Updated Mercedes-Maybach GLS 2027 unveiled

The third-generation Mercedes-Benz GLS, first launched in 2019, has already received two updates, with the latest revealed just over two months ago. It was therefore only a matter of time before the Stuttgart brand applied the same treatment to the Maybach version, where luxury is the main selling point.

As expected, the changes mirror those introduced on the “standard” GLS. The biggest revisions focus on styling and technology, although there are updates elsewhere too.

Even as increasingly strict emissions rules continue to push many manufacturers towards hybrid and electric powertrains, Mercedes-Maybach has not followed that route. The updated luxury SUV retains a V8, with its only nod to electrification being a 48 V mild-hybrid system.

Stars everywhere on the Mercedes-Maybach GLS

On the outside, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS adopts a completely redesigned front end, led by a new grille that is now illuminated. At the top sit a “Maybach” script and the three-pointed star-both lit up too-which is a first for the brand.

To further underline the SUV’s presence and stance, the new Mercedes-Maybach GLS comes as standard with 22" alloy wheels, or optionally 23" items. Whichever size you choose, both use a mechanism that keeps the brand logo permanently upright, in the same way Rolls-Royce does.

At the rear, were it not for the various chrome details and the “Maybach” lettering on the tailgate, it could easily be mistaken for a “regular” GLS. The updates are largely the same, most notably the new tail-lights, now linked by a black panel and featuring a lighting signature made up of three-dimensional stars.

In total, we counted 11 illuminated stars on the exterior of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 2027.

A (even) more high-tech cabin

Inside, the headline upgrade is one already seen on the “standard” GLS: the integration of the MBUX Superscreen, here with Maybach-specific graphics. This uninterrupted glass surface spans the full width of the dashboard and houses three 12.3" displays, complemented by an 18" augmented-reality head-up display.

In the second row, the key addition is a pair of 11.6" Full HD touchscreens-one per rear passenger-allowing films to be watched or entertainment apps to be used. The panoramic roof also becomes standard equipment. Maximum capacity can still rise to seven seats.

There’s only one engine, and it’s a V8

Unlike the Mercedes-Benz GLS range-which stretches from diesel options through to a petrol V8-the more luxury-focused variant limits the line-up to a single choice: a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 612 hp and 850 Nm of torque, paired with a 48 V mild-hybrid system.

Those figures sound exciting, but this SUV is not positioned as a performance model. Instead, it prioritises refinement and smoothness, with the brand stating it has worked to reduce vibration and engine noise.

To enhance comfort further, the new Mercedes-Maybach GLS features air suspension as standard or, optionally, the system Mercedes calls E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL, which can reduce both vertical and lateral body movements by making adjustments up to 1000 times per second.

How much will it cost?

The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS is expected to start reaching the market in the first half of 2027, but pricing has not yet been announced. By way of comparison, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class currently starts at around €219,000.