2022 Mercedes-Maybach S 580: Simply the Best
Is the 2022 Mercedes-Maybach S 580 the best car out there right now? Arguably so. But no matter how you look at it, the S-Class Maybach is an unprecedented mixture of luxury and state-of-art technology.
Mercedes-Benz’s sub-brand Maybach forms the pinnacle of luxury inside the Daimler universe. After diving into the world, or should I say art?, of desire in Nice during the Design Essentials, I had the opportunity to test Mercedes-Maybach S 580. A coincidence? Most certainly not. See in Nice, this sub-brand was quite literally the star of the show. Virgil Abhol’s legacy edition was there, the Haute Voiture was, but most importantly was the context sketched around Maybach. Around luxury and how these bizarre machines with equally bizarre price tags hold their place. A place beyond rational thinking I’m told, beyond spending more than you could logically justify. And you know what!? After this test, I got what they meant. You’re not ever buying a Mercedes-Maybach with just rational thought. No, these cars draw you in with something far more tantalizing. What that is? Let’s find out.
Legacy
In terms of its origin, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class does start very rationally. In contrast to previous Maybach iterations of Benz models, this car doesn't stray far from the S-Class it is built upon. That is, speaking in relative terms. Where those previous iterations had coachwork done to such an extent the business model turned negative, the car we're talking about here stays within rational margins. A bad thing? No. Why? Because the speed after which the new Maybach hit the stage is unprecedented in the history of the subbrand. And being based on arguably the best car out there right now, its starting point couldn't be better.
And while we're on the subject of that starting point, let's take a closer look at what forms this 2022 Mercedes-Maybach S 580. Compared to the standard L version of the current S-Class, the Maybach version gains additional 18 centimeters of overall length. The car measures a massive 5.47 meters in length with a wheelbase of 3.4 meters. The width remains unchanged compared to the standard S-Class, yet the height slightly increases by just under a centimeter. Curb weight for the S 580 comes in at 2.275 kg, more than 100 kilograms less than the S 680. Mercedes-Maybach is the only subbrand of Mercedes-Benz still offering a V12 in its lineup, something fitting to such an iconic brand.
But we're here for the S 580 drivetrain, so let's stop comparing these two from here on. A well-known V8 powers the S 580 with a peak power of 503 horsepower (+ 20 hp from the EQ start generator) and 700 Nm. All of its torque is available from 2000 RPM and horsepower peaks relatively fast at 5000 RPM. All this power runs through a 9-speed gearbox and onto 4MATIC, pushing the S 580 to a hundred in 4.8, and two-hundred is met in around 15 seconds. I found the car to be quicker in the real world, as Mercedes is often conservative with acceleration numbers.
Numbers and facts don't do it justice
The next paragraph is embodied by the header, but it obviously needs explaining. You see, the vehicle the brand has created leaves the realm of logic and enters something else. Some might call it desire, like the people from the brand, and others will simply find themself in a world of awe. With the changes done to the car, the Maybach S-Class sits in a unique spot on the automotive spectrum. One where the price tag is also explained by how the car makes you feel. It isn't a complex feeling, the car is spoiling your senses. Yet to reach this simple and pure feeling, the company had to go through extreme lengths during development. A tranquil experience for the occupants has been key during this development, and it shows in many forms. Inside the Maybach S-Class, there's very effective active road noise compensation, the rear compartment can fully adjust the ambient lighting, the rear seats can go down flatter than ever before, and MBUX Interior Assist recognizes body language to assist in various ways.
But the true magic comes from the technical refinement that houses in the 2022 Mercedes-Maybach S 580. Integrated into the 'First Class' option package, the E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL is a key player here. This system is a must-take option if you ask me. Why? Because this system reduces the loads acting on the occupants during cornering by keeping the car level. In addition, it uses a stereo camera to scan the road ahead and compensates for imperfections, smoothening the ride even further.
Combine this with the tactile serenity offered by the interior and you’ll undoubtedly understand why the levels of comfort extend to the level we all know as luxury. But understanding isn’t the same thing as feeling it. And it’s only when you’ve felt the package on offer that you’ll get what I’m talking about. The wood trim, the Nappa leather, and the massage seats, it’s all immaculate.
But what’s the S 580 like as a driver? Ohh you’re in for a treat too. But not one where you dive into the power. No, you’re rewarded by the refinement here too. I never found myself slipping into Sport though, the car doesn’t feel rewarding when pushed in such a fashion. The drive mode of choice is the Maybach one, a unique mode for Maybach models. It hones the car to what it’s made for: refined comfort. The transmission, engine, and suspension all slip into a calibration that makes it feel like you’re gliding through a lucid dream. A dream where the world seems distant.
Concluding
I tried my best to find things I don’t like about the Mercedes-Maybach S 580 and frustratingly so found next to none. Rationally there isn’t a justifiable point of criticism you’ll hear from me. I can only point at the € 234.498 (BE) price tag but then again will rationalize it by saying this car isn’t just bought with just the need for a luxury car. No, buyers of this car are drawn in by more. They’re drawn in by desire, things beyond just rational thoughts. And even in your journey through the configurator, the brand offers a smooth ride. How? By having an option that checks all the boxes, the ‘first class will set you back €48.400. It jumps the S 580 from its starting price of € 185.372 to the price I mentioned earlier but saves buyers many sleepless nights wondering through all the possibilities. Now they’re just left wondering if they’ll spend an additional €15.000 on a two-tone paint job (that takes a week to apply) and what rims they’ll go for.
So the Mercedes-Maybach S 580 is simply one of the best cars I’ve ever had the pleasure of testing. There's very little to dislike and much to fall in love with. This Mercedes-Maybach offers a unique mixture of technological advancement combined with luxury and thus making it something unprecedented. There is no comparing this car to the likes of Rolls Royce or Bentley as they're simply not as technologically advanced. And perhaps this is the very core of the Mercedes-Maybach S 580 its success: it being an S-Class, a car that is the technological flagship of the automotive industry. The S-Class Maybach's starting point is far ahead of anything else when it comes down to technology.
