Used 2017 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

If a loaded S-Class just isn’t luxurious enough, then maybe the 2017 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class will do the trick. Now consisting of two models — the twin-turbo V8-powered S550 and the twin-turbo V12-powered S600 — the Mercedes-Maybach is the ultimate expression of Mercedes-Benz performance, prestige, luxury and technology. Longer, more expensive and more exclusive than the “run-of-the-mill” S-Class, Mercedes designed the flagship Maybach (pronounced “Mybach”) to be chauffer driven, putting the additional eight inches of length into the rear seat. But that chauffeur is among the luckiest there is, with 523 horsepower from the V12 or the 449 from the V8. With a slew of customizable options, the Maybach sedans compare well against the Bentley Mulsanne, and even the Rolls-Royce Ghost and Phantom.

The 2017 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is not just a very expensive sedan. It is a sublime driving experience, one of the world’s finest-driving road cars. It takes just a few minutes behind the wheel to realize this. The quiet, the smooth ride, the remarkable speed, all of it coming together in a way that few other cars can emulate. Even those cars rarely come close to this level of technological achievement. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist border on making the Maybach autonomous, but beyond that, there are tricks like Magic Body Control. This system is the key to the suspension’s ability to tackle bumps large and small, and it uses cameras to literally look at the road rolling beneath it. Using cameras to control suspension stiffness like this is an industry first, and the ride it provides is so good it’s hard to believe.

"Luxurious" isn’t quite strong enough a word to describe the interior of the 2017 Mercedes-Maybach. The front is basically an S-Class, albeit one that is fully loaded. That’s no faint praise, as the S-Class can hold its own against the best driving environments you’d care to mention, and we include ultra-luxury Rolls-Royce in that as well. Fine woods and leathers mix artistically with flawless fitment and finishes bordering on perfection. But it’s the rear seat, especially with the executive seating package, that makes this a Maybach. More leather. More space. If there’s a more comfortable car out there, we’re unaware of it.

The 2017 Mercedes-Maybach looks like a better, bigger S-Class, which is both a strength and a weakness. It looks low, long and wide, with a hunkered-down stance that means it’s ready to deliver the powerful to a power lunch. Yet it avoids the trappings of old-world charm once embraced by the world’s old money, and which other ultra-luxury makers still cling to. It looks modern and athletic, like it’s for the next generation of moguls. The downside? All that applies to the S-Class itself, which the Maybach resembles a little too much.

EXECUTIVE REAR SEAT PLUS
The rear seat of the Maybach is already excellent, but if you want your passengers to be truly coddled, then you’ll want the $2,000 executive rear seat. It adds dual-power rear seats, heated and cooled cup holders, and folding tables to the standard massage and power right footrest.

6.0-LITER BITURBO V12
It’s no exaggeration to say that the V12 engine under the hood of the Mercedes-Maybach S600 is one of the finest internal-combustion engines ever conceived. It’s incredible in every way: incredibly smooth, incredibly powerful and incredibly thirsty.

So much is standard that it’s hard to believe anything could be left off the table. The Maybach basically starts with a loaded S-Class with LED interior mood lighting, 20-inch wheels and tires, instrumentation that’s actually a reconfigurable high-resolution screen, panoramic sunroof, Nappa leather pretty much everywhere that isn’t wood or metal trim, and even a real IWC analog clock in the center of the dash. There’s also Mercedes Collision Prevention Assist Plus safety system, which can stop the car autonomously from up to 65 mph. Every S600 gets night vision and a system that will practically parallel-park the car for you.

Despite how loaded the Maybach may be, there’s still room for differentiation. Get the Executive Rear Seat Plus, obviously, despite the standard rear heat, power and massage; you’ll want your sedan to feel like a private jet in back. The mbrace Connect gives you remote access from your phone or desktop. It allows remote start as well as remote door lock/unlock. Also spend up for mbrace Concierge, which is a 24/7 personal assistant ready to help with traffic, directions, even dinner reservations. Other fun frivolity includes a refrigerator box for the rear cabin, and $3,200 handcrafted silver champagne flutes, because why not?

There are now two engines available for the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class lineup. The Maybach S550 4MATIC comes with a twin-turbocharged. 4.7-liter V8 engine with 449 horsepower, sent to all four wheels through a 9-speed automatic transmission. The Maybach S600 comes with a twin-turbo V12 with 523 horsepower routed through a 7-speed automatic to the rear wheels. Even more impressive: It generates a locomotive-like 612 lb-ft of torque from 1,900 to 4,000 rpm, making this very large, very heavy sedan very fast. When your chauffer puts his foot down, either Maybach sedan will accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 5.0 seconds. That’ll spill your Grey Poupon. As for fuel economy, this is a luxury sedan that can cost more than $200,000…does it matter it’s not great?

4.7-liter twin-turbocharged V8
449 horsepower @5,250-5,500 rpm
516 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/24 mpg

6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12
523 horsepower @ 4,900-5,300 rpm
612 lb-ft of torque @ 1,900-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/21 mpg

Note: Due to changes in EPA testing to more effectively reflect real-world conditions, some 2017 models show slightly lower fuel-economy scores than their 2016 versions.