VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — I’m undecided there’s one other new car on the market that means that you can make an entrance akin to the 2024 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600. When ostentatiousness and an expression of wealth are king, completely nothing does the trick higher than pulling up within the Maybach’s “Free Driving Assist” mode. For the uninitiated, that’s the bounce mode that makes use of the SUV’s superior E-Lively Physique Management tech to fairly actually bounce you up and down in fast order for a pre-determined period of time.
After all, there’s a slim-to-zero probability anyone makes use of this mode as initially supposed: to free their Maybach from a wheels-deep sandy loss of life. No, it’s finest used for conditions like, oh I don’t know, pulling as much as the valet at a elaborate marriage ceremony, your icy white mega SUV bouncing like a brilliant ball, urging each final individual within the basic neighborhood to look your approach. Maybe the dad and mom of the bride are even sitting within the again seat, egging you on to do it. (I swear, it was completely their concept!) A Ferrari is neat; Aston Martins will seize loads of onlookers, however can any of these automobiles drive and bounce on the similar time? Yeah, I believed so.
This $201,400-as-tested Maybach is in fact excellent for heaps extra than simply peacocking as much as your fancy marriage ceremony locale. I solely arrived on the Historic Cavalier Lodge in Virginia Seaside – the right old-money architectural pairing with a automobile as classily designed as this one – after a 12-hour jaunt from metro Detroit, which was greater than sufficient time to get very nicely acquainted with this mega-luxury yacht.
Actually easy driving is a component touted by some, however few embody it higher than the newest crop of Maybachs. Graceless climbs as much as the again seat thrones are eradicated because of the illuminated, Maybach-logo-adorned auto-deploying operating boards. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 begins with a quiet and opulent hush from contained in the noise-insulated cabin, however stand close to sufficient to the pipes out again, and the proletariat will probably be knowledgeable of your V8’s would possibly and energy.
Flick the digital column shifter all the way down to Drive, and the magic carpet journey begins. The genteel nature of its main controls is instantly putting and units the Maybach aside from different luxurious automobiles, together with common Mercedes fashions. There’s no mistaking that the throttle and brake pedal tuning have been designed with clean driving in thoughts – you don’t need to slosh the silver-plated champagne flutes of mother and pop within the again. You received’t discover a extra progressive or easy-to-modulate brake pedal within the enterprise, and the throttle in “Maybach” mode could as nicely be known as “Chauffeur” mode with how extremely clean and measured it’s. You’ll solely make a sudden motion when you actually need to, and the E-Lively Physique Management suspension prioritizes rear passenger consolation on this mode, too. I used to be solely fortunate sufficient to expertise the Maybach from the entrance seat, however I didn’t hear a single criticism from any of the various passengers I chauffeured round in my weekend of Virginia Seaside marriage ceremony occasions.
As an alternative, the suggestions was fixed amazement on the automobile’s tech, the consolation of its particular person rear captain’s chairs (pillows included), and many “oohs” and “ahhhs.” The tech completely killed throughout our Autoblog Expertise of the Yr award testing, too, because the Dolby Atmos-powered audio system received final 12 months’s first prize. I spent literal hours traversing the Appalachian Mountain vary listening to numerous tracks in Dolby Atmos spatial audio on the 27-speaker Burmester audio system. I’m pretty sure it’s ruined each different automobile audio system in existence for me. So, audio snobs: Apply right here.
There’s lots of credit score as a consequence of this Maybach solely on account of its capacity to make 12 straight hours behind the wheel really feel like a soothing day. Mercedes-Benz is aware of make long-haul, ergonomic and body-supporting seats in addition to anybody, and on the finish of the day, I’m not in the slightest degree sore or uncomfortable. The nigh-on infinite adjustment and quite a few therapeutic massage applications could be thanked for this excessive consolation. I can legitimately say that I’ve tried each therapeutic massage program from begin to end, and it’s a tie between “Hot Relaxing Back” and “Wave Massage” for essentially the most rejuvenating and enjoyable experiences. This Maybach’s heated are one other lovely characteristic that makes chilly drive days all of the extra cozy – it’s an actual disgrace that extra automobiles haven’t adopted such additional heated surfaces as elective add-ons.
Mercedes’ glorious driver help techniques make lengthy treks like mine much less of a psychological burden, too. It’s clear from the outset that the tuning is exclusive for the Maybach mannequin, as a result of even when the system will get a bit confused on the lane markings or somebody cuts you off, the programming and actions stay simply as clean and creamy because the journey. It’ll by no means panic-stab the brakes or jerk on the wheel whenever you edge as much as a line marker. That stated, you have to stay an energetic participant in driving. Different, extra superior hands-off techniques like Tremendous Cruise from GM or BMW’s new hands-free freeway help are merely higher for such lengthy hauls, however I’ve a sense Mercedes will catch the GLS up quickly sufficient.
On the subject of feeling dated, although, we arrive on the GLS 600’s MBUX infotainment system. Mercedes up to date the GLS-Class’s infotainment for 2024, but it surely’s nonetheless rocking the outdated widescreen format and touchpad as a substitute management to utilizing the touchscreen. Swiping by way of the (admittedly fairly) Maybach-skinned MBUX system is making an attempt at instances, and utilizing it makes Mercedes’ newest “Zero Layer” infotainment system really feel that rather more superior. Comparable complaints could be lodged in regards to the Maybach’s detachable pill that controls most capabilities within the rear. It has an abnormally lengthy warm-up interval earlier than you’ll be able to swap on gadgets just like the massaging seats or play with the infinite ambient lighting choices. Such a high-dollar rolling palace deserves essentially the most superior expertise, and I think it’s solely a matter of time till the GLS will get redesigned with an analogous setup to the present S-Class.
The rear seat’s extreme wooden trim, reclining performance, heated and cooled cupholders, fridge, fold-out tray tables and high-pile carpets undoubtedly make it the place to be for a protracted journey just like the one I undertook. Nevertheless! I made a decision to take the mountainous scenic route on the return from Virginia Seaside to Detroit to see if this 6,000-plus-pound SUV had any kind of dynamic prowess. And in typical Mercedes style, in fact, it completely guidelines.
Mercedes claims a 0-60 mph time of simply 4.8 seconds from the 550 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque this Maybach-specific powertrain places out (that’s 40 horses greater than the non-Maybach GLS 580), and it feels each bit that fast as I steamroll by way of steep uphill passes. “Strain” isn’t a phrase within the GLS 600’s vocabulary, as a result of the entire level of the factor is to be extreme, in each sense of the phrase.
As my foot’s totally buried to the ground within the middle-of-nowhere West Virginia with no cell sign to be discovered for miles, I’m additionally glad to be within the GLS 600 and never the Maybach EQS 680 stressing about my subsequent cease at what might very nicely be a dicey Electrify America station. Freeway vary is roughly 381 miles per the EPA’s figures, although I’m handily beating the considerably unhappy 19-mpg freeway gasoline economic system determine and pushing nicely previous 400 miles on the lengthy stretches between the Atlantic coast and the Midwest.
Sport mode doesn’t precisely reside as much as its billing, but it surely does eradicate roll and transforms the chassis into one thing that resembles a fun-to-drive SUV, letting me considerably effortlessly sustain with some fellow sports activities automobile drivers out for a Sunday afternoon jaunt by way of the mountains. The remainder of the time in Consolation or Maybach mode makes the existence of the 23-inch wheels no want for concern (although I used to be unhappy this take a look at automobile didn’t include the new-for-2024 monobloc solid wheels). Severely, outdoors of a Maybach sedan, you’re not going to search out one other car with the three-pointed star that rides and comports itself higher than the GLS 600.
Funnily, I discovered a fellow GLS 600 proprietor on my journeys (photograph straight above) and received to check the pre-refresh design to the 2024 in individual. Admittedly, the two-tone paint scheme chosen by this proprietor is much superior to my fittingly wedding-spec all-white Maybach, however the refresh’s toned-down bumper and Mercedes-Maybach logo-filled intakes are a step enchancment in the proper course. That stated, I wouldn’t precisely rush out to purchase the up to date mannequin if you have already got a GLS 600 within the storage. Its downsides – the trunk-shrinking fridge and aged infotainment – are the identical as earlier than. And in case you didn’t know, right here’s your reminder that the Maybach model of the GLS is simply a two-row because of the government second-row design and big bulkhead in place behind it that closely chops down on cabin highway noise. It’s a compromise in utility that I’d be completely happy to make each time contemplating how silent and refined the drive is. And for the document, every thing wanted for a week-long journey for 2 individuals match within the cargo space, and we have been capable of preserve our drinks and leftovers chilly within the fridge besides.
I float again into metro Detroit awash within the Maybach-specific perfume eliminating the gnarly smells of trade that plague each southern entrance to town, one way or the other feeling simply as recent as I did after the primary 12-hour stint behind the wheel. I’d be completely happy to do it over again the subsequent day, too. The GLS 600 may be a bouncing, LED gentle present social gathering trick when the event requires it, however the substance behind its glittering pearlescent outsides remains to be setting ridiculously excessive requirements for long-haul luxurious motoring.
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