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Family Flyer Coming to US: Introducing the 2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 Wagon

Plenty of families need room, crave speed, and don't want the bulk and heft of an SUV. For them, the Mercedes-AMG E53 Wagon could be exactly what the doctor ordered. Big car space, seating for five, and enough horsepower to have Corvette drivers running scared.
Mercedes-AMG E53 Wagon(Photo/Mercedes-Benz)
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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

Mercedes-AMG E53 Wagon
(Photo/Mercedes-Benz)

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

Mercedes-AMG E53 Wagon
(Photo/Mercedes-Benz)

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-AMG E53 Wagon
(Photo/Mercedes-Benz)

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.

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