New Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance 2024 review: plenty of power but not much fun

And there’s lots of it. The C 63 S tips the scales at 2,165kg – a chunky 410kg more than the old one. The PHEV powertrain isn’t solely to blame, because even a standard C 220 d weighs 210kg more than its predecessor, but wherever that mass comes from, all we’re left thinking is just how exciting this car could be with all of the latest tech applied to something a few hundred kilos lighter.

In isolation that ride is impressively controlled – and relaxed enough in Comfort mode (one of eight bewildering choices available) to be easy to live with every day – but an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is more supple, and both the Alfa and the BMW M3 feel sharper and more agile when you want to drive keenly. 

Elsewhere, there are other compromises brought about by that PHEV powertrain, or little benefit where you might expect more. The battery pack’s location above the rear axle compromises boot space, with just a pokey 279 litres of storage available. Fuel consumption is unremarkable, too; driven mildly enthusiastically on the road, fuel consumption dropped into the low twenties, with a longer run delivering around 30mpg.

Cabin is typical C-Class fare, so well finished but with extra lashings of carbon fibre around that huge central touchscreen. The seats are very supportive, and they can grip you just as tightly as you please thanks to adjustable side bolsters.