2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class First Look: Power and Luxury in Spades

• What's new: The updated 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class gets the full Maybach treatment.
• Why it matters: The Maybach is longer and more luxurious than the standard S-Class, and it's available with a V12 engine.
• Edmunds says: The Maybach S-Class presents a great alternative to the Bentleys and Rolls-Royces of the world.

It looks ... better?

I'll admit, I was not kind to the 2027 S-Class when it debuted earlier this year. (Come on, tell me the front end doesn't scream Nissan Altima.) The Maybach treatment helps, especially with a two-tone color scheme. But I don't like that the black eye- and lip-liner around the headlights and grille can't be painted to match one of the upper or lower colors. And believe me, I asked.

The Mercedes-Benz emblem on the hood and Maybach logo on the rear pillar can be illuminated, and the grille surround lights up too. I like the rose gold accents inside the headlight clusters, and the different 20- and 21-inch wheel designs are pretty classy.

The back seat is where it's at

Compared to a standard S-Class, the Maybach version is 7.1 inches longer. All of that length is found between the front and rear wheels and solely exists to benefit rear legroom. Those back seats extend into lounge chairs that rival the best airline business class seats, and are of course heated, ventilated and fitted with massage functions. Pop open a bottle of Champagne that you've kept cool in the refrigerator between the seats, lean back and sip away — out of custom Maybach flutes, natch.

There are 13.1-inch touchscreens mounted to the front seatbacks, and rear passengers have a remote control that manages various vehicle functions, like the power sunshades, climate control and more. Rear seat cameras also allow you to video chat or conference into a Zoom call, though I wouldn't recommend the latter — back-of-a-Maybach time is for relaxing, not working.

Go for the V12

Mercedes-Benz will offer the Maybach S-Class with two engines. In the S 580, you get the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 as the standard S-Class, with 530 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. Paired with all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission, this will surely be fine for most folks. But if you're truly living the "go big or go home" life, the optional V12 engine is hard to pass up.

In the S 680 4Matic, a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12 pumps out 621 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque, which is enough to get this large barge to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, according to Mercedes-Benz. There's nothing quite like the smooth, effortless torque of a V12 engine, and I'd be remiss not to spec this engine in my own Maybach S-Class — if I were ever able to afford such a thing.

Regardless of engine, the Maybach S-Class comes with Mercedes' new cloud-connected Airmatic suspension, specially tuned to deliver a superb ride. Every driver assistance function you could ever ask for is also available, including the MB Drive Assist hands-free function.

Customize it all you want

Mercedes-Benz will offer a full range of Manufaktur personalization options, including more than 150 exterior colors and 400 interior hues. So by all means, go wild. Look for the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class models to hit U.S. showrooms in the second half of 2026.