2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class First Drive: Which is More Enticing, V12 Power or Endless Luxury?
Save the enticing rear seat for red-carpet moments and club-hopping; driving this luxury sedan is a delight
My friend Margo described driving a Mercedes-Benz S-Class perfectly: “What makes it so lovely is that you put your foot down and you go,” she said. “There’s no hesitation.” What she loved about her S-Class sedan (yes, this mom of three drove a sedan!) was the luxury of a powerful engine that delivers on command, one of the defining elements of a true luxury car. And it’s a key factor in the 2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class that, along with this sedan’s intuitive technology and sanctuary-like cabin, makes this one of the most luxurious cars on the road.
For the 2027 model year, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class sedan, which has yet to release pricing but will likely start in the low $200,000’s and increase from there, has evolved its exterior look and added new technology and luxury features. What Mercedes didn’t do is get rid of the Maybach’s powerful engine options: A twin turbo V12 that produces 621 HP and a mild hybrid twin turbo V8 that delivers 530 HP, a slight increase from the prior model’s 496 HP.
While this ultra-luxe sedan is ideal for being chauffeured (or being Margo’s child), it’s also a fun and satisfying driver’s car. But the power under foot is only part of the story; there’s a lot more here I learned as I took the 2027 Mercedes-Maybach out recently for a day of delightful driving.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Additionally, I was a guest of Mercedes-Maybach for this test drive but all opinions are my own.
A Fresh New Face Greets You With a Winky Glowy
Mercedes-Maybach has evolved the look and feel of the face that greets you, literally, with a glow from the backlit Maybach name that sits at the top of the grille and the lighted standup star logo above it (the lighted logo is an option in the US). The wider front grille is also rimmed in light, standing out from the Maybach iconography on the lower diffuser panels and from the tri-star headlights with subtle Maybach logos set in rose gold, a signature Maybach accent.
The new lighting signature is complemented by new color choices—literally any color that makes you happy, thanks to the new Maufaktur “Made to Measure” program that allows Mercedes-Maybach buyers to truly customize their cars. The Made to Measure team can suggest only a few hundred shades of single and dual-tone paints, but you’re invited to create your own, making the possibilities limitless.
Watch: Our full walk around and test drive of the new 2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Sedan
The New Look is Finished in Sublime Details
Our test model, in Nautical Blue Metallic with the Night Series trim package was an exercise in stealth restraint, a decidedly low-key treatment of dark blue paint with a subtle metallic sparkle, black monoblock wheels and dark chrome accents, all in contrast to the glowing white interior. Our model was finished in quilted Nappa leather, gloss black accents and on the center console and seat backs, a chevron-patterned wood inlay parsed by chrome striping, another Maybach signature detail.
The dash now features an expanse of Superscreen glass that holds the central touchscreen and passenger screen; a separate driver’s display sits behind the steering wheel. The Superscreen sits low, tucked into the dashboard, affording you the grace to see the landscape and road ahead and only look at the screens when you wish.
The rear seats are a delight and yet, evolved from prior models. Passengers will find new remote controllers for the screens, sound, massage seats, window shades and more. There’s so much to tell about the interior (and exterior) of this car that I shared it all in this photo essay.
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680 vs 580: What’s in the Number?
Our test drive took us out in a fleet of Maybach S 680s, the most powerful model in the lineup, which is what the ‘680’ in the model name denotes. It delivers 621 HP and 664 pound-feet of torque from the twin turbo V12 engine, but other than acceleration without hesitation, you might not really feel all 12 cylinders or all that horsepower, which is by design. The power in this car is more about having the confidence of power than the feel of speed. Though you can feel the speed when you like, of course.
The slightly less powerful S 580 delivers 530 HP, still an amazing amount of power with its twin turbo V8 engine assisted by a mild hybrid motor that boosts torque to 553 pound-feet. But even better, that hybrid power delivers instant acceleration, getting the V8 up to speed quickly. I didn’t get a chance to drive the S 580 but would expect that the differences between the two are subtle and more of a personal preference.
Read: Meet the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLS: The First-Class 3-Row SUV for All Passenger
The Confident Drive Is Thanks To Smart Engineering
The confidence in the driver’s seat comes from more than just the engine in the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. Maybach’s engineers worked hard to make this full-size sedan drive like a dream; it combines an adaptive air suspension system, rear wheel steering and predictive damping to reduce the bumps in the road and create a smooth, elegant experience. That, paired with an extraordinarily quiet ride, creates a hushed feel inside the cabin.
To drive this car is to feel the rest of the world left outside the door, and to allow you to invite in what you’d like: a wide view of the landscape, concert-quality sound from the Burmester sound system, a perfect conversation with your companion whose words are not blurred by outside influences. And it feels exactly as it should: Luxurious.
As we headed out of the city and onto the highway, the Mercedes-Maybach was easy and confident. I appreciated the augmented reality on the head-up display; it never let me miss a turn, even with traffic circles seemingly every few yards. But it was in the hills and on narrow roads that I really appreciated the Maybach’s engineering. It handled even tight S-curves and blind hills with a calm sensibility, and when I needed to brake quickly the feeling was never jarring. And then, it let us get back up to speed easily.
Put it in Maybach Mode So You Don’t Spill Your Champagne
With 12 cylinders under the hood you might be tempted to scoot quickly from a traffic light or blast away from annoying traffic on the highway, and who could blame you? The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class includes drive modes to help you do that: Sport and Individual. Sport will lend a more precise drive feel, and individual lets you customize the settings. Comfort is the default mode, equalizing performance with a smooth ride, and then, there’s Maybach mode.
Maybach mode might be considered the opposite of Sport mode; rather than aggressive gear changes and precision handling that define a spirited drive, Maybach mode delivers a softer suspension to reduce the feel of motion; rather than instant and sometimes jarring acceleration, the throttle eases you into your speed. All this is to increase passenger comfort, especially for those in the rear seat. No one needs a jostling, jolting ride, especially with a Champagne flute in hand.
Ride Or Drive? Or Both?
The conundrum of a car like this is to ride or drive. The drive is a lovely experience with all that power and capability in your hands. But the rear seat can be outfitted with an executive package, a concept that Mercedes-Benz innovated with reclining, massaging seats, remotes to control the screens, climate and music, and extra luxuries like a beverage cooler and automatic window shades.
But there’s nothing like reclining in the plush and cushy Nappa leather seats and letting your head sink into the microsuede pillows that adorn the headrests. Go for total relaxation with a push of a button (on the passenger’s side only) and the front passenger’s seat slides forward, an ottoman extends to support your legs and your seat reclines. It’s a truly first class seat. You’ll want to ride, and you won’t want the ride to end.
Technology Makes the Drive So Much More Intuitive
These days, cars are driven as much by the person in the driver’s seat as the software in the car, sometimes even more by software, leading to cars that do a lot of things for us that we may not realize, and a lot more that we’re grateful for. That’s the mission in the Maybach S-Class, which serves as a pinnacle for Mercedes’ innovation.
This results in new tech features such as the new MB.OS operating system on the touchscreen that delivers faster “Hey Mercedes” responses in a conversational manner. Mercedes has always been the leader in this area and continues to be with the new system; it’s excellent.
And it’ll get better as Mercedes updates the Maybach with its MB Drive Assist with City Pro assist, a point-to-point assist system that can help to navigate city traffic as well as assisted highway driving. And that’s just the start; the Maybach offers parking assistance, a 360-degree surround view camera with under-body view, and my favorite: rim protection. Sensors will keep you from scratching your wheels on the curb and protect those monoblock wheel covers which cost $1,500 each to replace.
And isn’t that really the essence of luxury? Power under foot to just go is a great place to start, but intelligent systems that harness that power smartly, that keep you and your car safe, comfortable and calm is the true luxury.
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