Mercedes-AMG. The name itself evokes images of roaring engines, blistering speeds, and unparalleled luxury. For over half a century, AMG has been synonymous with pushing Mercedes-Benz vehicles to their performance limits, transforming already exceptional cars into adrenaline-pumping machines. While BMW M cars offer scalpel-like precision and Audi RS models deliver organ-compressing pace, Mercedes-AMG has carved its niche as the wild child of German performance, the one that encourages you to go sideways with a huge, unapologetic grin.
From its early days as an independent tuner to becoming the official performance division of Mercedes-Benz, AMG has gifted the automotive world with a stunning array of vehicles. With 25 years as an integrated part of the three-pointed star, the legacy is rich and diverse. Choosing the best from such a prestigious lineage is no easy task, but we’ve undertaken the challenge. Here are our top 10 best Mercedes-Benz AMG models, a curated list that celebrates the sublime, the ridiculous, and everything in between.
10. Mercedes G65 AMG
The Mercedes G65 AMG earns its place on this list not for its track prowess – let’s be honest, it’s about as aerodynamic as a brick – but for its sheer audacity. Imagine taking a vehicle originally designed for military applications, known for its robust body-on-frame construction and boxy silhouette, and then stuffing it with the heart of a supercar. That’s precisely what AMG did with the G65.
Under the hood lies a monstrous 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine, unleashing a staggering 621 horsepower. This powerplant in a vehicle that laughs in the face of aerodynamic efficiency is gloriously absurd. The G65 AMG is a testament to excess, a defiant middle finger to practicality and modern sensibilities. Its continued availability until 2017 in certain markets is a delightful anomaly, making it a truly beloved automotive dinosaur.
9. Mercedes-AMG One
“Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.” This Jurassic Park quote perfectly encapsulates the Mercedes-AMG One. The journey from concept to production was a five-year saga of engineering challenges and relentless pursuit of the seemingly impossible: building a road-legal car powered by a genuine Formula 1 engine.
The answer, as AMG proved, is yes, you can do it. But should you? Ask anyone involved in the AMG One project, and you might get a hesitant “probably not.” While its real-world driving dynamics remain largely a mystery – experienced only by a select few engineers, journalists, and fortunate owners – the AMG One is an undeniable engineering marvel. Its very existence, a testament to human ingenuity and borderline madness, secures its spot on our list of best Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicles.
8. Mercedes SL73 AMG
In today’s world, AMG models are a familiar and integral part of the Mercedes-Benz lineup. However, in AMG’s nascent years, their creations were bespoke, highly specialized, and incredibly rare. This exclusivity was particularly evident in their interpretations of the sleek and modern R129 SL roadster of the 1990s.
The pinnacle of these rare gems was undoubtedly the SL73 AMG. Back in an era when AMG badges accurately reflected engine displacement, the SL73 boasted a colossal 7.3-liter V12 engine. This powerhouse produced 518 horsepower, nestled within a car visually almost indistinguishable from a standard SL280. Adding to its legendary status, this very engine would later find its way into upgraded versions of the Pagani Zonda, cementing the SL73’s place in automotive history as one of the Best Mercedes Benz Amg achievements.
7. Mercedes E63 Estate W212
Yes, including a fast estate car might be a car journalist cliché, but no list of best Mercedes-Benz AMG models would be complete without one. Our pick is the pre-facelift W212 E63 AMG Estate (technically the S212 chassis code for the wagon variant).
This vehicle masterfully combined the practicality of a luxurious estate car with a cavernous cargo area and the raw power of AMG’s magnificent 6.2-liter M156 naturally aspirated V8 engine. And let’s set the record straight: despite Mercedes’ marketing for years, it’s not a 6.3-liter. What more could you possibly desire? Fuel efficiency? A concept alien to the E63 AMG. Spoiler alert: this isn’t the last time a car powered by the iconic M156 engine will appear on this list.
6. Mercedes-AMG GT R
The standard AMG GT was promising, but the original GT R marked a turning point, proving that AMG’s repertoire extended beyond tire-smoking theatrics. While it certainly excelled at that, the GT R demonstrated a depth of dynamic ability that placed it squarely in competition with the best driver’s cars from BMW and even Porsche.
Starting with the base GT, the R variant underwent a comprehensive transformation: wider track, lower ride height, lighter components, and stiffer chassis. Its signature feature, aside from the potent 4.0-liter 577bhp twin-turbo V8, was its nine-stage traction control system. This adjustable system ranged from full intervention to virtually none, allowing drivers to explore the car’s limits with varying degrees of electronic assistance. Wrapped in a menacingly widened version of the GT’s already striking body, the AMG GT R served notice to the Porsche 911 GT3, proving that the Stuttgart icon no longer had a monopoly on ultimate performance.
5. Mercedes SLS AMG
The Mercedes SLS AMG had the potential to be a mere retro exercise, a car defined solely by its flamboyant gullwing doors. Thankfully, it was far more than that. The SLS AMG emerged as a breathtakingly beautiful grand tourer, powered by a truly exceptional engine: the 6.2-liter M156 V8 (yes, it makes a triumphant return!).
While the hardcore Black Series version was undeniably impressive, it’s the original SLS AMG, with its timeless elegance, that captures our hearts. It might not have possessed the razor-sharp handling of some of its supercar rivals, but that wasn’t its primary mission. The SLS AMG was designed for effortlessly covering vast distances in supreme comfort, accompanied by the glorious soundtrack of that naturally aspirated V8, and making a grand entrance with those iconic doors soaring skyward upon arrival.
4. Mercedes CLK GTR
While technically lacking “AMG” in its official name, the Mercedes CLK GTR was conceived and built by AMG at their Affalterbach headquarters. Therefore, it unequivocally earns its place among the best Mercedes-Benz AMG creations. And frankly, does any explanation truly needed to understand why?
Every GT1 racing homologation special from the 1990s exudes an undeniable coolness, but the CLK GTR stands out as one of the most captivating. It featured a thunderous 6.9-liter V12 engine producing 622bhp, and despite being essentially a road-legal race car, it offered a surprisingly luxurious interior. The use of off-the-shelf Mercedes-Benz grille, headlights, and taillights, a somewhat comical attempt to link it to the pedestrian CLK coupe, only adds to its quirky charm – even if it executed the visual connection remarkably well. Speaking of CLKs…
3. Mercedes CLK DTM AMG
CLK DTM or Black Series? Choosing between the two hardcore specials based on the second-generation C209 CLK coupe was a subject of intense debate. Ultimately, we leaned towards the earlier CLK DTM AMG.
It arrived seemingly out of nowhere. Typically, when a car manufacturer wins a racing series (as Mercedes did in the 2003 DTM touring car championship), the commemorative special edition involves little more than stickers and a numbered plaque. However, the CLK DTM AMG was a full-blown skunkworks project: wider body, reduced weight, and a monstrous 5.4-liter supercharged V8 lurking beneath the hood. With a top speed of 199 mph, it outpaced even the later Black Series variant. And inexplicably, but to our eternal gratitude, it was also offered as a convertible.
2. Mercedes AMG Hammer
Image Credit: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0
Securing the second spot is another pre-Mercedes-Benz acquisition AMG masterpiece: the AMG Hammer. For those unfamiliar, the Hammer was a heavily modified version of the W124 Mercedes – the precursor to the E-Class. The W124 already had a factory hot version in the Porsche-assembled 500E, but AMG took it to another level.
Offered in various configurations, the top-tier Hammer featured a 6.0-liter V8 churning out a remarkable 375 horsepower – a substantial figure for a sensible sedan in the late 1980s. Available as a sedan or coupe, with a single estate version built, all Hammers boasted flared bodywork, predominantly menacing black paint finishes, body-colored split-rim wheels, and an undeniable aura of cool. But the primary reason it nearly topped our list? It’s called the Hammer.
1. Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series
The hardcore Black Series models have consistently been among the most revered Mercedes-Benz AMGs, and we believe the lineage (thus far) reached its zenith with the C63 AMG Black Series. The M156 V8 makes its triumphant final appearance, now producing a potent 510bhp and generating an intoxicating soundtrack.
Complementing the engine upgrades were extensive chassis modifications, including fully adjustable KW suspension, a limited-slip differential, and a three-stage stability control system designed to facilitate those long, smoky, and utterly captivating AMG-style drifts.
To cap it all off, the C63 Black Series featured the Black Series’ signature touch: aggressively enhanced, subtly widened bodywork that conveyed the presence of a car you wouldn’t want to mess with. Much like the BMW M3 CSL, which topped our best BMW M cars list, the C63 Black Series transformed a relatively ordinary compact executive coupe into an ultra-focused, lightweight streetfighter of immense desirability. It’s an irresistible formula, and that’s why the C63 AMG Black Series claims our top spot as the best Mercedes Benz AMG model.
