Big, bigger, biggest. Good, better, best. And then? How about building SUV's next your luxurious limousines?
Behold, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS.
As opposed to the limousines, which are stretched S-Classes really, the Maybach GLS shares its body with a Mercedes-Benz GLS.
It's not longer or anything, but it's able to distinguish itself from the regular GLS with a different grille, different bumpers, you name it.
Just to make it a little bit extra. Because where the regular GLS is quite a serious car, it's always been in the shadow of the iconic G-Class.
That's not the case with this car. It's quite the appearance really. It's playing in the same class where the British rule. Bentley, Rolls Royce,
Range Rover. This car is allowed in that club of cars. Actually, it's a set of luxurious armchairs with a car built around it.
Anyway, before it becomes England versus Germany all over again, let me stop you right there. It's England versus the USA.
Just like the regular GLS, this car is built in America as well. A car for people who aren't impressed by anything anymore that is.
That this car is different than other cars is made clear immediately when you open the door. This huge side step folds automatically.
And the cool part is that it's wider at the back than at the front. Also, it sports a logo at the back, so it's clearly meant for rear passengers.
That's where you'll find the luxury.
When you do get in the back, you'll enter a world of luxury and beautiful materials. The finishing is nearly perfect.
The luxury literally seems endless in this car.
In certain markets, the GLS comes with a 'simple' rear seat, which would make it a five-seater. That's not the case in the Netherlands though,
because it's only available with four separate seats. Also, don't think there will be a third row of seating either.
It's a proper four-seater, and the seats aren't much less than thrones in business class. You can fold them down completely if you want to take a nap.
If you're not going to sleep, they offer support in all directions and they come with a lot of features.
They're vented, they're heated, they have massage functions, you can do pretty much everything.
You'll never be bored either. Of course, you're able to do some work by folding out this hidden table, but you can also watch a movie...
on the screen in front of you. And if you don't feel like pausing the movie to change certain settings, you've got a tablet back here which controls...
the same things the driver can control. It's all in here. Also, to generate more legroom, they've moved the seats...
backwards by 12 centimetres compared to the regular GLS. And if that weren't enough, the seats have been moved towards...
each other, which means there's more room around your shoulders. An amazing feature.
Other than that, there's separate airconditioning, a Burmester sound system, and a fridge for your champagne. Don't forget...
to enjoy life in the back of this car. If champagne isn't your thing and you like coffee or soda, you can keep it warm or cool in the...
cupholders. It can do both.
So if I had to name one drawback, it would be the boot. That's a little disappointing really, so for an SUV it's not that utilitarian.
However, that's because the seats have been moved back and because there's a huge cooling unit in there. On the other hand, if you've got...
a car like this, you won't be hauling around your own luggage. You'll have sent that ahead, of course.
It might be a small palace in the back, you won't die of discomfort in the front either. Although, you can't lie down in the front seats.
The seats offer support in all directions and they're vented, heated and they come with a massage function.
The boss can sit in the back, but in the front you'll be more than alright too.
Operating this car is incredibly easy. In front of me, there's the big MBUX-system. Or rather, big. In other cars, it looks big. In here,
it's not really. The more you know. I've got all of the information I need in front of me and next to that, there's the multimedia screen.
Just like every other Mercedes, I can operate that system with the touchpad, the touchscreens, buttons on the steering wheel and if...
I want to, I can operate the car with my voice. It's all very easy and there are still a lot of buttons left for different features, like the airconditioning
There's still enough functionality hidden in the menu's, but it's very easy to find them.
Also, you're able to customize the screens to your own liking, but I like the Maybach Classic-style the most.
This car has air suspension and the electronics are constantly adjusting it. There's a camera behind the windshield that monitors the road surface...
ahead, so if it detects bumps or imperfections, it'll automatically adapt the air suspension per wheel so you'll glide over it.
Of course, you're able to choose between different driving modes. There's Sport-mode, which won't be very effective in a car like this.
You shouldn't expect this tank to be very dynamic. After that, you've got the Comfort-mode, which doesn't need explanation.
Lastly, you've got the Maybach-mode. That's a fancy name for Comfort Plus really. On the display in front of me, there's a 'C' with...
a small diamond next to it. That's to indicate you're in the most comfortable mode, with most of the comfort being for the people in the back.
It also comes with an off-road mode, because it's an SUV after all. That makes sure you won't get stuck in the mud. When you're done...
playing, you'll need to wash it. Luckily, there's the Carwash-mode. Nice.
This is a Maybach GLS 600, so you might expect it to have a 6.0-litre V12 in the front, but you're wrong. Instead, it has a 4.0-litre V8...
which essentially is the same engine as in the GLS 580 and the GLS 63 AMG.
In the 580, the engine produces 489 horsepower whilst the engine in the AMG produces 612 horsepower.
In the Maybach, it stays right inbetween those numbers. 557 horsepower and 730 Nm of torque. Between 2.500 and 5.000 RPM, so it pulls like crazy.
This machine weighs almost 2.700 kg, but it can do 0-100 km/h in less than five seconds.
The V8 cooperates very nicely with the nine-speed automatic gearbox. You almost get the idea you're driving an electric car, that's how smooth...
the power feels. You can't feel the gear changes and the sound system cancels out all of the outside noises. Comfort with a capital C.
I don't really miss the V12, because the V8 is more than good enough. There is a six-cylinder available as well, but that's only for the Chinese market.
No matter how good this car is and looks, it's nothing the British can't do. However, there's one thing in which this Maybach beats the British.
Of course I'm talking about electronics. This car is filled with all kinds of comfort-enhancing systems, all kinds of assists,
safety features, about everything Mercedes has to offer is in here. And it all works perfectly.
It doesn't matter if it's an active cruise control which is able to gradually slow down when there's a corner coming up on the satnav...
or a driving lane assist which changes lane when you use the indicator, it can easily do it.
That's something most British cars and certain German cars just won't be able to beat.
It's got a modest boot, no third row of seating and only four seats in total. They've interpreted the word 'Utility' in SUV a tad differently...
than they did with the regular GLS. On the other hand, this car was clearly meant to be your own personal ultimate bubble of comfort.
Everything is meant to get you from A to B in the most comfortable way that's humanly possible.
Also, it shows that the Americans are able to build quality cars. That's a nice bonus.