Tested: 2027 Mercedes-Maybach S580Mercedes-BenzClassic cocktails have staged a global comeback, in newly refined and artisanal forms. So why not old-school sedans?For its Maybach-branded concoctions, Mercedes reached back to a dusty recipe book that began with V-12 engines for Count von Zeppelin's airships and segued to fabulously expensive Maybach cars between 1921 and 1940. The company's V-12s, displacing up to 23 liters, powered Germany's fearsome Panzer and Tiger tanks during WWII. Maybach then fell into obscurity for decades.The Maybach name may never resonate with buyers the same as Rolls-Royce or Bentley, British marques that also slogged through wars and depressions yet reemerged as top choices for ballers, brokers, and billionaires. But for people who prefer a Germanic approach to luxury sedans, as personified by the Mercedes S-class, there's much to be said for a stretch-limo version that undercuts Bentley or (especially) Rolls-Royce prices.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe 2027 Mercedes-Maybach 4Matic may be bit less grand or titled than those royals, but it treats occupants just as well; that includes a 7.1-inch wheelbase stretch over a standard S-class. And it whips Rolls and Bentley in terms of leading-edge tech and features. Examples include an industry-best augmented reality navigation system and an Airmatic suspension that can glean Car-to-X data transmitted from other Mercedes vehicles driving ahead to adjust damping in anticipation of potholes or pavement challenges.Our expert editors test every vehicle we review. Read more about how we test and review cars here.The Lowdown:Mercedes-BenzThe 2027 Mercedes-Maybach is the gilded-lily version of the latest S-class, itself the most lavish mid-cycle upgrade in that flagship's history, with around 2700 new or reengineered components. Illuminated accents include the frame surround of the 20 percent larger grille and its etched Maybach script, as well as the C-pillar Maybach emblems and the optional Mercedes standing-star hood ornament. High-design headlamps integrate twin Mercedes stars and rose gold elements.Borrowing a cue from Rolls, self-leveling center wheel caps keep their Mercedes stars upright while in motion. Buyers can choose multispoke forged wheels in 20- or 21-inch sizes or more appealing monoblock designs. An optional wheel from Mercedes's typically tasteful Manufaktur division, part of a Night Series spec, might be the gaudiest wheel in autodom, festooned with more luxury logos than a fashion mall in Singapore. But as Mercedes reminds us, different strokes.Mercedes-BenzInside, the latest MBUX Superscreen sprawls from pillar to pillar. The vivid display integrates a 12.3-inch driver's cluster with handsome 3-D gauges and rose-gold dials, a 14.4-inch central infotainment screen, and a fully functional 12.3-inch passenger display. The latest MB.OS operating system runs the entire affair.AdvertisementAdvertisementA clear sensor shield on the grille and camera slots below the A-pillars are warts on an otherwise streamlined look. But sometime after the Maybach's showroom arrival later this summer, those cameras will help run a new MB.Drive Assist Pro. The Tesla Full Self-Driving rival promises point-to-point semi-autonomous operation, albeit with a hand on the wheel at all times. If you think the Maybach feels effortless, wait until it (nearly) drives itself.More SpecsPowertrain: 3982 cc twin-turbo V-8 + electric starter generatorPower: 530 hp @ 5500 rpmTorque: 553 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm0-60 MPH: 4.3 sec (mfr claim)Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, all-wheel driveAdvertisementAdvertisementWeight: TBCEPA Fuel Economy: TBCHow Does it Drive?Mercedes-BenzMaybach underscored its lifestyle vision by dropping me onto a helipad near the Côte d'Azur in France, where a row of 2027 Mercedes-Maybach S580s awaited on the tarmac.If an S-class seems too black-car subtle, the Maybach's signature two-tone paints add distinctive flair. The bow-shaped body is taped and pinstriped by human hands, as well as being entirely hand-sprayed—a process that takes up to five workdays and offers a touch of its British rivals' hand-craftsmanship. Buyers can choose from 150 exterior paints and 400 interior colors, even before soliciting Manufaktur's new Made to Measure service. My test car's Lake Green interior looked especially extravagant, paired with open-pore pinstriped oak.Mercedes-BenzPeople tend to assume that Maybach owners are all chauffeured around, but Mercedes says U.S. buyers especially tend to both drive and be driven, depending on the situation. Those owners shouldn't mind some DIY time: The Mercedes is enjoyable to operate, as long as you maintain a yacht rock state of mind. The new twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 may be bound for brawnier AMG models. But Mercedes adopted this flat-crank, Miller-cycle design specifically for its emissions advantages, not ear-rending performance. Dual balance shafts were required to soothe any flat-crank shake. This mild-hybrid V-8 still manages a husky 530 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, a gain of 34 horses and 37 lb-ft from the 2026 Maybach V-8. A surviving V-12-powered S680 will make 621 hp and 664 lb-ft.AdvertisementAdvertisementWith an elegant nine-speed automatic transmission and a roughly 5300-pound curb weight that's suddenly reasonable in an EV era, Mercedes says the S580 should surge to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. Brakes are strong, the pedal travel long, obviously tuned for Lexus-like onset to avoid ruffling passengers. But steering and handling are ideal for this class of car, combining a liquid ease with impressive composure.Mercedes-BenzOn a headlong rush through rugged massifs above the sparkling Mediterranean coastline, the Mercedes's adjustable dampers woke up nicely in Sport mode, checking body motions without harshing the ride. The connection finally grew a touch distant, but only at speeds that would have passengers howling for a driver's head, chauffeur-capped or not. Optional rear-axle steering offers a helping hand and a notably tight turning circle for an 18-foot-long sedan.A new Maybach driving mode, more comfortable than Comfort, is the standout. This settled the sedan into a cushy, five-star chaise lounge that might elicit a poolside coma. The effect was especially noticeable from the back seat. In this era of needlessly flinty sport sedans, or any car with condom-thin sidewalls, you forget how nice it feels to just float over every godawful road, the way luxury cars used to—but with the body control that eluded generations of Cadillacs and Lincolns.What's It Like to Live with?Mercedes-BenzVersus the regular 2027 S-class, added sound suppression heightens the Maybach's cocooning effect. That includes standard noise cancellation, here with an optional 31-speaker Burmester 4D sound system whose vibrating "seat exciters" proved a gimmick in an otherwise brilliant soundscape. Drivers can shut off its distracting pulses in favor of a real seat massage.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe latest MB.OS operating system runs the entire affair. An MBUX virtual assistant draws conversational wisdom from ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing, and Google Gemini, but still managed to get confused by some queries or requests. (Let us know when this AI can help an owner execute a stock trade or review a CEO compensation package.)Mercedes-BenzThe front seat may have its animated aquarium, forest scene, or crackling fireplace, set to soothing spa-like music, lighting, or climate effects, all enveloped in artisanal wood and leather. But the real magic happens in back. Especially with the optional Executive Rear Seat Package Plus that makes this a four-seater and, frankly, one can't imagine anyone bypassing for a boring five-seat bench configuration. (Unless there's a middle child who will grow up to sue both parents and siblings.)Every rear seat gets what looks like a quilted ottoman perched over passenger's heads, a fine Rolls-ish touch. The 47.2 inches of rear legroom shames any conventional sedan, accented by leather throw pillows and headrest pillows. Motorized rear doors can be operated in seven ways. And a standard MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment system sets a likely benchmark for digital distractions. A pair of 13.1-inch touchscreens can be managed by two remotes that recall an iPhone 5 and pop out of the sleek center console.Mercedes-BenzThe remote only becomes necessary if you've sunken deep into the Executive package's right-hand, airliner-style seat, with fold-out tray tables for both occupants. The lack of a dedicated volume control on the remote itself is an oversight; you have to use the remote's cursor control to call up a volume slider on the seatback screen. Integrated rear cameras allow video conferencing via Microsoft Teams. A pair of audiophile-level headphones will help harried executives privately let off steam, like Kendall Roy rapping to the Beastie Boys in the opening episode of Succession—in a bog-standard S-class, no less.Should I Buy One?Mercedes-BenzAside from a factory detour for its optional two-tone paint application, these Maybachs proceed along the same Sindelfingen production line as the regular S-class. That manufacturing efficiency helps Mercedes keep prices in near-mortal territory versus the Olympian heights of a Rolls-Royce, whose Ghost starts from $360,000 and rises from there. A Bentley Flying Spur starts from $255,000 to $348,000, but can also add $80,000 to $100,000 in options before you can blink.AdvertisementAdvertisementMercedes has not revealed pricing for any 2027 S-classes, including Maybachs set to arrive in late summer. But the 2026 Maybach S580 currently starts from $208,600. That rises to $245,850 for a statement-making S680 and its V-12. A civilian-issue 2026 S-class is priced from $132,000. While it's wait and see on pricing, buyers are looking at a roughly 60 percent jump in base price for a Maybach S580, with the identical V-8.Mercedes-BenzSome professional critics, happy to spend other people's money, will reflexively say that anyone who can afford a Maybach should spring for the V-12. But the V-8 is already dead silent and smoother than a 30-year-old single malt. The previous Maybach V-8 could also top 30 mpg on the highway, blowing away its 20-mpg EPA rating, and I would expect roughly the same. (If you say wealthy people never give a damn about fuel consumption, reliable surveys will say you're wrong.)Cylinder one-upmanship aside, is a V-12 worth a roughly $40,000 upcharge? Better to save that money. Or spend it on bespoke options that genuinely separate your Maybach from the Hamptons herd. If it's truly price is no object, there's always a Rolls-Royce Ghost.Highlights and LowlightsWe Love:Any reminder of the goodness of an old-school luxury sedan.The newness of Mercedes's technology, with mild caveats.Bravura interior, all-encompassing serenity, serious V-8.We Don't:The lingering brand question: What the hell's a Maybach?4D audio seat-vibration is the Magic Fingers of its time.Chintzy-feeling rotary vent controls.Favorite detail:Mercedes-BenzMaybe it'll only get used at weddings or proms, but the Maybach's rear champagne chiller is the kind of conversation starter, complete with a toast, that makes this sedan feel like the special indulgence it's meant to be. The chiller, priced at $1100 in the 2026 model, should remain a relative steal, especially versus a $3200 tab for two silver-plated flutes from Germany's Robbe & Berking. A pair of dedicated holders lock flutes into the console, avoiding any Krug spillage while in motion—at least in places with generous open-container laws. Or, stuff the chiller full of Capri-Suns and let the kids play Masters of the Universe in back.Mercedes-BenzYou Might Also LikeAdvertisementAdvertisementIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State