Seven years after the Maybach GLS first established that a three-pointed star could compete with Bentley and Rolls-Royce in the ultra-luxury SUV space, Mercedes is raising the stakes. The 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 arrives at U.S. dealerships later this year with a more powerful engine, a suspension system that processes inputs at a rate that makes human reflexes feel geological, and enough interior refinements to keep its buyers well clear of the Bentayga crowd. Maybach retail sales climbed 22 percent in the first quarter of 2026. Stuttgart is not letting that momentum idle.
More Power, More Composure
Under the hood, the M 177 Evo twin-turbo V8 now produces 603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque, increases of 53 hp and 89 lb-ft over the outgoing unit. Two newly added Lanchester balance shafts help smooth the engine’s character at the frequencies where large-displacement V8s tend to betray themselves. A second-generation 48-volt integrated starter generator contributes 23 hp of electric boost, handles coasting and recuperation, and makes the stop-start function seamless enough that rear passengers may not notice it operating. Mercedes describes the power delivery as more immediate to accelerator inputs while preserving the serenity the badge demands, and the acoustic engineering around this engine is extensive: the transmission tunnel and engine bulkhead carry high-quality non-woven insulation, a specially developed cover dampens high-frequency combustion sounds, and acoustic foam in select bodyshell areas addresses road and wind noise. It is a long list of measures aimed at ensuring that 603 hp is felt more than heard.
A revised steering system with a more direct ratio rounds out the performance changes. Mercedes says handling is more intuitive and response more immediate, which matters more than it might seem in a vehicle of this size. The Maybach GLS is not small, and a sharper steering calibration is one of the more honest ways to disguise that fact from occupants who mostly experience it from the rear seats.
The Suspension Does the Heavy Thinking
Standard AIRMATIC air suspension returns with an upgrade: intelligent predictive damper control that draws on Car-to-X data from other Mercedes-Benz vehicles ahead on the road, transmitted anonymously through the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud in real time. The system adjusts damping before the GLS reaches a disturbance rather than reacting to it afterward. That is useful. What is optional is considerably more ambitious.
E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL employs five multi-core processors and more than 20 sensors to analyze the driving situation 1,000 times per second and adjust spring and damper forces at each wheel independently. The system counteracts roll, pitch, and lift. In CURVE mode, the GLS leans into corners by up to three degrees, actively reducing lateral forces on every occupant rather than simply resisting them. Four 48-volt motor-pump units, one at each corner, execute the corrections and can recuperate energy in the process. For buyers who encounter deep sand or mud, the off-road program raises and lowers the suspension repeatedly to alternately load and unload the wheels, improving traction without driver input. It is a system designed to make a five-thousand-pound luxury SUV behave as though it is considerably less aware of its own mass.
Inside: Where the Money Actually Goes
The interior is where the GLS 680 earns its premium over the standard GLS 580, and the new model pushes further. The MBUX Superscreen now carries a Maybach-specific design: Rose Gold instrument dials on the driver display, a Gold Maybach emblem between them, and a textured backdrop in Gold, Rose Gold, and Black. Three 12.3-inch digital displays run beneath a seamless glass surface. Illuminated outer climate control vents integrate into that glass surface, replacing conventional fins with freely moving gondolas that direct airflow while contributing to the dashboard’s sculptural appearance.
Front seat buyers get a newly developed vibration massage program in the seat cushions. Rear Executive Seat passengers receive something new: a massage function that extends for the first time to the calf rests. The standard Burmester 3D Surround Sound system with Dolby Atmos gains two additional surround speakers in the rear cabin and a more powerful 710-watt amplifier, bringing the total to 15 speakers. Optional MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment adds two 11.6-inch full-HD displays with integrated cameras for video conferencing, plus individually configurable rear remotes for climate, comfort, and entertainment. The air filtration system, fitted standard, fully renews the cabin air approximately every 90 seconds; a new electric filter ionizes fine dust particles before they reach occupants.
New material choices include Beech Brown / Macchiato Beige Maybach Exclusive Nappa leather, Natural Grain Brown Walnut Wood trim, and an exclusive High-Gloss Silver Metallic Mixed Fabric. The extended MANUFAKTUR program includes full leather appointments with a hand-stitched headliner assembled from up to 20 precisely cut leather sections by a single craftsperson who signs the finished piece. Mercedes notes the headliner is the most popular MANUFAKTUR option among Maybach buyers globally in 2026. For buyers who prefer a darker register, the optional Night Series Design Package delivers Dark Chrome exterior elements, dark anodized running boards, and a seven-spoke 23-inch wheel with Maybach pattern inserts, paired inside with Black / Black Pearl Nappa leather or Crystal White / Black Pearl contrast.
Presence Before It Pulls Up
The exterior changes are more than incremental. A redesigned Maybach-specific radiator grille now carries an illuminated surround and, for the first time on this model, the MAYBACH name subtly lit within the grille itself. The standing Mercedes-Benz hood star can be illuminated for the first time as an option. New twin-star DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps carry Rose Gold accent details. The tailgate redesign visually connects the new taillights, each featuring three-dimensional chrome-framed star motifs, and emphasizes the vehicle’s width. New exterior colors include Dark Petrol and MANUFAKTUR Patagonia Red Metallic, alongside the new Dark Petrol / Verde Silver Metallic two-tone finish.
The electric running boards, standard equipment, extend in under one second when a door opens: anodized aluminum with non-slip rubber inserts, a chrome Maybach emblem, LED step lighting at night, and a Mercedes-Maybach pattern projected onto the ground. When the doors close, they retract into the sill. The optional 23-inch Maybach forged wheels feature a precision ball-bearing center star engineered to remain upright as the wheel rotates. A new standard 22-inch wheel with a 20-hole design rounds out the wheel portfolio.
Technology and Driver Assistance
The GLS 680 runs on Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) with over-the-air update capability covering the full vehicle software. The MBUX Virtual Assistant integrates AI from ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing Search, and Google Gemini in a multi-agent configuration capable of complex, multi-part conversations with short-term memory. It appears as a persistent Rose Gold star avatar on the MBUX Zero Layer. Ten external cameras, five radar sensors, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and a water-cooled supercomputer rated at up to 254 trillion operations per second handle driver assistance duties. Standard Digital Extras include MB.DRIVE ASSIST and Distance Assist DISTRONIC. The optional MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO expands those features further, with the CITY PRO feature for dense urban driving available at a later date. MB.DRIVE PARKING ASSIST 360 comes standard, with Rim Protection Warning that displays a top-view distance alert in tight spaces.
Production is in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where Mercedes has assembled large SUVs since 1997. Two dedicated Maybach-trained specialists hand-finish the interior of each GLS 680 outside the regular SUV assembly flow, a process that reflects what $60,000 over the standard GLS 580 is supposed to buy. The 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 reaches U.S. dealerships later in 2026.
603 horsepower, a suspension that thinks faster than the road can surprise it, and a hand-stitched headliner signed by the person who made it. The Cullinan buyers will have seen all of this before. The difference is the price of admission.
2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 Photo Gallery
Source: Mercedes-Benz. Images courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.
