I typically steer clear of press release and marketing speak, but Mercedes calls its Maybach SL680 a “masterpiece of sensory indulgence”. How then do I not go with it when it so perfectly describes the Mercedes-Maybach SL680’s reason for existence?
Okay, there’s also slightly more to it than just sensory indulgence… Which is a statement that covers Maybach in general. While on paper it’s very similar to what you’d expect from an SL63, it’s also very, very different. Yes, it has the same proportions, and yes, there is an argument that it’s a spiffed-up SL63, and that’s entirely the point.
Maybach has forever catered to the limousine lifestyle for execs, celebs or anyone in the uppermost tax bracket who wouldn’t be seen in anything less. And since the SL has plenty of baked-in dynamic capabilities, someone thought it fitting to create this, a Maybach you want to drive or, as Merc calls it, ‘the sportiest model in Maybach history’. Finally.
Maybach logos, everywhere
As you’d expect, there are Maybach logos everywhere. It’s on the chrome bits, on the centre caps of the 21-inch multispoke wheels of the unit I sampled, the entire lower grille structure is one interconnected Maybach logo piece, and even the roof, which is canvas by the way, is peppered with them. It’s definitely not subtle…
The Obsidian Black Metallic bonnet too is available with said logos which are partly created by hand and consist of five layers. It’s absolute excess, but then again, this is a Mercedes-Maybach. Speaking of the bonnet, the SL680 gets the three-pointed star perched on top, which is a nice throwback to the Merc roadsters of old.
As for colours, or design concepts, the SL680 Monogram is available in Garnet Red Metallic, which is the car I drove, and Opalite White Magno.
What’s the interior of the Mercedes-Maybach SL680 like?
Pretty much as posh as you can imagine, given that this is still a roadster. The cabin is draped in crystal-white Nappa leather, which, Merc points out, is sustainably tanned. Against the red exterior, this contrast is especially striking, while broader colour choices extend to white or black as per the online configurator.
The seats have a floral design pattern with brushed chrome accents, which, of course, have that mandatory logo, while the back of the headrests has galvanised backrests that nearly-seamlessly integrate with the moulded wind deflection panels. Also, don’t expect a rear seating bench since that’s been deleted and replaced with what is effectively a leather-draped parcel shelf.
The screens are familiar if you’ve spent any time in the SL63 with the same slanted 11.9-inch display that works in tandem with the capacitive touch buttons, which has now become a Mercedes-Benz staple. Compared to the AMG derivative, roof operations are considerably easier with a clickable system as opposed to a drag-and-drop function as used in the 63. Drive modes too, are accessible from the screen-located haptic shortcut panel rather than the AMG-specific rotary that allows you to dial the car into a desired mode. Personally, I didn’t find that this specific detail enhances the overall ergonomics experience as opposed to the wheel-mounted controls, which feel better thought out.
And while the brilliant white leather and soft carpeting notably improves the lavish look of the car, I do have some concerns pertaining to the practical nature of this colour. Just saying since it’s the Maybach made for driving, and not every destination worth driving to will have a polished concrete surface.
How does it drive?
In short, unlike what you’d expect from a typical Maybach. The engine is the same 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 you’d get in other 63 models (not C63 obviously) and, like its 63 counterpart, it delivers 430kW and 800Nm. Similarly, power is also sent through the same 9-speed gearbox, with 100km/h arriving in 4.1 secs (3.6 secs for SL63).
Further beneath the body sits a Maybach suspension system with semi-active hydraulic roll stabilisation and more yielding springs than what you’d find on the performance variant. And that’s also the main driving differentiation. The SL680 is entirely aimed at cushioning the otherwise sharp edge of the 63.
Dial it into Maybach mode, and the whole car settles into something I can best describe as a sporty waft machine. You still feel the road’s texture travelling through the car, but it subdues it considerably compared to its edgier settings. There’s also a noticeable lack of urgency from the accelerator pedal dialled into Maybach, with the car purposely toning down the responses in favour of smoothness. To further this perception of gliding across the road’s surface, there is extra cabin insulation as well as a noise-tempering exhaust system. Suppose luxury here is defined by the rate of progress minus thundering noise…
Anyway, dial it into Sport, and there’s plenty of V8 character and noises to enjoy. It still sounds like a V8, it still goes like a V8, all while any pointed edges have just been softened in the name of opulence.
Through the bends, it’s still capable and, thanks to rear-wheel steering, quite agile. As is the Maybach way, it hardly advertises its dynamic scope, but when an opportunity presents itself, it can definitely deliver – even if it’s not quite like an AMG… Which is half the point. During my time behind the wheel, I was rarely tempted to give it the full bag of beans.
Is the Mercedes-Maybach SL worth it?
If you want the most extravagant SL, then yes, it’s definitely worth it. The SL680 Monogram Series is underpinned by the SL’s very capable platform, it has that phenomenal bi-turbo V8 but wrapped in plenty of opulence, chrome and Maybach logos.
Whether you need the Maybach SL over an AMG, though, is entirely dependent on how much you value its waftability over the AMG’s sharper edges and whether the R5,092,000 price tag over the SL63’s R3,982,166 is what you’d consider a bargain. If so, it will definitely appeal to all your senses.
