The Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV is the the luxury brand's first EV | GRR
Maybach’s revival as a sort of luxury AMG counterpart means that the marque’s models have become a bit more predictable. As an ultra-luxury halo for the standard Mercedes range, what emerges from the very top-end of the Mercedes mothership usually arrives in heightened form wearing Maybach badges not too long after. This is the latest example of this strategy, and it’s also the first Maybach to be fully-electric; say hello to the Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV.
From the outside, only subtle nods to the car’s designation as a Maybach are found – the two-tone paint finish, the pinstripe effect on the blanked off grille, the Maybach badge detailing within the front apron as well as the huge 22-inch alloy wheels.
Predictably, for modern Maybach, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. The MBUX Hyperscreen system, which transforms the entire dashboard into a giant touchscreen interface, is standard kit here, furnished with Maybach-bespoke graphics. Similarly, the MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment pack is standard fit, meaning those in the back get two 11.6-inch displays for streaming services as well as a removable touchscreen tablet. A system called MBUX Interior Assist reads the movements of passengers within the cabin and anticipates what they need – reaching for the interior lights turns them on without even needing to hit the switch.
And like other high-end manufacturers getting into the EV market, Maybach has added a twist of eco-conscious luxury into the materials it has chosen to trim and upholster the cabin. Nappa leather is standard, of course, but now it uses plant-based dyes over man-made ones, while much more of the leather is sustainably sourced. Even some of the aluminium on show is recycled, while Mercedes claims the production process used to make the EQS 680 and its battery at its factory in Alabama is net carbon-neutral.
The seats feature myriad functions, including heating, ventilation and numerous different massage programmes as well as a huge degree of electronic adjustment and reclinement. An optional ‘First-Class Rear’ (don’t laugh) option results in two full size seats in the back, with the centre console stretching all the way from the front compartment and into the rear.
Additional sound-proofing is present alongside standard adaptive air suspension, as well as rear-wheel steering. It’s all part of making this electric member of the Maybach line-up the most quiet and comfortable option the marque offers.
And powering it? A dual-motor, four-wheel-drive electric drivetrain with 658PS (484kW). Combined with a battery 108kWh in capacity, Mercedes claims a range of up to 373 miles on a full charge.