2021 Mercedes-Maybach S580 Review:

When discussing the world's most luxurious vehicles these days, it's easy to forget about Maybach. After languishing for decades with humongous sedans that weren't fully Mercedes, Maybachs, nor really anything at all—just outrageously expensive oddities for rich people who refused to buy a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley, for whatever reason—the Maybach name became the pinnacle of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class range in 2015. Today, embodying the new W223 S-Class, the 2021 Mercedes-Maybach S580 aims to make Stuttgart's latest and greatest sedan even more luxurious, more comfortable, and perhaps unexpectedly so, more romantic.

The M badge (no, not that M badge, a different one) elevates the S in a variety of ways, some subtle, some not—but all grandiose. From the classy two-tone paint to the flashy monoblock wheels and the elegant interior, you get the sense that even though the gaudiness that landed old Maybachs in rap music videos is long gone, it's still got plenty of pizzaz in its soul.

Despite lacking the rich wooden veneers and intricately stitched leathers that Bentleys and Rolls-Royces are known for, the S580 truly feels like a car for the world's one-percenters and not "just" accomplished doctors. In fact, after spending a week in the newest Mercedes-Maybach, I realized this legendary coachbuilder-turned-subbrand is all about bringing warmth and class to an otherwise cold—albeit borderline perfect—German sedan.

General Body & Engine Specification:

4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with EQ-Boost | 9-speed automatic | all-wheel drive

Horsepower: 496 @ 5,500 rpm

Torque: 516 lb-ft @ 2,000 to 4,500 rpm

Cargo volume: 12.31 cubic feet

Seating capacity: 4

Curb weight: 5,247 pounds

Fuel economy: 16 mpg city | 24 highway | 19 combined

Quick take: The latest Mercedes-Maybach is excellent for what it is; a more modern, stylish take on luxury.

As to be expected from a car of the Maybach's caliber nowadays, the cabin is showered with touchscreens that allow the driver, front passenger, and rear occupants to fine-tune every aspect of the car with a few taps of a screen. The driver has nearly everything at their fingertips via the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster—which, by the way, displays images in 3D—while the primary infotainment touchscreen is positioned in vertical form and measures 12.8 inches.

Rear occupants can control the car's various systems via 11.6-inch touchscreens mounted behind each front seat, but should they choose not to lean forward while cruising down the road, they can also access the car's power shades, lighting, HVAC, and media systems from the removable Android tablet built into the rear center armrest. This center armrest is embedded into the oversized center console that runs from the front all the way to the back of the car, essentially serving a division between the left and right seats.

At the push of a button, this console reveals two heated and cooled cupholders, two bases with prongs for champagne flutes (so they won't fall over while the car's in motion), and most interestingly, two Mercedes-branded locking cups that serve as ashtrays.

Most of all, the 2021 Mercedes-Maybach S580 is exceptional because it can put a smile on your face whether you're driving it or riding in it—not just because it makes you feel like you're better than everyone else—as is usually the case in this type of car.