2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 WagonNadine Filion / Driving So, you want a Mercedes-Benz station wagon. Good choice! Excellent choice, even. For one thing, youve shown yourself not to be a slave to fashion as the wagon (or Estate, as the Europeans sometimes call them) is not one of those omnipresent sport utilities that everyone is buying these days to show their individuality. More important, a wagon especially a Mercedes-Benz will be lighter, more fuel-efficient and ironically, despite what the S in SUV stands for, sportier as well. Thats most certainly the case in the case of the 2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Wagon, which is, in no particular order of importance, passably roomy, all-wheel-drive practical and twin-turbocharged sporty. This last is turbocharged even more than before, all C43s receiving a boost to 385 horsepower this year as well as a bump to 384 lb.-ft. of torque. Thats not half bad, especially for an engine that was not hand-fettled by a AMG technician you dont get a handwritten signature from an AMG technician, it seems, for the C43s $59,900 asking price. Mass-produced the 3.0-litre V6 may be, but it will scoot the 1,760 kilogram wagon from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds. Not half bad for a wagon now, is it? If thats not enough, let me add this bit of controversy: I like the sound of the C43s V6 more especially with the optional AMGs performance valve opened than Mercedes V8s, which though most might not consider this a fault, sound way too North American-ized to me. The benefits of wagon over SUV are manifold. For one thing, having a lower centre of gravity will mean much better handling. Indeed, this C43 unravels twisty roads as well as many a sports sedan we’re looking at you, BMW M340i xDrive with excellent turn-in, minimal body roll, and great grip. This last is augmented by the AMG-fettled 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, which distributes 69 per cent of the engines torque (Nice. – Ed.) to the rear wheels. And yes, youre probably thinking the same thing as I am; either some Mercedes tech was given way too much time to optimize torque split data or someone at AMG is trying sexual innuendo as marketing ploy for their tuned 4Matic system.Throw in a fairly roomy cargo area, a svelte exterior I find the wagons silhouette more pleasing than the C43 sedans bubble-gum shape and a fairly luxurious interior for a fairly comprehensive luxury ride. Quibbles are few: I still think the add-on look of the infotainment screen looks cheap and Mercedes older infotainment syste isnt nearly as good as the latest MBUX system. As well, like all AMG-tuned suspensions, the C43s dampers are heavy on the compression damping yes, they keep the wheels well under control, but the ride is noticeably choppy, especially noticeable this year since our thoroughfares seem more pock-marked than ever. 2019 BMW 3 Series Touring Handout / BMW You’re more a BMW aficionado. Well, BMW has a 3 Series wagon, only they call it a Touring yet another Europeanism so they dont have to call it wagon. Still based on the previous-generation 3 Series, the 330i xDrive Touring version has a few advantages, mainly its superior ride BMWs suspension calibration has always been a bit better than Mercedes. Its also way roomy, virtually as comely, and perhaps a bit more frugal.All that said, BMW obviously has less confidence in the allure of a wagon than Mercedes. They only import the 330i version powered by a lowly 2.0-litre turbo-four that boasts 248 horsepower and its about $1,500 more expensive than the equivalent Merc. Theres also nary a fire-breathing i.e. an M340i version in sight. The 330i xDrive Touring is a solid car; practical to be sure, and like the Mercedes, a more sensible alternative to the SUV. But theyre not even trying to make it sexy.In fact, theyre not even going to make it. BMW Canada is dropping the 3 Series Touring from its lineup for 2020. So, if youre in the hunt for one, you better hustle on down to your local dealer. 2019 Volvo V60 Handout / Volvo You want something even sportier than the C43. Well then, you might want to head over to your Volvo dealer. Yes, Volvo. Sometime in October, they will be receiving their first batch of V60 Polestars. Like the BMW, its powered by a 2.0-litre four but what an engine. Not only is it turbocharged, its also supercharged. And, as if thats not enough, its also electrified, two small electric motors throwing in an additional 87 horsepower to bring the grand total to 415 force-fed and electrified ponies. It also boasts shades of turbocharged V8s 494 lb.-ft. of torque, all that supercharging and electrification kicking in at seriously low rpm. Throw in Ohlins suspension bits, some big Brembo brakes, and some frame stiffening, and you have a recipe for one rapid Scandinavian.We havent driven this latest generation of Polestar-tuned V60. But we did sample the previous version, and it made a great argument for Swedish dominion over German
Origin: Want a 2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 AMG Wagon? Your pickings are slim