2017 Mercedes-Benz Maybach Review

Effortless. That's how the 2017 Mercedes-Maybach S600 and S550 4Matic feel when you're behind the wheel. The steering is fairly light, and with lane keeping assist and/or Distronic Plus cruise control activated, it will even subtly steer the car for you. This quite obviously isn't a sporty car, but you'll be surprised at how adeptly this very large sedan will hunker down and go around a corner.

You may think you've enjoyed a comfortable ride before, but it most likely pales in comparison to the adjustable air suspension in the S550 4Matic. And yet, it actually gets better with the S600, which features Mercedes' trick Magic Body Control that actually detects bumps ahead and preemptively adjusts the suspension to compensate. The system doesn't work at all speeds and in all drive modes, but most of the time it makes bumps on the road virtually imperceptible.

As for power, well, there's no shortage of it. Both engines actually get the Maybach up to 60 mph at the same time in a sprint, but that's due to the increased traction provided by the S550's 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. In actually, the V12-powered S600 will feel like the stronger car. You won't hear much from either, however: All noises are reduced to a whisper inside the cocoon-like cabin. Mercedes claims this is the quietest sedan in the world, and it's an easy boast to believe.

The 2017 Mercedes-Maybach's S-Class roots may suggest a cabin that should compete with the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series, but its interior actually sits a healthy notch or two above those (very fine) vehicles. Think Bentley or even the Rolls-Royce Ghost.

The Maybach delivers a sensory experience like few other automobiles. Rich leather upholstery, replete with beautiful decorative perforations and stitching, resides everywhere the hand falls and seemingly stretches from floor to ceiling. A pair of massive, 12.3-inch widescreen displays appear to float in their mounts, with one acting as a gauge cluster and the other keeping tabs on infotainment functions and advanced vehicle settings. At night, driver-adjustable multicolor lighting bathes the cabin in a soothing glow. Even the air can be ionized and perfumed to the owner's specification.

Thanks to a 7.9-inch wheelbase stretch relative to the S-Class, the rear seats are the place to be, with pampering accommodations that wouldn't be out of place in a custom-outfitted Gulfstream. There's abundant room to stretch out, and with the rear center console, it's easy for a pair of occupants to get work done on the optional foldout tray tables or watch a movie using the twin rear screens. With the seats' power recline function and pop-out calf support and footrest, it's also possible to catch a few Z's or indulge in a quick "hot stone" massage en route to your next appointment.

Up front, all of the Maybach's many vehicle functions are controlled by the latest iteration of the Mercedes COMAND system. And we do mean many, as it is quite easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things to control on the car. As a result, it takes a long time to familiarize yourself with everything — even on a test drive — including the redundant control setup of a traditional knob controller and a more modern capacitive touchpad. You can essentially use whichever you prefer.

The trunk differs based on whether you stick with the standard 24-speaker Burmester sound system (12.3 cubic feet) or opt to save some cash and cargo volume by going with the 13-speaker system (16 cubic feet). That's a significant difference.