by Michael Van Runkle – February 07, 2026
Review: 2026 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600
The first time I drove a Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, rough roads amid the Carmel Valley countryside perfectly highlighted everything that sets this uber-luxe SUV apart from its ‘lower- spec’ Benz siblings. On the California coast near Monterey, Maybach partners with Bernardus Lodge, a vineyard turned resort and spa, to provide a chance for guests to experience the Maybach GLS in sumptuous tranquility while enjoying idyllic wine tours, golf courses, and world- class restaurants. Variable weather from fog to brilliant sunshine renders most of the roads near Monterey almost chock-full of potholes year-round, slippery in the mornings before transitioning to gritty gravel in the afternoon. Not that I noticed much of the road surface in this most luxurious of Mercedes SUVs, though, which prioritizes the smoothest suspension and steering possible, softer seating upholstery, including in the rear captain chairs that border on pillowy clouds, and a large rear trunk for vacation luggage. The GLS, as reimagined by Maybach, therefore transforms from a three-row family hauler into a coddling chauffeur special. So, it only made sense when a few months later, I took another Maybach GLS on a 1,200-mile road trip, this time in a loaner from Mercedes that featured more Manufaktur personalization options that will appear on the menu for model year 2026 – more paint tones or more interior leather and woodgrain trim options rather than performance upgrades. And after multiple days playing chauffeur behind the wheel, I struggle to imagine many SUVs more perfect for racking up miles day after day. From the driver’s seat, the suspension clearly stands out as smooth and cushiony, able to absorb rough roads, drainage troughs, or speed bumps with barely a tremor. But the steering response also dials back, to emphasize that velvety ride quality for those in the backseat. Same for the throttle and brake pedals, all in the name of deference to effortless calm in the passenger Cabin. Not that the mildly hybridized twin-turbo V8 can’t giddy up and go when the time comes, though. Instead, the Maybach-badged pedals simply require a deeper nudge to unleash all 550 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque in a roar of acceleration, with a low bass rumble that only just pierces the interior quietude. The rest of the time, the officially named Active Road Noise Compensation functions much the same as high-tech modern headphones, using the Burmester sound system to cancel out road, wind, and other driving resonance. Even the 9G-Tronic transmission seems to shift more smoothly than in other Benzes, based on the seat of my Pants. Playing around with some of the Maybach GLS 600’s other advanced features almost brought me a chuckle. Off-road mode in these SUVs, especially my second loaner with the enormous 23-inch Monoblock wheels? Maybe not. But Mercedes offers a screen with inclinometers and even a see-through hood camera function. What about the bouncy suspension so popular on social media? Not really necessary either, though when I felt inclined to rip hard on the mountain roads between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, that active air suspension does keep the body roll to an absolute minimum while cornering at a much greater pace than I ever thought possible from such a big, beefy SUV. And I never felt a moment’s slip or slide when the damp roads threatened to turn icy up around 7,000 feet of elevation, either. Some holdovers from the ‘base’ GLS do carry over and stand out, though, especially the trackpad atop the center console. Sure, the main touchscreen sits relatively distant from either the driver or passenger seat, but trying to use swipes and clicks on the capacitive pad only accentuates some of the more unintuitive menu screens that already make Mercedes customers frustrated. Just lean forward and use the touchscreen, or ask the chauffeur to get from the backseat while sprawled out with the leg rests up. At the very least, Mercedes added a new widget to quickly and easily return to Apple CarPlay after dipping into vehicle-specific functions. I used this quick-key quite regularly after switching on my massaging seat, which I want on at all times. Gobbling up highway miles, music blasting with a level of fidelity few automakers can come close to matching, massaging and ventilated seats running full time – for those wondering about fuel economy, despite the massive footprint and 6,000-pound curb weight, the hybrid V8 barely managed to average 20 miles per gallon over the course of my road trip, or a little better than the official EPA highway estimate of 18 Mpg. And on the longest stretches of abandoned roads, I relied on adaptive cruise and lane keep assist that barely required steering, paying attention to speed limits, or even watching the road. We’re not quite at the Level 2+ autonomous driving available in other Mercedes-Benz vehicles, though, so I occasionally needed to jiggle the steering wheel to remind the system that I kept an eye on the road. The Maybach GLS can probably manage slightly better than the city rating, too, with the hybrid system working to contribute to daily driving. And for a lifestyle commuter, again, the level of stillness that I experienced, not even remotely tired even after a full day on the road, probably helps to take the edge off regular life just as well. In my mind, after so much time behind the wheel, I began to think of the Maybach GLS as 75% of a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, for 45% of the price. Though I missed out on the chance to experience the full Maybach chauffeured lifestyle, which meant skipping a few wine tastings near the Bernardus Lodge, I still climbed into the backseat a couple of times to check out the amenities. A touchscreen for climate, seat, and entertainment controls releases off the center console reminded me very much of the Bentley Flying Spur. Meanwhile, the legroom and seat recline seemed on par with fronts, even with my front seat adjusted to fit my six-foot-one long-limbed frame comfortably. And scooting the second row back to make room for necessitated deleting the Benz GLS’s third row, so unless I planned to bring the whole crew, the additional creature comfort made for a worthy tradeoff. Plus, the 18.4 cubic feet of rear cargo capacity now looks pretty cavernous, with a ton of space for huge roller bags, golf clubs, coolers, you name it. <- Gallery -> My Cirrus Silver Metallic over Manufaktur-specific Yacht Blue Nappa Leather loaner with the Monoblocks stickered for $197,600 over a $180,000 base MSRP. The wheels alone contributed $6,000 to that total, while the Manufaktur interior added $9.250. I did miss the champagne flutes and chiller in the backseat, though – very Carmel Valley – and I did check, both are available as options for $800 and $1,100, respectively. At least the front cupholders can also cool off beverages, though! Meanwhile, I appreciated the copious wood dash and Manufaktur badging. Part of that appealing price tag for an SUV that simply oozes with quality throughout comes from the impression that, hopefully, German reliability can allow for a Maybach GLS to rack up miles every day of the year with less of a concern for the inconveniences of breakdowns and maintenance service. The Maybach shares underpinnings with other Benzes, meaning the parent company can spread development costs out to keep the customer’s final tally lower versus the Cullinan, for example, which, contrary to a common misconception, rides on a unique chassis not shared with any BMW offerings. Even focusing on the luxurious enhancements that transform a three-row family hauler into a more serious and stately machine, the Maybach never quite reaches the level of a Rolls from either an all-out opulence or sheer presence standpoint. But especially when skipping the two- tone paintjobs and maybe even those stunning Monoblocks, a Maybach GLS can fly slightly more under the radar than a Cullinan. Focus more on the interior options, perhaps, because for some, attracting less attention makes for a more desirable aspect of luxury all on its own. View All Mercedes-Maybach for Sale Images: Michael Teo Van Runkle