Yahoo Autos 2024 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 Road Test: Bounce this way
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — I’m not sure there’s another new vehicle out there that allows you to make an entrance comparable to the 2024 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600. When ostentatiousness and an expression of wealth are king, absolutely nothing does the trick better than pulling up in the Maybach’s “Free Driving Assist” mode. For the uninitiated, that’s the bounce mode that uses the SUV’s advanced E-Active Body Control tech to quite literally bounce you up and down in quick order for a pre-determined amount of time.
Of course, there’s a slim-to-zero chance anybody uses this mode as originally intended: to free their Maybach from a wheels-deep sandy death. No, it’s best used for situations like, oh I don’t know, pulling up to the valet at a fancy wedding, your icy white mega SUV bouncing like a super ball, urging every last person in the general vicinity to look your way. Perhaps the parents of the bride are even sitting in the back seat, egging you on to do it. (I swear, it was totally their idea!) A Ferrari is neat; Aston Martins will grab plenty of onlookers, but can any of those cars drive and bounce at the same time? Yeah, I thought so.
This $201,400-as-tested Maybach is of course ideal for lots more than just peacocking up to your fancy wedding locale. I only arrived at the Historic Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach – the perfect old-money architectural pairing with a car as classily designed as this one – after a 12-hour jaunt from metro Detroit, which was more than enough time to get very well acquainted with this mega-luxury yacht.
Truly effortless driving is an element touted by some, but few embody it better than the most recent crop of Maybachs. Graceless climbs up to the back seat thrones are eliminated thanks to the illuminated, Maybach-logo-adorned auto-deploying running boards. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 starts with a quiet and luxurious hush from inside the noise-insulated cabin, but stand near enough to the pipes out back, and the proletariat will be informed of your V8’s might and power.
Flick the electronic column shifter down to Drive, and the magic carpet ride begins. The genteel nature of its primary controls is immediately striking and sets the Maybach apart from other luxury cars, including regular Mercedes models. There’s no mistaking that the throttle and brake pedal tuning were designed with smooth driving in mind – you don’t want to slosh the silver-plated champagne flutes of mom and dad in the back. You won’t find a more progressive or easy-to-modulate brake pedal in the business, and the throttle in “Maybach” mode may as well be called “Chauffeur” mode with how incredibly smooth and measured it is. You’ll only make a sudden movement if you really want to, and the E-Active Body Control suspension prioritizes rear passenger comfort in this mode, too. I was only lucky enough to experience the Maybach from the front seat, but I didn’t hear a single complaint from any of the many passengers I chauffeured around in my weekend of Virginia Beach wedding events.
Instead, the feedback was constant amazement at the car’s tech, the comfort of its individual rear captain’s chairs (pillows included), and lots of “oohs” and “ahhhs.” The tech absolutely killed during our Autoblog Technology of the Year award testing, too, as the Dolby Atmos-powered audio system won last year’s first prize. I spent literal hours traversing the Appalachian Mountain range listening to countless tracks in Dolby Atmos spatial audio on the 27-speaker Burmester audio system. I’m fairly certain it’s ruined every other car audio system in existence for me. So, audio snobs: Apply here.
There’s a lot of credit due to this Maybach solely on account of its ability to make 12 straight hours behind the wheel feel like a relaxing day. Mercedes-Benz knows how to make long-haul, ergonomic and body-supporting seats as well as anyone, and at the end of the day, I’m not the least bit sore or uncomfortable. The nigh-on endless adjustment and numerous massage programs can be thanked for this extreme comfort. I can legitimately say that I’ve tried every massage program from start to finish, and it’s a tie between “Hot Relaxing Back” and “Wave Massage” for the most rejuvenating and relaxing experiences. This Maybach’s heated are another beautiful feature that makes chilly drive days all the more cozy – it’s a real shame that more vehicles haven’t adopted such extra heated surfaces as optional add-ons.
Mercedes’ excellent driver assistance systems make long treks like mine less of a mental burden, too. It’s clear from the outset that the tuning is unique for the Maybach model, because even when the system gets a little confused at the lane markings or someone cuts you off, the programming and movements remain just as smooth and creamy as the ride. It’ll never panic-stab the brakes or jerk at the wheel when you edge up to a line marker. That said, you must remain an active participant in driving. Other, more advanced hands-off systems like Super Cruise from GM or BMW’s new hands-free highway assist are simply better for such long hauls, but I have a feeling Mercedes will catch the GLS up soon enough.
On the topic of feeling dated, though, we arrive at the GLS 600’s MBUX infotainment system. Mercedes updated the GLS-Class’s infotainment for 2024, but it’s still rocking the old widescreen format and touchpad as an alternative control to using the touchscreen. Swiping through the (admittedly pretty) Maybach-skinned MBUX system is trying at times, and using it makes Mercedes’ latest “Zero Layer” infotainment system feel that much more advanced. Similar complaints can be lodged about the Maybach’s removable tablet that controls most functions in the rear. It has an abnormally long warm-up period before you can switch on items like the massaging seats or play with the endless ambient lighting options. Such a high-dollar rolling palace deserves the most advanced technology, and I suspect it’s only a matter of time until the GLS gets redesigned with a similar setup to the current S-Class.
