2022 Mercedes-Maybach S 680 review

Opulence is a mindset. A mindset best exemplified by the 2022 Mercedes-Maybach S 680. Everywhere you look in its over five-metre length, you are reminded of why this vehicle is worthy of wearing the hallowed Maybach badge.

Unwavering is the S 680’s focus on luxury. Everywhere you look and touch is an ocean of the finest materials, crafted with care, along with the best technology this side of a spacecraft.

As you’d expect, this kind of opulence comes at a price. Specifically, $574,000 plus on-road costs. That makes this Mercedes-Maybach limo the most expensive car you can buy in Australia with a three-pointed star badge. Yes, the AMG GT Black Series wore a larger price tag ($796,100), but try calling your local dealer to buy one and report back to us.

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That half-million-plus price is $129,000 more than the previous-generation Mercedes-Maybach S 680, and an additional $239,000 more than the most expensive S-Class currently available in Australia – the S 580 L.

Identifying the Maybach variant is a bespoke grille, along with stainless steel exterior trim on the lower intake, sills, and rear bumper. Exclusive to the Maybach is the chance to option a two-tone paint scheme, with customers able to choose between 10 contrasting colours.

There’s also the extended wheelbase that stretches further than the L variants of the other S-Class models. The S 680’s wheelbase measures 3396mm in total, an extra 180mm between the arches. At five and a half metres from bumper to bumper, the S 680 requires the aid of four-wheel steering for its svelte manoeuvrability.

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The system is able to assist the S 680 in navigating tight urban spaces with ease, even when limited to just 4.5 degrees of rear lock if owners opt for wheels above the 20-inch standard (down from 10 degrees).

But, as mentioned earlier, a hefty price tag does not true opulence make. Justifying that significant outlay of wealth is a level of engineering that leaves you reeling at every turn.

Core to it all is the engine, a 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged V12 (codenamed M279) that produces 463kW and 900Nm. That V12 – the last of its kind in Mercedes showrooms – is a centrepiece jewel in the crown. A masterwork in engine design and refinement. Crisp, pure, and smoother than the softest silks. Yet it has a tensile strength that seems unbreakable.

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Those outputs on paper are akin to many supercars, but the S 680 drives like a gentle breeze. Supple in the extreme, the big (6.0 litres is a rather large capacity by today’s standards) unit thrusts the car forward on demand without fuss.

There is plenty of pace to be found, with the claimed acceleration capabilities being a 0-100km/h sprint of 4.5 seconds. Top speed is a stately 250km/h. Ponder that in the context of the Maybach’s 2255kg kerb weight. It’s the heft, and aforementioned swept capacity, that results in the M279’s thirst for fuel. The claimed combined fuel consumption is 13.6L/100km. And you’ll be feeding the Maybach premium, of course.

Not that any owner is going to be bothered, even with our perennially rising fuel costs. What really matters to buyers is what it’s like inside the S 680’s cabin. In short, extravagant. The Maybach’s features and design are so far removed from the norm, it’s like being transported inside a cocktail bar on an alien spaceship.

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Nappa leather abounds, with an entire herd of bovine stretched across the seats, dash, and headliner. Duck-down pillows adorn each of the seats, which are electrically adjusted (naturally), and feature heating, cooling, and massaging functions (sometimes all at once).

A panoramic sliding roof is standard, along with motion-controlled rear window shades. Peek at the options list and things get truly lavish, with the likes of a champagne cooler with accompanying silver-plated flutes, and power-closing doors all on the menu.

The highlight for us was the 1750-watt Burmester 4D sound system. This is easily the finest audio system on sale in a car today, featuring a total of 31 speakers. That includes a subwoofer, and eight bass shakers in the seats. These ‘exciters’ are part of the 4D system that crates massage-like movements in time with the music.

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That unique feature aside, the sound from the S 680’s speakers was incredibly crisp, retaining fidelity at window-shaking volume levels. The cabin also features active noise cancelling, which combines with traditional NVH suppression and soundproofing to create an environment that is incredibly quiet when required.

Then there are the screens that are both sizeable and plentiful. The driver’s instruments are displayed through a 12.3-inch digital display, while the central infotainment is controlled via a 12.8-inch central unit that dominates much of the dash (impressive considering the high-quality wood trim finish).

Rear passengers are both offered 11.6-inch screens, along with a tablet-like control unit that integrates with the central armrest. The S 680 comes with an inbuilt TV tuner, so those enjoying the voluptuous rear seats will be heartily entertained at all times.

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To put the focus on rear occupants into focus, Mercedes has fitted the rear seats of the S 680 with a seat belt feeder, like that featured in its two-door coupes and convertibles, for the first time. That’s on top of the airline-style reclining seats, and dedicated MBUX Interior Rear Assistant system.

While most owners will experience the Maybach from the rear seats, there are going to be owners who want to take the helm of the limo and drive themselves. Those customers are going to be blessed with a driving experience that is among the most calming we’ve experienced.

Due to Mercedes being unable to fit the V12 with its 48-volt EQ Boost mild-hybrid system, the Mercedes-Maybach can’t be specified with the more advanced optional suspension system that can be added to regular S-Class variants.

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However, the Airmatic adaptive air suspension is still exemplary. Imperfections in the road are kept at arm’s length for occupants, the Maybach simply taking them in its stride without so much a hint of crashing. The only shortfall for the ride is on major sharp bumps, where the Maybach can take a touch longer to settle than we’d prefer.

Steering is similar in its nature, being direct and light. Even the self-righting of the wheel is gentle, giving the entire experience of driving the S 680 a silky-smooth demeanour. Despite the soft edges and the Maybach’s sheer size, it doesn’t require armfuls of lock to turn. Instead, the S 680 tips into corners with poise after turning the wheel off centre. Dead zones? Nowhere to be found.

The Mercedes-Maybach S 680 isn’t so much driven as experienced. It is outlandish in how it takes the most extreme examples of luxury and distils it all into a single, barely believable product. The result is something to can be hard to distil into simple scores and verdicts.

For the few that will enjoy its wares, the Mercedes-Maybach S 680 offers something money can’t buy – a mindset.

2022 Mercedes-Maybach S 680 4Matic specifications