes active engine mounts, AMG high-performance brakes, and an electronic AMG limited-slip rear differential — plus, a Nappa leather sport steering wheel if you care.
Benz will offer microfiber and leather seating choices, and you’ll probably want the hard-wearing MB-Tex if you plan on bringing the kids. A 17-speaker Burmester stereo is optional, as is the MBUX Superscreen with multiple displays under one bezel filling the cabin.
Mercedes-AMG E53 Wagon Holds as Much as SUVs, Looks Cooler, Will Drive Better
Mercedes-Benz forgot to mention some of the most important station wagon features, so we’ll try and fill those in. No, this won’t have a third row of seats. The old back-facing jump seats haven’t been available for a while now, sadly.
It should be able to hold 33.1 cubic feet of cargo with the second-row seats up and 64.6 with them folded. That’s a near-match for the much larger and more ungainly GLE SUV, making picking the wagon even easier.
Don’t expect a tow rating, at least not on this side of the pond.
If you have to be the first and show it off, a gray Edition 1 model with AMG graphics will be offered. It will arrive later this year. Pricing for the 2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 Wagon hasn’t been released, and it’ll probably be a while as Benz USA sorts out a few things on its spreadsheets.
Read the full article here
