2024 Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV First Drive Review: A Fine Car to a Fault

The word "fine" is unrivaled in its subtle versatility. In its most common use, it is a nonchalant, almost backhanded compliment. "How was the movie?" one might ask. "Oh, it was fine." It was alright. Not the best but also not the worst. Serviceable. Append it in front of certain nouns, though, and the word "fine" suddenly becomes a synonym for "elevated." Think fine dining. Fine wine. And, according to what feels like every used luxury car dealer located near the airport, fine cars.

The 2024 Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV seems to understand this to a T. With its sumptuously white Maybach-exclusive leather, a time-traveling 15-speaker Burmester "4D" sound system, and a pair of champagne flute holders in the back seat, the ultra-luxury brand's first electric car is, by all accounts, A Fine Car. Dig a little deeper, though—ask more of it beyond being a car to show off on social media—and it seems to lean into its status as a "fine" car a bit too literally.

The Basics

Let's be honest about why people buy vehicles like this: It's all about the optics. And in that respect, the Maybach EQS SUV checks a lot of boxes. Sufficiently swankier than the regular Mercedes EQS SUV, this Maybach version replaces the big three-pointed star with pinstriping on the "grille" area and a smaller, more classic Mercedes hood ornament. Said grille is flanked by two inserts filled with repeating Maybach logos seemingly designed to appeal to those who own the least subtle of Louis Vuitton merchandise. Optional two-tone paint and monoblock-style wheels tell the world this ain't no GLC 300.

So far, the Mercedes EQ jelly bean look has not proven to be everybody's favorite EV design language (and understandably so), but it's arguably the least polarizing here. There's an attractive muscularity in the hood, a thin LED lightbar joins the headlight DRLs and makes for a unique signature at night, and from the back, it's almost R-Class-like in its minivan-ness.

The pinstripes-and-panache motif continues to the inside where the former can be found on the wood trim armrests and center storage areas. Ambient lighting is customizable and copious, the triple-display Hyperscreen setup is a flex on premise alone, there are extendable footrests and actual lumbar pillows for both rear seats, and this company's metal speaker grilles continue to be the prettiest in the game.

Champagne Problems

While the Maybach's front row is anything but basic, the business class rear quarters are where it's at. In lieu of a middle seat, a large center console separates two recliner-style seats. Said console contains the aforementioned champagne flute holders and, of course, a set of Maybach-branded champagne flutes. There's a mini fridge to keep drinks cold, tablets in front of each throne controlling everything in the car you'd want control over as a passenger (there's also a smaller, portable version of this docked in the center in case you can't be bothered to lean forward), and the carpets are very thick.

Sitting in the back of the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV is one of the ritziest ways to travel, there's no doubt about it. But everything is relative, and if I'm going to be as picky as somebody splashing big money on a prestige-prestige car like this should be, there are a few areas where things could stand to be improved.