Mercedes-Maybach S 600 2015 Review

With only around 3000 examples sold in about a decade, including just 13 in Australia in that time, Daimler admits its two Maybach models – the 57 and 62 – failed to match the market appeal of their most direct rivals from the BMW-owned Rolls-Royce brand.

Naturally, however, it expects the new Mercedes-Maybach sub-brand to be far more successful, which is not surprise given both models are based around an extra-long wheelbase S-Class and therefore far cheaper than the previous million-dollar Maybachs.

At around $600,000, the top-shelf Mercedes-Maybach S 600 will be closer in price to the 7 Series-based Rolls-Royce Ghost than Bentley's Mulsanne, but the chauffeur-oriented limo clearly marks Mercedes-Maybach as Daimler's ultimate luxury car arm as opposed to the driver-oriented Mercedes-AMG performance division.

The price is commensurate with its clear positioning as a Mercedes-Benz S-Class variant, rather than a stand-alone model, as indicated by three-pointed star emblems on the boot and bonnet, although there are Maybach badges on the D-pillars too.

There's a subtly different front-end and plenty of specific exterior detailing, but it's the massive 20-inch spokeless alloys – with 275/35-series tyres – that most set the Maybach apart on the outside.

Of course, Mercedes-Maybach's upcoming Pullman limousine will be vastly bigger, pricier and more upmarket, built like its rivals to cash-in on the growing, lucrative super-luxury car market fuelled by the increasing proportion of mega-rich customers in China, the USA, Russia and the Middle East.

For now, the S 600 is Daimler's most opulent model. It measures a sizeable 5453mm long, rides on a rangy 3365mm wheelbase (200mm longer than the long-wheelbase S-Class) and provides all of the extra interior space to its two rear-seat occupants.

The capacious rear space – which comprises about two-thirds of the interior – is claimed to be quieter than any production limousine in the world, thanks to extra under-seat chassis strengthening and additional sound deadening in the body.

Indeed, sitting in one of the two reclining rear 'comfort' seats with the cracking 1540-Watt 24-speaker Burmester sound system on low volume, there's virtually zero wind, road or engine noise.

It's certainly a little louder up front, where the differences to the standard S 600 are far less apparent.

There's the same sledgehammer-like power delivery from the 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 (matched with a silky-smooth seven- rather than nine-speed auto, as in the S 500, and 'just' 390kW and 830Nm instead of the colossal 463kW/1000Nm AMG version), making for effortless acceleration and an undeniably rapid five-second 0-100km/h sprint – despite weighing about 120kg more than an S 600 SWB at almost 2.5 tonnes.

Sure there's a touch more body roll than the short-wheelbase S 600 (perhaps around the same as the also-heavy S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID), but less pitch due to the extended axle spacing.

And the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 belies its bulk thanks to lean-compensating air suspension with Magic Body Control, sure-footed steering that is free of any unwanted interference and surprisingly agile body control that doesn't compromise the impeccably accomplished ride quality.

There are bespoke touches up front, like a classy wood and chrome steering wheel, embossed Maybach logos and a unique dashboard wrapped in soft, elegant two-tone leather – tan brown with stitched piping on top and quilted cream at the bottom, separated by a full-width wood and chrome highlight.

In fact, every surface is covered in either wood, chrome, carpet or leather – including all of the massive roof – but from the driver's seat it's only obvious you're in a Maybach when you look in the mirror.

Undoubtedly, rear passengers get the better deal. Apart from being whisper-quiet, the rear of the cabin is all about space and luxury.

The twin airline-style rear 'comfort' seats, separated by a full-length centre console, are available in other S-Class models for about $8500 and there are other familiar S-Class features like electric rear and rear-side window blinds (including miniature ones for the rear quarter windows), twin panoramic sunroofs, twin overhead illuminated vanity lights and a fridge, which robs plenty of space in the otherwise huge boot.

The big iPad-style tablets mounted on the back of the front seats can also be had in other S-Class models, but in the M-M 600 they're integrated with complete infotainment system that comprises a pair of wireless headphones and remote controllers, with which rear-seat occupants can control all COMAND vehicle and media functions – even on the enormous TFT monitor up front if required.

The tablets aren't touch screens (not that you can reach them anyway), and there's no mouse or touch controller in the rear, meaning the interface is a little clunky when surfing the web via the inbuilt internet connection, for example, because it can only be done via buttons or a rotary controller on the remote handset.

The two rear screens in the car we were chauffeured in for a couple of hours also got confused when we tried to operate different media functions on either side, such as watching a DVD and accessing an iPod playlist.

But the multimedia and connectivity options are extensive enough to keep you entertained for hours, or to allow a CEO to operate a mobile office almost seamlessly.

Any COMAND function you can operate up front can also be controlled from the rear, and instead of using the door-mounted switches the remote controller can also operate the 10-way power-adjustable rear seats, which recline through 43.5 degrees.

The front passenger seat can also be controlled from the rear, and there's more rear privacy than in other S-Class models because the doors are actually shorter than the LWB's and the rear quarter window is shifted to the C-pillar.

Both rear seats also feature heating, ventilation, memory, massage and side bolster adjustability, and the one on the right (left in right-hand drive cars) has a sleep mode that reclines further and has a leg and foot rest, offering a seating position almost as flat as a business-class plane seat.

Combined with acres more leg room and also more head room, the Maybach cabin is noticeably more spacious than any other S-Class.

There are surprising touches everywhere too, and plenty of attention to detail. Handy features include multi-adjustable tables that are ideal for working or eating on when they're not folded neatly away in the spacious console.

The cup-holders are heated, cooled and illuminated (blue for cold, red for hot), there's illuminated blue mood lighting on the dash, doors and roof, and even the centre and side armrests are heated.

The seatbelt buckles come up to greet you when you sit down and then disappear back into the seat when you buckle up, the seatbelts have inbuilt airbags, there are multiple overhead reading lights and centre console and B-pillar ventilation.

Yes there are a few Chinese design concessions like the diamond quilted leather trim on the dash, doors and flip-down roof mirrors, and the soft white plush-pile rear floor mats were so fluffy I lost my pen in one.

But overall the rear of the cabin is a highly classy, tasteful, spacious, comfortable and functional place to be, with satin alloy speakers, tactile alloy controls and exclusively soft-touch surfaces adding to the sense of occasion.

That said, the chunky, over-engineered feeling of components like air-vents in, say, a Bentley Mulsanne is missing in the Maybach, which also lacks the road presence and badge cachet of a Rolls-Royce, not to mention top-end super-limo items like coach doors with in-built umbrellas.

Yes, the $662,000 Mulsanne is in another league in more ways than one and, arguably, so too is the Maybach's more direct rival – the $595,000 long-wheelbase Ghost.

But the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 has a certain charm and character of its own, even if it will set a new price benchmark for Mercedes-Benz, which the S 65 AMG currently holds at $490,000.

It's no longer a stand-alone model – nor a million-dollar one – but because it offers more space, luxury, technology and personalisation options than the best-selling and highest-tech limousine on which it's based, it's no surprise Benz's born-again Maybach has already attracted a small number of well-heeled Aussies.