2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class: Ultra-Luxury Excess Masquerading as Restraint

Mercedes just gave the Maybach S-Class the plastic surgery treatment, and the results are exactly what you’d expect from a brand that spent $220,000 to $270,000 on a stretched sedan: more of everything, most of which you don’t need. The 2027 facelift brings a 20-percent larger grille, new interior screens, boosted V-8 power, and rear-seat champagne flutes because apparently regular cupholder holders weren’t baroque enough.

Here‘s the thing, though: Mercedes nailed something that Bentley and Rolls-Royce still struggle with. This car is genuinely quiet. During testing, the combination of air suspension and active sound cancellation creates a cabin so serene you’ll question whether the engine is even running. That’s not hyperbole—it’s the Maybach’s true superpower, and it’s worth the admission price alone if you’re buying one of these.

What’s Actually New Here?

The 2027 refresh moves beyond cosmetic updates. The standard 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 now produces 530 horsepower, up from 496 hp, while the optional 6.0-liter twin-turbo V-12 remains pegged at 621 hp. That V-12 sounds like it’s been lovingly lubricated with aged butter—legitimately one of the best engine notes in ultra-luxury sedans right now. All-wheel drive is standard, and both engines channel power through a nine-speed automatic.

The visual updates are harder to love. That massive illuminated grille with the Maybach nameplate proudly displayed reads as try-hard in a segment built on understated elegance. The headlights now feature lighting elements shaped like Mercedes’ three-pointed star, which is neat if you’re into conspicuous branding. The real interior story, though, is the new MBUX Superscreen that spans the entire dashboard—a 12.3-inch passenger display, 14.4-inch central screen, and 12.3-inch instrument cluster stitched into one continuous panel.

Here’s where it gets weird: that Superscreen doesn’t match the otherwise impeccable interior design. The rest of the cabin is swathed in leather, ambient lighting, and handcrafted materials that whisper refinement. Then you look at the dashboard and see what feels like a spaceship cockpit plunked into a drawing room. It’s a choice.

Rear-Seat Theater

This is where the Maybach earns its name. The stretched wheelbase creates extraordinary rear legroom, and Mercedes has weaponized that space with new 13.1-inch displays mounted on the front-seat headrests (perfect for the executive who absolutely must video conference from the back), a redesigned center console with temperature-controlled cupholders for those silver-plated Robbe and Berking champagne flutes, folding tables, and power window shades.

The optional four-seat executive cabin configuration is the real flex: it ditches the standard rear bench for a reclined right-side seat with an ottoman, transforming the back into a first-class cabin. If you’re paying $270,000-plus for this thing, you’re probably being driven, not driving—and Mercedes understands that better than almost anyone else in this space.

Performance That Shouldn’t Exist

A 5,300-pound sedan shouldn’t hit 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. But the S680 does exactly that, putting it in striking distance of Bentley’s hybrid Flying Spur, which manages the same feat with 771 horsepower across a hybrid system. The real-world takeaway: at this money and at these speeds, the difference between 3.7 and 4.0 seconds is theater. You’ll never need this performance. You’ll just know it’s there.

Fuel economy, predictably, is brutal. The S580 nets an estimated 16 city, 25 highway, 19 combined. The S680 drops to 12 city, 20 highway, 14 combined. According to EPA estimates, you’re looking at roughly the same thirst as a 1990s Hummer H1. That’s not a feature; that’s a tax on excess.

The Real Competitors

Mercedes positioned this thing against the Rolls-Royce Ghost and Bentley Flying Spur, and there’s an argument to be made that it undercuts both on price while delivering more technology and genuine driving refinement. But here’s the rub: those other two have something the Maybach doesn’t—they have presence. A Ghost rolls up and the room stops. A Flying Spur has swagger. The S-Class, even a Maybach-badged one, looks like a really expensive Mercedes. For some buyers, that’s the point. For others, it’s the fatal flaw.

Standard features across the lineup are genuinely exhaustive: 64-color ambient lighting, heated and ventilated seats with massage, ionizing air system with signature fragrance (yes, really), and a panoramic sunroof. The 30-speaker Burmester audio system is standard; there’s an optional 39-speaker setup if 30 speakers feel too pedestrian. The warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles on both the limited and powertrain side, and it’s actually better than what Bentley offers, though it doesn’t include complimentary maintenance.

The Verdict

The 2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is a masterclass in doing what you’re best at while slowly losing sight of what makes you special. It’s more powerful, more connected, and more equipped than ever. The ride quality remains second-to-none. The rear cabin is genuinely luxurious in ways that matter. But it’s also busier, more tech-forward, and visually muddier than the restrained elegance that built this brand’s reputation.

If you want a silent, supremely comfortable executive transport that makes understated power statements, this is your car. If you want a Maybach that feels like a Maybach and not an S-Class on stilts, you’re about five years too late.

Sources: Car and Driver