2021 Mercedes-Benz Maybach Review

　　

2021 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.

　　If you're unfamiliar with the Maybach name, then try this analogy: Mercedes-Benz Maybach is to ultra-luxury in the same way that Mercedes-AMG is to performance. Maybach was initially known for making some of the most opulent and well-engineered cars in prewar Europe. Since Mercedes-Benz purchased the company in 1960, the luxury automaker has only affixed the Maybach badge to its most prestigious and exclusive offerings.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Maybach S 580 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 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

　　$241/mo  for Maybach S 580 4MATIC

　　Maybach S 580 4MATIC

　　S 580 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) (Most Popular) - $184,900 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　The newest Maybach starts as the redesigned 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. From there, Mercedes stretches the sedan's wheelbase, overall length, width and the track (the distance between the left and right side wheels) for enhanced interior comfort. To further set the Maybach apart from the standard S-Class, the Maybach's front bumper, grille, hood and taillights are different.

　　The interior modifications made to the Maybach push the already ritzy S-Class interior accommodations into a higher orbit. Many of the optional features on the S-Class are standard here, including the 1,750-watt Burmester 4D surround-sound system, a rear-seat entertainment system with twin 11.6-inch screens, massaging rear seats and rear passenger airbags (a first for any Mercedes).

　　When compared against offerings from Bentley and Rolls-Royce, the Maybach offers a good deal of value. Accommodations are similarly luxurious, and while the Maybach doesn't offer quite the same level of bespoke craftsmanship as its British rivals, it does have more modern and better-integrated technology features. The Maybach costs thousands of dollars less to start than its primary rivals, yet the buyer should want for nothing.

　　Indeed, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Maybach offers a new level of opulence above and beyond anything previously offered by Mercedes.

　　

Which Maybach does zzdcar recommend?

For the 2021 model year, there is one version of the Mercedes-Benz Maybach: the S 580 4Matic. Nearly everything is standard, but since the point of the car is to maximize rear passenger comfort, we recommend adding the Executive Rear Seat Package Plus to achieve maximum opulence.

　　

2021 Mercedes-Benz Maybach models

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz Maybach S 580 4Matic uses a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine making 496 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. A nine-speed automatic powers all four wheels through a standard all-wheel-drive system. As you might expect, the Maybach S 580 4Matic is loaded with equipment at its base price.

　　S 580 4Matic

　　Highlights of the car's standard features include:

　　20-inch wheels Air suspension (can raise or lower the ride height of the vehicle) LED headlights Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut) Power trunklid Panoramic sunroof Ambient interior lighting Four-zone climate control with air purification and fragrance atomizer Heated, ventilated and massaging front and rear seats with memory settings Rear neck heaters Heated steering wheel Heated armrestsTechnology features include:

　　12.3-inch digital instrument panel Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment with 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen Natural voice recognition Navigation system with augmented reality driving directions Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto  Wireless charging for front and rear passengers Rear entertainment system with wireless headsets 30-speaker Burmester high-end audio system Eight USB-C ports Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)Standard safety features include:

　　Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Maybach and the car in front and can also react to traffic signs and set speed) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Rear and cross-traffic automatic braking (applies the brakes automatically to avoid an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle or a vehicle or pedestrian crossing in front of the vehicle) Evasive steering assist (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance) 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) Automated lane-change assist (guides the vehicle into the next lane when the turn signal is used) 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) Safe exit assist (alerts passengers when opening a door into traffic approaching from behind)Mercedes also equips the Maybach with several features that make the car easier to drive in cities and parking garages:

　　Rear-wheel steering (rear wheels can steer up to a 10-degree angle to tighten a turning radius or add higher-speed stability) Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Maybach and its surroundings for tight parking situations)The long list of standard features means there are few options, but you can upgrade the Maybach with a handful of extras. They include:

　　19-inch or 21-inch wheels Two-tone paint Upgraded Manufaktur Nappa leather-wrapped seats and interior surfaces Power-opening and -closing rear doors Rear seat refrigerator with silver Champagne flutesBuyers planning to hire a chauffeur treatment will want the Executive Rear Seat Package Plus, which equips the Maybach with:

　　Dual rear seats with a center console Power leg rest and footrest for right-side rear passenger Rear-seat folding tables Heated and cooled rear cupholders

　　

2021 Maybach Highlights

　　

Base MSRP	$184,900
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	19 MPG
Cost to Drive	$241/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles