2020 Mercedes-Benz Maybach Review

　　

2020 Mercedes-Benz Maybach Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　Mercedes-Benz advertises its products under a tagline reading "the best or nothing." Within its luxury sedan lineup, "the best" Mercedes is the Maybach, a gussied-up S-Class that is expensive, rare and just a little over-the-top. Boasting a stretched wheelbase with sumptuous rear passenger accommodations, exclusive design details inside and out, and near limitless customization potential, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Maybach represents the ultimate in three-pointed star luxury.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Maybach S 560 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$236/mo  for Maybach S 560 4MATIC

　　Maybach S 560 4MATIC

　　S 560 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) (Most Popular) - $173,000 MSRPS 650 4dr Sedan (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 7A) - $202,550 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　This is, however, the Maybach's final year in current form. A redesigned 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is coming, with a planned Maybach model bringing new heights of style, performance and technology. To encourage buyers who want satisfaction now instead of later, the 2020 Maybach S 560 4Matic sedan gets revised front and rear bumper designs to add an extra layer of one-year-only exclusivity. A Maybach S 650 Night Edition also debuts, but it's offered only in the U.S. market and is limited to a production run of 15 cars. Read our test team's Expert Rating to learn more about the Maybach and how it stacks up against other ultra-luxury sedans.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Maybach drive? The Maybach is not a driver's car, but this big, heavy sedan steers and handles more sharply than you'd expect. The twin-turbo V12 delivers effortless and potent acceleration from any speed. It's slightly detached-feeling but quite capable.

　　

Comfort

9.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Maybach? This is one of the world's most exquisitely comfortable cars, particularly for backseat occupants who are treated as royalty. The Maybach provides endless seat and climate control adjustments, a pleasant ride and a hushed demeanor. If you can't get comfortable in this car, you're doing something wrong.

　　

Interior

9.0/10

　　How’s the interior? Beyond its vast backseat space, the cabin is extremely configurable, from independent interior lighting front and rear to choice of scents. It's all accessible via the center screen, which itself can be interfaced with in multiple ways. The doors open very wide. Visibility is a mixed bag, but the cameras help a lot.

　　

Technology

9.0/10

　　How’s the tech? A dizzying array of entertainment and safety features are provided. The fully configurable digital dashboard is second to none, as is the remarkable audio system. Likewise, the driver assistance features are consistently among the most well-executed out there.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? There's ample in-cabin storage for every conceivable type of small item, but larger items get short shrift. The trunk is small, and there's no pass-through or seat-folding due to the cocooned, first-class aircraft-style back seats. This kind of transport assumes you have everything you need at your destination.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? Its EPA combined rating of 16 mpg (13 city/21 highway) is easy to surpass in practice. It returned 18.3 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation loop of mixed driving. Its fuel economy is arguably better than what most would expect of a 5,300-pound, 621-hp luxo-sled.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the Maybach a good value? Among "off-the-rack" premium luxury cars, the Maybach outshines pricier Rolls Royce or Bentley sedans with its backseat accommodations and infotainment. However, it's perhaps too familiar-looking and shares cabin bits with "lesser" cars. With that said, the attention to detail lives up to the price.

　　

Wildcard

8.0/10

　　The ultimate way to travel long distances, the Maybach is all about the back seat. This is a passenger's car, not a driver's car. Pillows, a leather headliner, diamond-stitched padded mirrors, tray tables, cooled/heated cupholders, media screens with remotes, color-coded cigar ashtrays. Come on.

　　

Which Maybach does zzdcar recommend?

It doesn't come with the Maybach's available V12 engine, but the S 560 4Matic is our pick for its standard all-wheel-drive system. Even when you're spending this kind of cash on an ultra-luxury car, it can pay to be practical, and the S 560 4Matic will prove more sure-footed during New York, Chicago and Denver winters.

　　

2020 Mercedes-Benz Maybach models

There are two versions of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Maybach for your consideration: the S 560 4Matic and the S 650.

　　A turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (463 horsepower, 516 lb-ft of torque) powers the S 560 4Matic, which has a nine-speed automatic transmission, Mercedes' 4Matic all-wheel-drive system and an Airmatic adaptive air suspension. The S 650 employs a turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 (621 hp, 738 lb-ft) paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission, and it comes exclusively with rear-wheel drive. The S 650 also has the automaker's Magic Body Control suspension as standard equipment.

　　As you would expect, both examples of the Mercedes-Benz Maybach are exceptionally well equipped. Highlights from the standard features list include:

　　19-inch or 20-inch wheels LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation Auto-dimming and power-folding outside mirrors Hands-free trunklid Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut) Panoramic glass sunroof Full-cabin ambient interior lighting with 64 colors Digital instrumentation display Four-zone automatic climate control Black Poplar or Burl Walnut wood trim Premium Nappa leather upholstery Leather-wrapped interior elements Power-adjustable front and rear seats with memory settings Power-adjustable leg rests and footrests for the right rear seat Heated, ventilated, and massaging front and rear seats Heated wood-and-leather steering wheel Heated front and rear armrests Power rear sunshades Air Balance cabin air fragrance system Energizing Comfort (links Air Balance, seat massage, ambient lighting, climate control and sound system to promote wellness through six programs) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Front and rear wireless smartphone charging Navigation system with voice control Burmester high-end surround-sound system Rear-seat entertainment system with remote controls and wireless headphones Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)The Mercedes-Benz Maybach is also equipped with a long list of driver assist and collision avoidance systems. They include:

　　Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Maybach and the car in front) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Blind-spot intervention (automatically steers the car back into its lane if you try to change lanes while a car is in the vehicle's blind spot) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Evasive steering assist (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Maybach and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Night-vision camera (displays an infrared image of the area in front of the vehicle to assist while driving at night) Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)Though a Mercedes-Benz Maybach includes a generous list of standard features, you can customize the car to your liking with wheel, paint, leather and trim upgrades.

　　Additionally, the Maybach is available with:

　　Magic Sky Control (dimmable roof glass tinting) Rear seat refrigerator Silver handcrafted Champagne flutes from Robbe & BerkingThe Executive Rear Seat Package Plus adds:

　　Two individual rear seats Two folding tables for the rear seats Rear heated and cooled cupholders

　　

2020 Maybach Highlights

Trim: S 560 4MATICS 650S 560 4MATIC

　　

Base MSRP	$173,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	19 MPG
Cost to Drive	$236/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	17.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles