Mercedes-Maybach S-Class (W223): luxury and technology without limits

Although the previous, rather aristocratic model wearing the double‑M badge has been "downgraded" to a higher equipment line, the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class (W223) still delivers luxury and technology with virtually no ceiling.

Dimensions and rear-seat comfort in the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

As if the long-wheelbase version of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class were not exclusive enough, the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class sits in a league of its own when it comes to sheer size. Wheelbase has been stretched by a further 18 cm to 3.40 m, turning the second row into a secluded, private lounge with its own climate control and leather-trimmed detailing.

In the rear, the air‑conditioned, multi-adjustable leather armchairs do more than offer massage: they can recline to 43.5º for an even more restful position. If you need to work rather than relax, the backrest can be set to an almost upright 19º. And for those who want to fully stretch out, the front passenger seat backrest can be moved a further 23º.

Access to the two rear luxury seats feels closer to a set of gates than ordinary doors and, when required, they can also be opened and closed electrically, Rolls-Royce-style - even from the driver’s seat. As with the previous generation, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class gains a third side window; and alongside its 5.47 m overall length, it also features a noticeably broader C‑pillar.

Mercedes-Maybach, a success story

Even though Maybach is no longer a standalone marque, Mercedes appears to have struck on a genuinely successful business model for the historic name, reborn as the most opulent interpretation of the S-Class (and, more recently, the GLS).

That success is driven in particular by demand in China. Worldwide, Mercedes-Maybach models have been selling at an average rate of 600-700 units per month, reaching a total of 60 thousand vehicles since 2015. Another factor is that the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class has not been offered solely with a 12-cylinder engine - ideal for reinforcing its luxury image - but also with six- and eight-cylinder options at significantly more attainable prices.

That approach will carry over unchanged to the newly revealed generation. The first versions for Europe and Asia will arrive with eight- and 12-cylinder engines, delivering 500 cv (370 kW) in the S 580 and 612 cv (450 kW) in the S 680, respectively. And the range will not stop at V8 and V12: later on, an inline six will join the line-up, along with a plug-in hybrid variant paired with that same six-cylinder. With the exception of the future plug-in hybrid, all other engines are mild-hybrid (48 V).

For the first time, the new Mercedes-Maybach S 680 comes as standard with all-wheel drive. Its closest rival, the (also new) Rolls-Royce Ghost, did something similar three months ago; yet the smaller Rolls-Royce - at 5.5 m long - still manages to be longer than the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, which is the largest S-Class of them all. And the Ghost is set to gain an extended-wheelbase version, too…

Luxury equipment in the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class impresses

Ambient lighting uses 253 individual LEDs; the refrigerator between the rear seats can be set anywhere from 1 ºC to 7 ºC to keep champagne at the ideal temperature; and completing the optional two-tone, hand-painted finish takes a full week.

Needless to say, the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class can be tailored in great depth. For the first time, it is not just heated cushions in the rear head restraints: there is now an extra massage function in the leg supports, plus separate heating for the neck and shoulders.

As was the case with the S-Class Coupé and Cabriolet - which will not be replaced in this generation - the rear seatbelts now operate electrically. The cabin is also quieter still thanks to an active driving noise-cancellation system. Much like noise-cancelling headphones, it cuts low-frequency sound by using anti-phase audio waves generated through the Burmester sound system.

The familiar systems seen on the new S-Class also play their part, such as rear-axle steering, which trims the turning circle by almost two metres, and the LED headlights, each with 1.3 million pixels and able to project additional information onto the road ahead - improving both safety on board and everyday usability.

In the event of a serious frontal impact, the rear airbag can substantially reduce strain on occupants’ head and neck - bringing the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class total to 18 airbags.

On the safety front, and as seen in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the chassis can adjust to conditions even when the worst cannot be avoided. For instance, the air suspension can lift only one side of the car if a side impact is imminent, encouraging the strike point to occur lower down on the body where the structure is stronger, increasing the survivable space inside.

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