26c0202 003
Mercedes-Maybach GLS Gets Sharper, Softer, Smarter
Mercedes-Maybach has taken its GLS and done what only the very wealthiest of engineers seem to do: make a giant luxury SUV even more opulent, more powerful and, somehow, more serene. The refreshed model keeps the old formula of presence, plushness and quiet menace, then adds a more theatrical face, extra cabin indulgence and a digital setup that sounds less like a car and more like a particularly expensive smartphone on stilts.
The biggest visual change is the front end. The grille is now more assertive, with an illuminated outline and, in certain markets, subtly lit Maybach lettering. Rose-gold accents appear in the headlamps, because apparently chrome alone was not sufficiently aristocratic. Around the body, there are new paint finishes and wheel options, including 23-inch forged alloys with centre stars designed to stay upright as the wheel turns, which is either engineering purity or the automotive equivalent of keeping your cufflinks aligned during a sprint.
Under the bonnet sits a revised electrified V8 that delivers more power, sharper throttle response and the sort of smoothness that makes a normal SUV feel faintly agricultural. Mercedes says the setup is quieter and more composed than before, helped by extra insulation, new damping and additional measures to keep vibration and noise from ruining the mood. In plain English, this thing is meant to glide rather than roar, even when it has a very substantial amount of muscle available.
More Lounge, Less Road Trip
Inside, the changes lean heavily into the Maybach party trick: making the rear seat feel like a private suite with a steering wheel attached somewhere far away. There is new Nappa leather, updated trim options, extended massage functions and a Burmester audio system that grows extra rear speakers and a more powerful amplifier. The rear executive seats now include calf massage, which feels like the sort of detail someone requested after a very difficult week in Monaco.
The cabin also gets the latest MBUX tech running on MB.OS, with a Superscreen layout, updated graphics and a virtual assistant that can handle more natural conversation than most humans can manage before coffee. Mercedes says the system can evolve over the air, which means the car is not just expensive today, but still expects to be improving itself later.
Then there is the practical wizardry. Electric running boards extend automatically when a door opens, complete with illumination and a projected Maybach emblem at night. Because if you are paying this much for an SUV, walking up to it should probably feel like entering a five-star hotel through the front doors, not clambering aboard like a farmer.
Driving assistance has also been upgraded, including urban point-to-point support in complex city traffic, though Mercedes is careful to remind everyone that the driver remains responsible. Sensible, really. No matter how lavish the cabin or how clever the software, the laws of physics still refuse to sign a waiver.
A Big, Silky Statement On Wheels
The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS is basically a rolling argument for overstatement done properly. It is bigger, smarter, more polished and even more cosseting than before, while keeping the sort of calm authority that has made the badge such a potent status symbol. If you want a luxury SUV that tries to do everything without ever seeming hurried, this one now does it with even more glittering confidence.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
