2022 Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS

Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4Matic Review

The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4Matic sits slightly lower on the Mercedes-Maybach hierarchy, hence its starting price of RM1,789,453.18. Cosmetically, they’ve applied the same superlative treatment given to the S-Class and applied it to the GLS-Class, Mercedes-Benz’s largest SUV. Although most of the time a car's powertrain and chassis are the highlight of the vehicle, in the case of the GLS 600, it's more about its overstuffed cabin, fit for kings, sports stars and overly successful businessmen.

Luxury, fit and finish, and overall opulence are about on par with the Maybach S 580, but what is most noticeable about the Maybach GLS600 is the reduced legroom thanks to its unchanged (and unextended) wheelbase over the standard W167 GLS. Despite having the same wheelbase, the GLS 600 has less cargo room in the boot thanks to a couple of fully kitted seats a the rear, which might make some just go for the S 580 instead. Its AMG counterpart is also more practical as it is offered with a third row of seats.

Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4Matic Specifications

Under the bonnet, the GLS 600 share the same 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 as the Mercedes-Maybach S 580 which features a 48V starter-generator, making it a mild-hybrid. The same 9-speed automatic is also mated to the familiar engine. However the similarities end there, as they’re tuned differently, where the S 580 gets 503PS and 700Nm, the GLS 600 receives a beefier 557PS and 730Nm. This was done perhaps to offset the latter’s weight disadvantage since both are able to accelerate to 100km/h from rest in a hot-hatch shaming 4.9 seconds (4.8 seconds for the S 580, to be precise).

It has a silky-smooth ride thanks to air suspension which features a Maybach mode that practically erases bumps in the road.

Just like the S 580, the Maybach GLS is available in 30 different colours, including Maybach's popular and identifiable two-tone paint job which will cost its owners an extra RM162k on top of the price of the car.

Exterior of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4Matic

As the S 580, the exterior of the Maybach GLS does still look like the standard W167 GLS but with bespoke Maybach grille and wheels. As mentioned before,the two-tone body colour, however, is a distinctly Maybach characteristic. Despite the visual resemblance, most of the car’s body is completely new and not interchangeable with the Benz variation.

Naturally, there’s a galaxy of available colours among other customisation options, but the paint on every Mercedes-Maybach is said to receive a dual-layer of clear coat before being painstakingly hand finished/perfected for a full week before being deemed worthy of the badge.

Interior of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4Matic

Crucially, since this is a car fit for billionaires and heads of state, this is a true SUV limousine meant for chauffeured driving. Since the base Benz GLS already had a lot of legroom, the wheelbase of the Maybach GLS has not changed as it provides ample of space at the rear. There's no flush door handles with the body like the S 580, but the rear doors can open automatically at the press of a button.

Upfront, there’s the expected pair of very large and sharp MBUX infotainment displays as the W167 GLS. While the software interface seems identical on the surface, there’s surely deeper functionality accessible only in Maybach models.

There’s a tonne to cover in terms of luxury features and upgrades over the GLS here, but in summary, there’s extremely supple leather upholstery with lashings of intricately machined aluminium and wood inserts, each rear passenger receives fully adjustable reclining thrones with a dedicated MBUX screen just ahead. In between, any super luxe car isn’t complete without its own mini-fridge for that bottle of expensive champagne (or two).

As in the S 580, the Maybach GLS's Burmester sound system is important in that it isn’t just there to sound good, but to make sure nothing else corrupts the auditory experience of its occupants regardless of whether music is playing or not.

Lots of calibration and acoustic witchcraft have gone into the car’s active noise cancellation, which isolates the cabin from any external sound, including the engine. No doubt this has also been developed alongside the Airmatic suspension to dampen the auditory disturbances of road surfaces and imperfections.

Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4Matic Safety Features

As for airbags, the top-of-the-range GLS comes with 14 airbags which include the likes of rear frontal airbags and an integrated rear seat cushion airbag. The Maybach GLS comes with a good amount of driver aids as the standard model which include:

-Autonomous Emergency Braking with cross-traffic and pedestrian detection

-Adaptive Cruise Control with stop and go

-Lane Centring Assist

-Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC

-Active Stop-and-Go Assist

-Active Steering Assist

-Active Brake Assist

-Evasive Steering Assist

-Active Lane Keeping Assist

-Active Blind Spot Assist 

-Traffic Sign Assist

-PRE-SAFE® PLUS

-PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side

2022 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4Matic Pros and Cons

As with Mercedes-AMG, the Maybach division doesn't concern itself with subtlety and the chromed-out aesthetics won't be suited to all tastes. Considering the standard GLS already has oversized everything like the grille and wheels, the Maybach takes it up a notch and give you those oversized items in bling form. Yes there are a few too many reminders of the regular GLS in the Maybach version, but the capacious cabin with its extra added luxury is just a really nice place to be in.

2022 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4Matic Price in Malaysia

The GLS 600 4Matic sits slightly lower on the Mercedes-Maybach hierarchy, hence its starting price of RM1,789,453.18 - and as usual, that's minus the two-tone paint job. Just like all Maybachs which are bought with many additional extras and custom jobs, of course,its price will start to skyrocket when you get to the customisation and optional extras list.

2022 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4Matic Key Features

The Maybach's key features of course rest at the rear of the car where two thrones is the centrepiece of the vehicle. Sheer luxury and comfort for rear passengers are the number one priority here and it shows. You can choose from five different interior options including the RM116k Maybach Exclusive Nappa leather MANUFAKTUR crystal white/silver grey pearl interior. To sum up, The GLS 600 has a glitzy presence, excellent technology and seriously smooth ride.