There are few more effective ways to announce that you’ve “arrived” in high society than somewhere in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. But one of those ways is by arriving in a Mercedes-Maybach S-Class – the hyper-lux version of Mercedes’s top-tier sedan. More than just a badging exercise, the Maybach takes the plush S-Class as a base and then steps up the opulence to chase down some Bentley sales.
ByMartin Pretorius
Published: 19 September 2023, 10:49
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
The same, only more of it
The current and latest-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class offers an impressive package with various state-of-the-art electronics and safety systems featured as standard. However, there are a lot of options that remain exactly that, options. Thus, it is up to the customer to specify certain trim items, stylistic features, infotainment, and safety systems.
That’s where the Mercedes-Maybach comes in: it’s a luxury extension to the S-Class range in the same way as Mercedes-AMG is the sporty extension of the brand. It has nicer trimmings than the normal Benz version, but its body is different, the standard spec sheet is more complete, and the options list is more eclectic.
Related:The top 3 things you need to know about the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.
You want space? You get space!
It doesn’t take close scrutiny to notice that the Maybach S-Class looks rather different from a normal LWB model when seen in the profile. The reason is simple: an extra 180 mm was added to the wheelbase of the LWB S-Class, which necessitated redesigned rear doors and an extra window in the C-pillar.
Blending the elongated proportions into the S-Class’sArt Deco-inspired styling does give it a slightly blubbery appearance from some angles but also pays dividends in interior space – it allows for a very roomy rear seating arrangement that can almost let a passenger lie flat by pushing some buttons.
Related:If the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is too plebeian for you, may we direct your attention to the bigger Pullman?
Detailed refinement
It’s hard to imagine that anyone could consider the cabin of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class a tad noisy. Yet, the Maybach features extra sound insulation to eliminate any remaining intrusive sounds.
Consequently, Mercedes could have claimed that the Maybach S-Class was the quietest car in the world at the time of its launch. Although it is possible that some newcomers may have quieted down to even greater levels since then, the Maybach is still quieter than the already-silent Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
Related:We compiled this must-see list of the 6 best luxury cars.
Money can indeed buy power
Don’t even think about a diesel engine for a Maybach – diesel is for sensible people, and Maybach buyers generally couldn’t care less about being sensible. In fact, there aren’t six cylinders of any stripe in the Maybach range, with only a V8 and a V12 on offer.
The V8 in the S580 is derived from Mercedes’s corporate 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which does duty in everything from a C63 to the AMG GT sports car. This application is tuned to deliver only 385 kW with the 48V electric motor engaged and 700 Nm but to produce that output as unobtrusively as possible. It sends the power into a 9-speed automatic gearbox for a 0 – 100 km/h sprint in 4.8 seconds and a governed top speed of 250 km/h, so it’s still very rapid for a limousine.
An S680 badge denotes the big daddy, Maybach, with a 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 under its long bonnet. The outputs jump substantially, with new headline figures of 450 kW and 900 Nm going to all four wheels through a 9-speed automatic gearbox. But, despite all that extra power, the S680 isn’t a lot quicker than the S580, likely due to traction constraints: the 0 – 100 km/h dash now takes 4.5 seconds, and the top speed remains governed to 250 km/h.
Related:Comparing Mercedes-AMG S-Class engines, we conducted a futile effort to look for an efficiency champ...
More standard toys
While both the Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-Maybach offer opening panoramic roofs, as a cool trick on the latter, the buyer can also specify the “Magic Sky Control”, which can darken or lighten the glass roof with the touch of a button, with the front and rear glass sections featuring independent darkening control.
Other standard add-ons are the Burmester high-end 4D surround sound system and heaters in the massaging rear seats (optional for most lesser S-Class cars). The First-Class rear compartment (optional across the S-Class range) is particularly appealing in the Maybach, thanks to the extra space created by the longer wheelbase.
