Used 2019 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

The Mercedes-Maybach S is the German luxury automaker’s largest, plushest and most elegant sedan. In the Maybach, Mercedes-Benz begins with its S-Class flagship and goes better still. It is larger, more opulent and simply more special. It is also among the few new cars you can still buy with a V12 engine.

With a starting price of over $170,000, the Mercedes-Maybach is also among the most expensive sedans, though it still costs less than a Bentley or Rolls-Royce. The Maybach is a masterpiece of Mercedes comfort and refinement, but even the ultra-wealthy crave badge appeal, and in that regard the Maybach’s distinction can be overshadowed by a Bentley or Rolls.

You don’t just drive a Maybach — you experience it. From the aroma of supple leather and in-cabin fragrance system to the heavy thud of closing the door, you know you’re stepping into something special before even pressing the start button.

The Maybach is powerful for sure, but it prioritizes blissfully wafting along its driver and passengers in a cloud of comfort. The outside world is silenced, while road imperfections suddenly become perfected. In truth a Maybach isn’t all that exciting to drive, even though a V12 version can lay down rubber if pressed.

But that’s not the point of a Maybach. This is all about first-class transportation. If you’re looking for a sportier take on all this, Mercedes will happily point you to an AMG model of its S-Class, which is made for more performance-oriented driving. This one is all about the bliss.

As with all things Maybach, the interior of this one is like an S-Class taken to the next level. Mercedes’ ultra-luxury sedan comes standard with amenities that are optional in the S-Class, such as massaging seats, the finest leather and other materials, and soft-close doors.

Perhaps most noticeable is the extra room for rear passengers. This is, after all, a car that many wealthy owners will be chauffeured in. In that respect, the Maybach stands out with a limousine-like 40 inches of rear-seat legroom. That’s about half a foot more than a standard S-Class. In lieu of the standard 3-person rear bench, an executive seating package is available with a pair of power-adjustable seats. They mimic what you might get in first-class jet seating, complete with a calf rest and fold-out tables.

Ironically, the Maybach’s trunk capacity is quite a bit smaller than that of the model on which it’s based: just 12.3 cubic feet vs. the 18.7 on a standard S-Class.

For better or worse, it will take a keen eye to tell a Maybach from a regular S-Class. It’s not that the S-Class isn’t elegant; it’s just that the Maybach costs significantly more, and buyers may crave further distinction for their extra dollars. Still, there are differences. The Maybach is big, stretching 215 inches in length, around a foot longer than the S-Class. The Maybach also differs with its new grille, which features vertical slats compared with the horizontal lines of the standard S-Class. Then there are the double M logos (for Mercedes-Maybach) that adorn the C-pillar. They may as well just be dollar signs.

EXECUTIVE REAR SEATING
Yes, driving a Maybach is special, but an even more elegant experience is being driven in one. With the Executive Rear Seat Package Plus, the driven will enjoy two individual rear seats divided by a thick panel covered in quilted leather. The climate-controlled seats are power adjustable, have footrests, tray tables and even heated and cooled cup holders.

V12 ENGINE
Whether you file this under the category of “go big or go home” or simply, “get it while you can,” the Maybach S 650 is the ultimate version, packing a V12 engine with 621 horsepower and a scorching 738 lb-ft of torque.

So what does the roughly $170,000 starting price of a 2019 Maybach S 560 get you? Beyond the inherent prestige factor, you’ll be treated to a bounty of creature comforts such as heated, ventilated and massaging front and rear seats, heated armrests and steering wheel, twin 12.3-inch digital screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment system, 4-zone climate control, soft-close doors, and in-cabin air purification and fragrance system.

Standard audio is equally blissful thanks to a high-end German Burmester system. CarPlay and Android Auto are included, as is navigation. Another bonus is an IWC analog clock in the center dash.

The Maybach’s standard safety and driver-assist features include active cruise control with lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and the Active Parking Assist system that will automatically pull the vehicle into a parallel or perpendicular space. Also standard is a head-up display and a slick night-vision system that uses infrared to help detect animals or pedestrians in the road.

Opting for the Maybach 650 S ups the power and prestige factor with the bigger and more powerful V12 engine. Options on both models include the Executive Rear Seating package with a pair of two individual seats instead of the standard 3-across bench, a rear-seat refrigerator (and handcrafted silver Champagne flutes, naturally), a panoramic roof with Mercedes’ Magic Sky Control that can dim the glass, and a new-for-2019 2-tone paint package that contrasts the hood and roof with the rest of the body.

Two engines are available for the 2019 Mercedes-Maybach S. The standard 560 S model uses a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 good for 463 horsepower. Significantly, it comes standard with 4Matic, Mercedes’ all-wheel-drive system. If you plan to use this big sedan in foul weather or where roads are slick and slippery, this would be our choice because of its enhanced traction.

If you’re all about the power or want a traditional rear-wheel-drive setup, steer your attention and extra funds to the S 650 with its big, twin-turbo V12. While this is hardly lacking in power, in reality it isn’t as quick as the Mercedes-AMG S 65, which uses the same engine but is geared to performance. That model does 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds, vs. the Maybach’s 4.6 seconds. In reality, a Mercedes-AMG S 63 with its V8 is even quicker, hitting the benchmark in just 3.4 seconds. Thank all-wheel drive and less weight for that. The 560 S model is linked to a 9-speed transmission, while the V12 650 S variant has a 7-speed unit.

4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8
463 horsepower @ 5,250-6,000 rpm
516 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/25

6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12
621 horsepower @ 4,800-5,400 rpm
738 lb-ft of torque @ 2,300-4,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/21 mpg