Mercedes has pulled the wraps off the 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680, and the message is clear: the American-built ultra-luxury SUV is back, and it wants the keys to the kingdom currently held by the Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
The outgoing GLS 600 was already a formidable presence, but the 680 takes things several steps further. Under the bonnet sits AMG's M177 Evo twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre flat-plane crank V8, producing 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque, gains of 53 hp and 59 lb-ft over its predecessor. Unlike the AMG-tuned version, however, Maybach has massaged the powertrain for smooth, unhurried delivery rather than outright aggression. A dedicated Maybach drive mode softens every response, prioritising the kind of composure you would expect from a car wearing double-M badging.
On the outside, the GLS 680 leaves no room for ambiguity. The front end receives Maybach-specific chrome vertical vanes, a piano black grille, and illuminated script across the front fascia. Rose gold accents line the headlamp internals, while the bumper intakes carry double-M mesh logos. Two-tone paint returns as an option, separated by a neatly integrated pinstripe. Along the flanks, polished B-pillar trim and D-pillar logos dominate, while the rear gets bright-finished dual tailpipes and a chrome diffuser. The 23-inch forged monoblock wheels are standard, and an illuminated hood ornament is available for those who find the standard one too subtle.
Inside, the GLS 680 is configured for four-passenger luxury. The executive rear seats offer heating, ventilation, massage and Magic Fingers calf extensions, while all four occupants face a standard MBUX Superscreen with three 12.3-inch displays under a single glass pane. A rose gold Maybach software skin sets the tone, and a new high-gloss silver metallic mixed fabric trim on the dash and centre console adds an unexpected touch of restraint. The optional MANUFAKTUR headliner, stitched from a single piece of leather by one craftsperson in Sindelfingen, is signed individually.
Ride quality has received similar attention. The standard Airmatic four-corner air suspension features cloud-linked adaptive dampers that learn from other connected Mercedes vehicles about road imperfections ahead. Optional E-Active Body Control gives each wheel individual control over lift, roll and pitch, and can lean the car up to 3 degrees into corners to counteract motion sickness. Added firewall insulation and acoustic foam keep the cabin quiet enough to appreciate the 710-watt Burmester audio system and optional 11.6-inch rear entertainment screens.
Mercedes expects a loaded GLS 680 to come in around $240,000, a figure that undercuts the Cullinan by a significant margin and sits just above the Bentayga. Whether that value proposition, combined with the Maybach badge and the assembled-in-Alabama pedigree, is enough to sway buyers out of British luxury remains to be seen. But on paper, at least, the GLS 680 makes a compelling argument that the most luxurious car built in America does not wear a British number plate.
