A palatial luxury sedan made for eliminating any hint - 2024 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Review
2Overview
Billionaire buyers looking for the ultimate in luxury will find the 2024 Mercedes-Maybach S-class a sedan fit for their regal routines. Based on the Benz-branded S-class, the Maybach version turns luxury all the way up and features interior materials that put it squarely in the same class with high-dollar rides such as the Bentley Flying Spur and the Rolls-Royce Ghost. Like those cars, the Maybach is designed to pamper every occupant, especially those in the rear, who are treated with options such as reclining seats with massage, a beverage cooler, and electrically operated doors. A standard air suspension virtually erases potholes, making it a peaceful place to close a multimillion-dollar deal or sip a glass of champagne on your way to the red carpet. And depending on how you customize it, the Maybach S-class can get you to your destination without attracting attention from paparazzi, or it can announce your arrival with hypebeast flair.
What's New for 2024?
A Night Series appearance package is now available for the Maybach S-class that features darkened chrome exterior accents peppered with rose-gold details in the headlamps. The Night Series models come in gray, black, or white exterior colors or can be had with a two-tone Onyx Black and Mojave Silver scheme. The Maybach rolls on special dark-finished wheels embossed with a pattern made entirely of Maybach logos. The car's cabin is decked out, of course, but the Night Series takes it a step further with unique finishings, and you can choose from either an all-black leather upholstery or a white and black duo.
If you're gonna go with a Maybach version of the S-class, you might as well go big and get the S680 and its powerful V-12 engine. Standard features are of course plentiful and include luxury items such as soft-close doors, an air suspension, a 30-speaker Burmester stereo system, and a rear-seat entertainment system with two 11.6-inch touchscreens and much, much more.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Under the hood of every S580 sedan is a 496-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine, which is augmented by a 48-volt hybrid system. Going with the S680 swaps in a 621-hp 6.0-liter V-12. All models will come with Mercedes' 4Matic all-wheel drive system. The V-8 makes 33 more horsepower than the old S560 from 2020, and it packs quite a punch. During our testing, the S580 rocketed to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. But that's not the most impressive thing about the Maybach S-class. During our time with the car, we were impressed with the ride quality and the nearly silent cabin—we recorded an extremely low 64 decibels inside the car while cruising at 70 mph. The V-12's power rating is the same as the 2020 S650 model and does not benefit from a 48-volt hybrid system, but we haven't had a chance to test the new one yet. An air suspension and an active sound cancellation system are both standard in the new model, which helps the car deliver a silky, ultra-quiet ride; the S-class also offers rear-wheel steering which should help with navigating this big sedan through tight city streets.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA estimates that the S580 is good for 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway; the S680's fuel efficiency estimates are 12 mpg city and 21 mpg highway. When we get the chance, we'll take it on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route and report those test results here. For more information about the S-class's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Maybach S-class has a seven-inch-longer wheelbase than the already-large Benz-branded S-class sedan, which provides even more stretch-out space inside its leather-lined cabin. So many luxury features are standard in the Maybach we couldn't possibly list them all here, but all models will 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-position memory settings; heated rear seats with power adjustments and massage; an air ionizing system with a signature fragrance; and a panoramic sunroof. For buyers who intend to be chauffeured, Maybach can add the optional Executive Rear Seat Plus package, which includes rear-seat folding tables, an extended center console, additional rear-seat wood trim, and temperature-controlled cup holders. Also optional are electrically operated rear doors, a refrigerator, and Maybach-branded champagne flutes.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Like the Benz S-class, the Maybach comes standard with Mercedes's latest MBUX infotainment interface displayed on a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is also standard, and all models also come with an augmented-reality navigation system that displays easy-to-follow video directions on both the infotainment display and the car's head-up display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with wireless connectivity, 6 USB-C ports, a 30-speaker Burmester stereo system,