The Mercedes S-Class is already a high-end limousine…but then there’s the Maybach.
Once you get up into the world of ultra high-class luxury sedans, there are really only a few players in contention for all the plutocrats out there. You have the Rolls-Royce Phantom, the Bentley Flying Spur, and this: the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. While the “regular” W223 S-Class is already a limousine by conventional standards, the Maybach kicks the luxuriousness up to a whole new level. The 2027 facelift follows Mercedes’ updates to the rest of the S-Class range, with the automaker calling changes to the poshest version the “most extensive update in the history of Maybach S-Class”.
Much like the revamped seventh-generation S-Class sedan that emerged earlier this year, though, you’d be forgiven for thinking that claim is a little overblown. The revamped version doesn’t look all that different at first glance, but it’s all down to the details. There’s a 20% larger grille with an illuminated surround, for example, while the new Maybach also brings fresh 20 and 21-inch wheel designs, as well as a new Night Series Exterior Package with darkened chrome surrounds and accents. The idea is to give this car a bolder look and statement, and while it’s not incredibly flashy (that’s never really been Maybach’s schtick anyway), it’s a little bit easier to tell this car apart from your plebeian transportation.
Inside, the 2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is basically, in the grand tradition, your usual S-Class…but more. A more plush look, nicer feeling materials, enhanced technology and bespoke customization options define the models getting the Maybach treatment. There are new front and rear center consoles, a standard MBUX Superscreen setup and the automaker’s latest, AI-powered MB.OS, marking the first time that system makes its way into the flagship S-Class.
Beyond the tech, Mercedes touts its Manufaktur “Made to Measure” program. Basically, the combinations of Nappa leather, interior stitching, embroidery and finishes basically come down to the buyer’s taste (and technically their bank account, as if that matters when you’re shopping at this level).
Like before, the updated 2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class comes in two types. The S580 packs a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8, producing 530 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. This particular V8 is technically a new engine, however, as it brings in a 48-volt mild hybrid system and more power than the outgoing car (496 hp/516 lb-ft). With that update, the V8-powered Maybach hits 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, rather than 4.7. The updated car also gets an improved Airmatic suspension setup, using predictive damping to improve comfort, especially for rear passengers.
The S680 is the model for the true high-rollers, though, as that brings in the iconic 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12, with 621 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. It’s a powerful machine, though the 0-60 time is still the same as the V8: 4.3 seconds. The electronically-limited 130 mph top speed is also the same on both models, and that says a fair bit about who the V12 is really for. Of course, out-and-out speed isn’t the point of a Maybach generally, though you can say with the S680 that you have the highest-class Maybach of them all, and are therefore superior, with V12 badges to show for it. There is a bit of an asterisk with the V12, as you can only get it in certain markets (including the U.S.).
Okay…how much does it cost?
“Available automatic comfort doors, first-class executive rear seats, a dedicated rear refrigerated compartment and silver-played Robbe & Berking champagne flutes underscore the feeling of curated indulgence.” Mercedes-Benz included that information in its release on the new Maybach S-Class, and let’s keep those last words in our mind as we go over pricing.
Officially, there are no official prices for the 2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class models just yet. Unofficially, it’s really academic anyway, since this is a classic example of “if you have to ask…”. Nevertheless, the 2026 Maybach S580 started off at $207,150. The S680, for all its V12 splendor, kicks the price up to $244,400 and beyond, so 2027 models will likely increase from there.
Still, even at a quarter-million dollars, the Mercedes-Maybach is still something of a bargain against, say, a $400,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom. Something to think about when the Maybach arrives in showrooms in the second half of this year.
