The 2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Floats Like a Butterfly and Stings Like a Bee
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MSRP
- Whisper-quiet cabin, exquisite interior materials, available with a V-12 engine.
- Might look too much like a Mercedes for some buyers, V-12 fuel economy is atrocious, digital dashboard doesn't match the otherwise tasteful interior design.
- The Maybach S-class starts with Benz-level appointments but ratchets things up to the ultra luxury realm while still undercutting rivals from Bentley and Rolls-Royce on price.
HIGHS
LOWS
VERDICT
Overview
The Mercedes-Maybach S-class offers a Lufthansa first-class experience for the road. As a more elevated version of the already decadent Mercedes-Benz S-class sedan, the Maybach operates in the highest tier of luxury automobiledom. With an extensive laundry list of standard life-enhancing features and an interior swathed in Deutschland's most elegant finery, there's no bad seat in the house.
The driver is spoiled with a seemingly bottomless well of thrust from either a 530-hp twin-turbo V-8 or a 621-hp twin-turbo V-12, with the power transmitted to the road with all-wheel drive. The Maybach S-class's stretched body opens up extensive rear-seat room, making it ideal for being chauffeured, especially when equipped with the optional reclining and massaging rear seats, which beckon riders to relax and settle in for the long haul.
Expert Tip: The Mercedes-Maybach S-class is a worthy rival to the Bentley Flying Spur and the Rolls-Royce Ghost, but those models carry more brand cachet and bring more stage presence.
What's New for 2027?
The Mercedes-Maybach S-class has been visited by the plastic surgeon for the 2027 model year. As part of its facelift, the S-class gets a supersized grille that is around 20 percent larger than it was last year. The amped-up grille is fully illuminated and displays the Maybach name proudly at the top. As first seen on the recently updated Mercedes-Benz S-class, the Maybach variant's headlights contain lighting elements inside their clear exterior lenses that are shaped like the Mercedes three-pointed star emblem.
The interior has been reworked as well, with the forward cabin now featuring the MBUX Superscreen that occupies the entirety of the dashboard. Rear-seat passengers enjoy new 13.1-inch displays located on the front-seat headrests and a redesigned rear center console with special cupholders to hold optional silver-plated Robbe and Berking champagne flutes. The only other major upgrade can be found under the hood, where the standard 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 now puts out 530 horsepower compared to 496 in last year's car.
C/D Expert Tip:
If this year's model is largely unchanged and you're comfortable with a lightly used car, you may want to consider shopping previous model years. A one-to-three-year-old model will likely have a warranty and it'll cost less than buying new.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
- Engines: 530-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8, 621-hp twin-turbocharged V-12
- Transmission: 9-speed automatic
- Drivetrain: all-wheel drive
Under the hood of the S580 sedan is a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine that makes 530 horsepower. Going with the S680 swaps in a 621-hp twin-turbo 6.0-liter V-12 that sounds like all its internal parts are slathered in butter. All models come with Mercedes's 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. But effortless power is not the most impressive thing about the Maybach S-class.
During our initial test drive of the 2027 S580, we were impressed with the supremely supple ride quality and the nearly silent cabin. An air suspension and an active sound cancellation system are both standard, helping the car deliver its silky, ultra-quiet ride; the Maybach S-class also offers rear-wheel steering, which helps with navigating this big sedan through tight city streets.
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0–60-MPH Times
- C/D 60-mph Test: 3.7 seconds (S680)
In Comparison: The Maybach S-class is one of the only ultraluxe sedans that we've had the opportunity to test, but going off of manufacturer estimates, the hybrid, 771-hp Bentley Flying Spur might nip the S680 to 60 mph by a couple tenths of a second.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
- EPA City Ratings: 12-16 mpg
- EPA Highway Ratings: 20-27 mpg
We estimate that the S580 is good for 16 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined; the S680's fuel-efficiency estimates are 12 mpg city, 20 mpg highway, and 14 mpg combined. When we get a chance, we'll take the Maybach on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route and update this story with test For more information about the S-class's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
First Row: So many luxury features are standard in the Maybach we couldn't possibly list them all here, but all models come with exquisite leather on virtually every interior surface; a 64-color interior ambient lighting system; heated-and-ventilated front seats with massage and four- memory settings; heated rear seats with power adjustments and massage; an air ionizing system with a signature fragrance; and a panoramic sunroof.
Second Row: A rear center fold-down armrest is home to storage, wireless charging, USB-C ports, and temperature-controlled cupholders. Folding tables and window shades are joined by new 13.1-inch displays with integrated cameras for video conferences. A four-seat executive cabin option is available, featuring a reclining right rear passenger seat with ottoman.
Cargo Capacity: Both the S580 and S680 feature nearly identical storage space to the standard Mercedes-Benz S-class, which managed to swallow six carry-on suitcases in its trunk during our testing.
Infotainment and Connectivity
- Infotainment: 14.4-inch touchscreen (standard), 12.3-inch passenger touchscreen (standard)
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Audio System: 30-speaker Burmester audio system (standard), 39-speaker Burmester audio system (optional)
Infotainment highlights include the new dash-spanning screen—referred to as a "Superscreen" in Benz vernacular—comprising a 12.3-inch passenger screen, 14.4-inch central screen, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The all-in-one display covers all of the real estate on the dashboard and doesn't match the otherwise tasteful interior design. The new fourth-gen MBUX infotainment system offers dual wireless phone chargers in the front console as well as 100-watt USB-C phone charging ports.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Maybach S-class offers a portfolio of standard driver-assistance features; traditionally, the S-class is the model in which Mercedes offers its groundbreaking tech features first.
- Standard Safety Features: automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature mode
For information about the S-class's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Mercedes-Maybach provides solid warranty coverage. It surpasses the protection offered by Bentley.
- Limited Warranty: four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: four years or 50,000 miles
- Complimentary Maintenance: none
C/D Test Results and Specs
Each year, we put hundreds of vehicles through our rigorous instrumented testing regimen. If the data in the chart below is for a different model year, that's because this vehicle hasn't changed from when we last tested it, and the test results remain accurate.
Specifications
Specifications
2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 4- or 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE (C/D EST)
Base: S580, $220,000; S680, $270,000
ENGINES
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve 4.0-liter V-8, 530 hp, 553 lb-ft; twin-turbocharged and intercooled SOHC 36-valve 6.0-liter V-12, 621 hp, 664 lb-ft
TRANSMISSION
9-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 133.7 in
Length: 215.9 in
Width: 75.6 in
Height: 59.4 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 56/61 ft3
Trunk Volume: 12 ft3
Curb Weight (C/D est): 5300–5400 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 3.7–4.0 sec
100 mph: 8.3–8.7 sec
1/4-Mile: 11.9–12.3 sec
Top Speed: 130 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)
Combined/City/Highway: 14–19/12–16/20–25 mpg
More Features and Specs
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