2022 Mercedes-Benz Maybach
2022 Mercedes-Benz Maybach Review
- Takes regular Mercedes-Benz S-Class luxury to another level
- Choice of two high-powered turbo engines
- Available four-seat configuration with adjustable rear seats
- Classic, subdued and understated style
- Takes regular Mercedes-Benz S-Class pricing to another level
- Fuel economy is a distant afterthought
- Classic, subdued and boring style
- New S 680 model joins the lineup in the first half of calendar year 2022
- S 680's V12 engine produces 621 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque
- Part of the second Maybach generation introduced for 2021
It's rare to come across a car built with the passenger more in mind than the driver, but that's exactly the brief for the 2022 Mercedes Maybach. Essentially a fully loaded, stretched S-Class, the Maybach isn't foremost concerned with the driver's comfort.
Sure, there's a sizable instrument display with 3D-enhanced graphics, a head-up display and nearly a dozen driver assist features. There's a heated, cooled and massaging front seat wrapped in buttery leather up front, but backseat riders get the same treatment. One of the rear passengers even gets a power-adjustable massaging footrest. The Maybach is fine to drive, especially with partial rear-wheel steering to help trim its turning circle. But this is a car built for passenger pampering.
The generous standard features list only tells some of the story. The Maybach really reveals itself in the details. There's a biometric or facial recognition authentication program that can recall hundreds of vehicle settings for a single user profile, for example, or presets that sync climate control, seat massage, ambient cabin lighting, cabin fragrance, and audio for various moods. There are even heated wiper blades that emit water from laser-cut holes to lessen the smudge and streaking of a typical windshield cleaning pass. Mercedes likes to trot out its engineering pet projects in the S-Class line, and the Maybach is a showpiece.
For 2022, a new 12-cylinder trim level — the S 680 — joins the lineup, replacing the earlier S 650 iteration. This new top trim offers all-wheel drive and the latest MBUX infotainment system but still offers the understated stealth that its more flamboyant rivals like the Rolls-Royce Ghost and Bentley Flying Spur don't. Of course, the Maybach's primary rival might be the more common version of itself, the supremely capable and comfortable S-Class. The difference is in the details, of course.
Which Maybach does Edmunds recommend?
Mercedes-Benz Maybach models
The 2022 Mercedes-Maybach is available in two trim levels: S 580 and S 680. The S 580 is powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 engine (496 horsepower, 516 lb-ft of torque), while the S 680 uses a twin-turbo V12 (621 hp, 664 lb-ft). Both versions are all-wheel-drive and feature a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Mercedes-Benz Maybach vs. the competition
2022 Mercedes-Benz Maybach
2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz Maybach vs. Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Being fraternal twins, these two luxury sedans share many similarities. Logic will tell you that the S-Class is the better buy here. The S 580 versions of both cars have the same engine and many of the same features, and yet the S-Class is tens of thousands of dollars less expensive. But logic will only get you so far in the valet line or in generating satisfaction of buying the absolute best.
Mercedes-Benz Maybach vs. Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II
Most buyers considering a Rolls aren't cross-shopping the competition, particularly since the Ghost — generally seen as the entry-level Rolls — costs nearly twice as much as the Maybach. In this light, the Maybach represents extraordinary value since it offers the same standard features as the Ghost (and a few extras, such as ventilated and massaging rear seats) and also makes more power. It also has a larger infotainment display. Then again, the Ghost is incredibly customizable and has a grander road presence.
Mercedes-Benz Maybach vs. Bentley Flying Spur
Consider the Bentley Flying Spur if you want an ultra-luxe sedan that's meant just as much for its driver as it is for passengers. This is Bentley's sport-oriented big sedan and essentially a four-door version of the recently redesigned Continental GT. As such, it is more involving to drive than the Maybach. Power comes from a turbocharged V8, a turbocharged 12-cylinder engine or a new-for-2022 plug-in hybrid powerplant.
