What Its Like to Drive the World’s Fanciest Mercedes-Benz: Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 Test Drive
If you ever see a Mercedes-Maybach in traffic, look closely at the rear window; there is certain to be someone rich or famous in the rear seat. Taylor Swift, maybe? Lady Gaga? Beyoncé and Jay Z? They’ve all been known to spend time in a Maybach. But also look closely at the driver’s seat; you’re just as likely to see them there. That’s because this luxury super car is just as delightful to drive as it is to be driven in it.
I spent time in the EQS 680 edition, an all electric version that combines all that Mercedes does in its luxury cars with it’s EV capability, and the result is an incredible cocoon of power, luxury and true pampering. With a starting price of $179,900 and our model priced at just a first-class airfare under $200,000, you might even call this car a bargain: Not because of all the money you’ll save on gas, but for the power it generates and the luxuries that define it. The same details in another supercar might cost twice this. Bargain, right? Here’s what it’s like to drive the world’s fanciest Mercedes: the Maybach EQS 680.
Don’t Let It’s Sweet Look Fool You: This Car is Powerful
I got into the Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 near near Newark Airport and headed out on the highway. Once I got past all the plush luxuries, the hyperscreen and massaging seats and settled into the drive, it was time to try out acceleration in the most powerful electric Mercedes on the road. And it didn’t disappoint. Flooring the accelerator delivers a silent flight-like experience that whisks you away. For the next hour I delighted in finding empty pockets of highway in which to again push its power from a slowdown to just past the speed limit. Even Michael, my seat mate grinned every time I floored it.
This car derives its electric power, and the EQS part of its name, from Mercedes-Benz EV line. But the Maybach shares its dual motor and 108.4 kWh battery with the AMG EQS sedan. Both deliver 649 HP and 700 lb.-ft. of torque, which is fast. We all know, if it’s truly luxury, it needs to be fast. And that is one reason you might choose to drive rather than ride in luxury.
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The View From the Driver’s Seat is Incredible
It’s marked by a ‘hyper screen,’ a full scope screen that spans the entire dashboard. And, all screens are customizable: You can choose what to see on the driver display and the center screen; the passenger has to customize the passenger screen, however, and even when it’s on, it can’t be seen by the driver so as to avoid distraction.
If having to fumble through screens to find what you want is daunting, or annoying, there are fixed controls at the bottom of the center and passenger screens for quick access to things like climate control.
And if using the screen isn’t to your liking, you can simply ask the system for what you’d like. Just say “Hey, Mercedes, lower the cabin temperature,” and the assistant politely obliges. And if you say “Thank you,” she responds, “you’re welcome.”
And then of course, there is all the regular luxury stuff: head up display, augmented reality navigation which overlays turn by turn directions with a video view of the road, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging for front and rear seat passengers. There’s not a thing missing.
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The Most Difficult Choice: Ride or Drive?
Shortly into our drive I had to pull off the road and surprise Michael. “Hop into the rear seat, would you?” He looked a little surprised but obliged. Once settled, I asked him to push the button on the door just forward of the lower control. And I watched in the rear view mirror as he reacted in surprise and delight.
That’s because the rear seat in this car is the piéce de résistance: Reclining, pillow-topped heated, vented and massaging rear seats. When fully engaged, a foot rest extends as well. Soon Michael found the wireless headphones and was tapping the screen to see what other delights he could find (there were plenty).
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Don’t Forget to Request a Massage
Knowing that Michael hadn’t discovered my favorite feature, I said “Hey, Mercedes, turn on the rear passenger seat massage.”
“Oh!” he exclaimed instantly as the massage began. If he’d like to turn on the massage without everyone in the car knowing, there are other options: tap the massage button on the seat configurator on the door; tap the screen on the seat back or the screen in the center console.
The same options are available to front seat passengers: tap the front screen, the button on the door panel button ask Mercedes to turn it on for you.
Rear Seat Passengers Are Truly Pampered
There might actually be more fancy details in the rear seat than the front seat, an unusual circumstance, even in a luxury car. But rear seat pillows, micro suede head rest pillows, double quilted leather, thick carpets, dual seat back screens and a center console screen, charge ports, console boxes with retractable covers (which can accommodate a champagne cooler) are just the start. Look overhead and you’ll see a tailored leather ceiling headliner. Look forward and you’ll see the hyperscreen. In the door pockets you’ll find wireless headphones for viewing the seat back screens. All of it elegantly, neatly designed.
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The Most Spoiling Detail: Microsuede Head Rest Pillows
Luckily all four seats in our Mercedes-Maybach tester had these. Take a seat, put on your seatbelt and start your journey. Then relax and recline just a bit and your head is cradled in comfort. These headrest pillows are simply exquisite.
Maybach Logos are Everywhere
Yes, you’ll find Maybach logos everywhere and yet, they are demure and integrated into the overall design rather than blingy and over the top. It could be a game to play with your passengers: How many logos are there? We found them on the running boards, the dashboard and here, on the seat back pockets.
Even in Subtle Places, Like the Front Grille, Are Maybach Marked
This is one detail I really loved: The Maybach logos add a bit of dimension to lower facia panels that in a gas-powered car would be an air vent. Here, it hides a camera.
The Night Series Package Adds Even More Style – and Logos
There are refreshingly few options on the Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680, but the Night Series package is one. For $25,000 you can add black details and these logo wheels, which in the tone-on-tone design, give a feel of high design rather than bling.
Plenty of Room in the Cargo Area, and Look- Another Logo!
The Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 has about 15.5 cubic feet of cargo space. It’s enough for several roll-aboard bags for a weekend away or a lunch and shop day at Neiman Marcus. A range of 280 miles means it’s not all that likely that this car will be doing a lot of long-haul driving so it’s probably better that the space is used for passenger comfort rather than cargo.
Charging the Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680
When it was time to head back to Newark Airport the range on the Maybach was a bit lower than I was comfortable with. Even though the car was fully charged when we started out and we only drove about 90 miles, we had less than 140 on the range. It should have have been closer to 190 miles, though climbed a significant elevation, used a lot of air conditioning and had fun with the 649 HP on our drive. And had some driving around to do before heading back to the airport.
So for the return trip I decided to stop and charge along the way. I found a Shell station with a 180 kW Level 3 DC fast charger just off I-80 and was able to put 100 miles on the meter in about 10 minutes and I was quickly on my way. In all it was very easy and pleasant.
Watching the Charge Level Increase Is Quite Comforting
While I sat in the car I could monitor the charge process and decide when it was full enough to resume my journey. Sitting in this interior while I waited was a welcome thing.
An SUV in Tux – Fitting for The World’s Fanciest Mercedes
Spending time in the Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 and looking back at the photos gave me appreciation for its design. The front grille has sort of a striped tuxedo look to it; this look is continued on the wood and metal-inlay center console and seat backs. The two-tone silver and black exterior adds to the dressy feel, even if it’s an SUV that’s dressed up.
Its size and scale add to its luxuriousness. Unlike the sedan version of the Maybach, the EQS 680 is an SUV. It has slightly higher ground clearance, all wheel drive and even running boards. It has a cargo space that easily allows you to lay out your belongings where they are closer to eye level and easier to see. The size and shape of the EQS 680 lend to being able to more comfortably get in and out, which I can attest to; I did a lot of that during my test drive.
And all together, it works. The SUV frame is unexpected for a super luxury car; sedans are the traditional style. That its an SUV also belies its power, which is exhilarating. And its exterior design hints subtly at the luxury inside without screaming to everyone that it’s indeed the world’s fanciest Mercedes.
Categorized:Car Reviews
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