AUTO

Mercedes-Maybach S580

As Close To Perfect As It Gets

By Richard Posluszny

Having covered the automotive landscape for more than 13 years, I must admit I’ve gotten a bit jaded. The industry’s luster has dulled and, frankly, now that I’ve seen how the sausage is made, I am not so sure I like it as much as I used to. In fact, I’ve heard this same sentiment both journalists and professionals at the manufacturers. It’s no surprise, really. It’s a tricky — and, at times, dirty — business.

That said, my love for driving, excellent engineering and top-notch design remains steadfast. It’s a sickness, really.

Over the years there’s only been about a handful of automotive experiences that truly moved me. In some cases, I wound up having my strong-held opinions shaken to their core. Others, I was so touched I wound up with an all-new vehicle in my driveway. This review and story is following the trajectory of the latter.

When the all-new Mercedes-Maybach S580 made its debut in 2020, I was a bit startled. That’s because the brand decided to showcase it in a two-tone paint job. To me, this look is dated. And, not in the cool/ vintage type of way. More like in the same vein as a Landau top — it didn’t look good then and it certainly doesn’t look good now. Upon taking possession of the new Maybach, I was greeted with a silver and dark green example.

While I certainly didn’t like the specification of the livery, I will say this: The ultra-lux S-Class boasts presence. Part of it is due to its size. With a wheelbase that’s seven inches longer over the standard S-Class, your backseat passengers will adore you. Additionally, there’s a lot of little touches that remind you that this isn’t your standard S. It’s something much better. Take, for example, the vertical slats in the front grille that echo pinstripes, or the chrome fin that runs down the center of the hood.

My favorite detail was the 20-inch, monoblock wheels. These polished, chunky wheels are just delightful to look at from all angles and really set the Maybach apart from, well, everything.

Consider all the aforementioned the cherry on top. That’s because once you get inside the Maybach S580, your mind will be blown.

Getting more comfortable in the diamond-quilted driv-

er’s seat, I found myself at home almost immediately. It didn’t hurt that the car comes with a sueded neck pillow and seats that adjust in a multitude of ways. Additionally, they heat, cool and feature the best massage function in the automotive business today. Guess what? We’re only getting warmed up.

After you’ve been made as comfortable as your own living room, you’ll take note of the three-pointed star’s latest technology. In the center stack is a large, 12.8inch touchscreen display for all your infotainment needs. Beyond the steering wheel is another 12-inch display that features your mission-critical driving information and can be customized to your liking. On the steering wheel are two touch-sensitive pads that help you control both screens without distracting yourself from the task at hand, driving. To be straightforward, for me to delve into all the whiz-bang technology this vehicle features, I’d need another 1,000 words. So, rather than bore you I am going to stick to the important stuff. Just know this: It all works and it’s all brilliant.

At first, it’s going to be overwhelming. When you have 64 ambient lighting colors to choose from and things like how intense you want the perfume to smell inside the cabin, you have a laundry list of decisions to make. But, after spending several days with the vehicle you’ll adjust and learn to love every bit of tech. In fact, it’s hard going back to another auto afterwards.

Just think, I haven’t even touched on the active and passive safety features.

Sliding into the backseat, things continue to get more interesting. That’s because my test vehicle was equipped with the executive seating package. This means there’s only two seats in the rear and, yes, they do all of the same things the front do (e.g., heat, cool and massage). There’s a bonus though: When behind the front passenger, you can be laid down like a business-class airplane seat. Once the reclining begins, you’ll be presented with additional leg support and a footrest is deployed. In the Maybach, you have the option to take a nap if you so desire.

Don’t want to count sheep? No problem. Perhaps you can entertain yourself with one of the two 11-inch displays affixed to the front seats’ backrests. Or you can leverage the centrally mounted tablet to control the vehicle’s various settings. With the power of the tablet you become, essentially, a rear seat dictator.

Looking a bit closer around the cockpit, you’ll notice other fine details that make it clear that this vehicle, and project, was somebody’s baby. For example, the headliner is leather wrapped, when you press the Start button there’s a satisfying “click” and even the HVAC vents snap into place with a certain type of precision.

I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet. The Mercedes-Maybach S580 drives like a dream. Powered by a bi-turbo, V8 engine, the S580 variant produces a robust 496 horsepower and just over 515 lb.-ft. of torque. If you’re traveling in this car, you likely won’t be in a hurry as people will wait for you, but if you need to get going fast, there’s gobs of power at your disposal.

As expected, comfort is prioritized in the Maybach. During most of my time with the S580 I kept it in the Maybach driving mode. This specifically adjusts the vehicle’s various settings so that it delivers an exceptional experience for passengers.

Note: It does.

The ride seems to float over most potholes and other imperfections in the pavement. That said, I do wish it isolated the significant bumps a touch better and more in line with the latest flagships from Bentley and Rolls-Royce, but those vehicles also cost 50 to 100 percent more than the Benz.

Where I found the Mercedes excelling was with how it handles wind noise. The cabin is kept shockingly quiet, even when nearing triple digit speeds. You can thank the engineers who, very strategically, increased the vehicle’s sound deadening and used some ingenu-

ity to increase the level of comfort inside. For example, the C-pillar’s fixed window benefits from extra thick glass to keep noise down as it’s near rear occupants’ heads.

Even better, if this all sounds a bit too sedate and a bit of a bore, I have news for you. This isn’t merely a vehicle for chauffeuring C-suite executives or diplomats. You too can drive this and squeeze some fun out of it.

By dialing up the driving settings to Sport or Sport +, you can enjoy a more edgy side of the Maybach. Keep in mind it’s not a sports car but you can enjoy a blast on country roads if you’re seeking a livelier experience.

This is because of technology like rear-wheel steering. A vehicle of the Maybach S580’s size and weight has no business being hustled, but because of this novel use of technology it feels relatively nimble and lithe whether you’re navigating a parking lot or on winding roads.

Try that in a Bentley or Rolls-Royce. Having piloted my fair share I can attest to the fact that those autos are a handful when you don’t have wide apertures to navigate and feel tank-like when you try to put them into twisties. I am sure detractors will say, “All of this sounds nice, Richard, but it just looks like any other S-Class.” Painting broad strokes, they wouldn’t be wrong.

To me though, that’s actually an added benefit. Personally, when I’ve driven high-end autos it always feels a bit like I’ve got a target on my back. For every thumbs up and smile I’ve seen, I’ve also been dealt my fair share of scowls and dirty looks. The Maybach, on the other hand, is a more restrained choice. Only those clued in will know.

Which, of course, brings up a difficult question: Why not just get a standard Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

Being one step ahead of you, I took the liberty of driving a regular S580 to find out. And while it is a staggeringly good auto that I am considering putting in my garage, it just isn’t on that next level the Maybach is on.

Essentially, what Mercedes has done is take an already excellent vehicle and made it incrementally better in the most critical areas. And, if you subscribe to the marque’s motto, “The best or nothing,” then, well, the choice is obvious provided you can cut a check for north of $185,000.

To quote Ferris Bueller: “If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”

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