The 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 represents more than another round of cosmetic updates for Mercedes-Benz’s flagship SUV. It arrives with a stronger electrified V8, a thoroughly revised digital environment, more sophisticated suspension technology and an interior that places equal emphasis on craftsmanship, connectivity and passenger comfort. The familiar GLS architecture remains underneath, but nearly every major area has been adjusted to give the Maybach a clearer identity of its own.
That identity sits somewhere between a high-performance flagship, an executive limousine and a highly personalized luxury retreat. The GLS 680 cannot completely conceal its size or its relationship to the regular Mercedes-Benz GLS, but it uses technology and detail to transform those foundations into something considerably more exclusive.
A More Distinctive Maybach Exterior
The redesigned front end gives the 2027 GLS 680 a stronger visual separation from the regular GLS. Its Maybach-specific radiator grille features vertical chrome elements, illuminated edging and prominent Maybach lettering. An optionally illuminated three-pointed star can now sit above the grille, adding even more nighttime presence for buyers who believe subtle entrances are terribly overrated.
New exterior finishes include Dark Petrol, MANUFAKTUR Patagonia Red Metallic and a two-tone combination of Dark Petrol and Verde Silver Metallic. The expanded MANUFAKTUR program provides additional colors and finishes, while the Night Series introduces darker exterior trim for customers who prefer something less traditional than the usual chrome-heavy Maybach appearance.
The DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps introduce a twin-star lighting signature with rose-gold detailing, while chrome Maybach-pattern inserts fill the lower front openings. At the rear, redesigned taillights use three-dimensional star-shaped elements and a horizontal treatment that makes the SUV appear wider. None of these changes alter the basic GLS proportions, but they make the Maybach easier to identify without relying entirely on badges.
Standard power-deployable running boards extend when a door opens, illuminating the ground and projecting a Maybach pattern beneath the vehicle. New 22-inch wheels are joined by available 23-inch forged designs with self-leveling center caps that keep the Mercedes-Benz star upright while the wheels rotate. It is a delightfully unnecessary detail—which, in this corner of the market, makes it almost essential.
A Cabin Built Around Craftsmanship
Inside, the GLS 680 combines extensive Nappa leather, wood veneers, metal detailing and customizable MANUFAKTUR finishes. New choices include Maybach Exclusive Nappa leather in Beech Brown and Macchiato Beige, open-pore brown walnut trim and a high-gloss silver-and-black decorative finish. Rose-gold instruments and Maybach-specific graphics distinguish the digital displays from those in the regular GLS.
The cabin is hand-finished at Mercedes-Benz’s Tuscaloosa, Alabama, facility by a dedicated two-person Maybach team trained in Germany. These specialists work on components including the Nappa leather upholstery and wood trim away from the regular SUV production process before the vehicle returns for final inspection. The GLS 680 is not a completely hand-built vehicle, but the surfaces occupants see and touch receive a more focused level of attention.
Additional insulation around the engine and transmission areas is intended to reduce noise and vibration. A multi-stage cabin filtration system improves interior air quality, while the standard Burmester 3D Surround Sound System supports Dolby Atmos. The objective is to create a controlled sensory environment rather than simply fill the cabin with expensive materials.
The Rear Cabin Remains Its Strongest Feature
Although the 2027 GLS 680 is now a more complete flagship, the rear compartment remains its most persuasive luxury feature. Buyers can choose two individual Executive rear seats separated by a fixed center console. These seats provide electrical adjustment, heating, ventilation and massage functions, with the new massage program extending into the calf rests.
The center console can incorporate dedicated wireless charging pads, temperature-controlled cupholders and an optional glass-fronted refrigerated compartment with enough space for two champagne bottles. The arrangement reduces overall passenger capacity and cargo flexibility, but that is the point: the Maybach GLS treats the rear occupants as its most important cargo.
The taller SUV seating position provides a commanding view of the surroundings, while the illuminated running boards make entry more graceful. It does not offer the stretched proportions of a long-wheelbase Maybach sedan, but it provides a different kind of luxury—one built around height, road presence and the sense of being separated from the traffic below.
MBUX Expands Across the Dashboard
The dashboard is dominated by the MBUX Superscreen, which places three 12.3-inch displays beneath one continuous glass surface. The driver receives a digital instrument panel, the center screen handles primary infotainment functions and the front passenger has a separate display for entertainment and vehicle controls.
The system runs on the new Mercedes-Benz Operating System and incorporates the latest MBUX interface with integrated artificial intelligence. Its Zero Layer design attempts to anticipate which functions are most relevant at a particular moment, reducing the number of menus occupants must navigate. Maybach-specific colors, animations and rose-gold instruments prevent the interface from feeling identical to the one found in less expensive GLS models.
An optional High-End Rear Seat Entertainment package adds two 11.6-inch displays with individual controllers and integrated cameras. Rear occupants can watch entertainment, manage selected cabin functions or participate in video conferences. Over-the-air updates allow Mercedes-Benz to improve software and introduce compatible functions after delivery, although some connected services may require subscriptions or market-specific availability.
More Power Without the V12
Despite the GLS 680 name, the SUV does not use the 6.0-liter V12 found in the Mercedes-Maybach S 680 sedan. Instead, it receives a substantially updated version of Mercedes-Benz’s 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8. The engine produces 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, representing a meaningful increase over the previous Maybach GLS.
A second-generation 48-volt integrated starter-generator can provide as much as 23 horsepower of temporary assistance. It also supports smoother engine starting, coasting and energy recuperation. Power is delivered through a nine-speed automatic transmission and the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system.
Mercedes-Benz has added two balance shafts to reduce engine vibration, reinforcing the Maybach preference for smoothness over mechanical drama. The V8 has more than enough power to move the large SUV with authority, but its real purpose is to provide effortless acceleration without disturbing the atmosphere inside. This is performance intended to shorten overtaking maneuvers, not set a Nürburgring record between massage programs.
Predictive Ride Comfort
Standard AIRMATIC air suspension is equipped with intelligent predictive damper control. Using connected road information supplied through the Mercedes-Benz cloud, the system can prepare the suspension for certain imperfections before the vehicle reaches them. A dedicated MAYBACH drive program softens the responses further and prioritizes smooth acceleration and rear-passenger comfort.
The available E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL system independently manages the suspension at each wheel, counteracting pitch, roll and vertical movement. Its CURVE mode allows the GLS to lean into corners by as much as three degrees, reducing the lateral forces felt by occupants. The system can also raise and lower the body to help free the SUV from deep sand, mud or snow.
A revised steering system uses a more direct ratio, which should make the GLS 680 easier to position without turning it into an aggressively responsive performance SUV. Its size, weight and available 23-inch wheels will always place limits on absolute ride isolation, but Mercedes-Benz has devoted considerable engineering to keeping those forces away from the cabin.
Driver Assistance for a Very Large SUV
The 2027 GLS 680 uses an extensive network of exterior cameras, radar units and ultrasonic sensors to support its driver-assistance systems. Distance Assist DISTRONIC, steering assistance, automated parking and a surround-view camera system are designed to reduce workload in traffic and during low-speed maneuvers.
A rim-protection warning system is especially relevant when the vehicle is fitted with its available 23-inch forged wheels. The technology provides a closer view of nearby curbs and obstacles during parking—because few mistakes announce themselves quite as clearly as fresh damage on an enormous polished Maybach wheel.
More advanced MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO functions are planned for selected markets, but availability will depend on regional regulations and software rollout. Regardless of who occupies the driver’s seat, these systems remain assistance features rather than substitutes for an attentive driver.
Practicality Takes a Supporting Role
The Maybach GLS remains more versatile than a traditional luxury sedan. It offers all-wheel drive, useful ground clearance, a rear liftgate and enough cargo space for a comfortable trip. Its elevated cabin also makes it better suited to poor weather, uneven roads and locations where a low-slung limousine would feel out of place.
However, it is not nearly as practical as the regular three-row GLS. The Maybach eliminates the third row, and the Executive rear seats do not provide the same folding flexibility as a conventional SUV bench. Adding the fixed console and refrigerated compartment further reduces luggage space.
Owners who need to carry seven passengers, sports equipment or a small mountain of flat-packed furniture will be better served by the standard GLS. The Maybach is practical only within the boundaries of its intended lifestyle: four people, carefully selected luggage and preferably someone else handling both.
Price and Market Position
Mercedes-Benz had not announced U.S. pricing for the 2027 GLS 680 as of September 1, 2026. The outgoing Mercedes-Maybach GLS began around the $180,000 mark before options, and extensive MANUFAKTUR personalization can add considerably to the final cost. The new model is scheduled to reach U.S. dealerships later in 2026.
Its main rivals include the Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce Cullinan, although the Mercedes takes a more technology-focused approach. The Bentayga places greater emphasis on traditional craftsmanship and driving character, while the Cullinan offers a more bespoke experience at a dramatically higher price. The GLS 680 attempts to occupy the space between them by combining serious luxury with the scale, production capacity and digital technology of Mercedes-Benz.
MaxTake
The 2027 Mercedes–Maybach GLS 680 is a more convincing flagship because its improvements reach beyond the rear seats. The more distinctive exterior, stronger V8, predictive suspension, advanced driver assistance and new digital architecture give the entire vehicle a clearer purpose. It is still based on a Mercedes-Benz GLS, but the Maybach transformation now feels deeper than an elaborate interior package.
There are compromises. The 680 badge does not bring a V12, the Executive cabin reduces utility and the enormous wheels may prioritize appearance over maximum ride comfort. The digital-heavy dashboard may also feel less timeless than the handcrafted interiors offered by some rivals.
Even so, the GLS 680 succeeds by understanding what modern ultra-luxury buyers increasingly want: commanding SUV presence, extensive personalization, effortless performance and a cabin capable of functioning as both a private lounge and a connected workspace. It may not completely replace a Maybach limousine, but it no longer feels as though it is trying to. The 2027 GLS 680 has become a flagship with a character—and a very comfortable throne—of its own.
