2023 Mercedes-Maybach GLS

Most of us will never know what it's like to be part of the one percent. Those that live off of caviar and trust funds get to enjoy all the finer things in life, including cars, and what better way to signal that you're from the upper crust than by driving a Maybach? These days, Maybach cars are based on standard Mercedes-Benzes, but examples like the 2023 Mercedes-Maybach GLS look and feel like a genuinely bespoke offering. Under the hood rests a creamy twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine producing 550 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque, and the standard air suspension cushions occupants on a cloud of comfort. That comfort lives on inside, where the rear seats and finishings are plush and elegant enough to belong in a five-star hotel room. The Rolls Royce Cullinan might be slightly more polished, and BMW may now have the XM to compete, but the Maybach GLS has a tastefulness neither has and a price that's more palatable than the Roller.

In the grand scheme of things, the price of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 isn't all that expensive, considering the amount of car you get for the money. An S-Class goes through a circa-$73k transformation to earn its Maybach badge but, at $165,100 excluding a $1,050 destination fee, the Maybach GLS 600 is more than $85k dearer than a standard GLS - but it has undergone an even greater transformation than the S-Class. We'd argue this is more luxurious than the Maybach S, and yet, it's around $20k cheaper. Compared to its chief rivals, the Maybach GLS is a downright bargain. A Rolls-Royce Cullinan starts at around $350k, while the closest rival, price-wise, is the circa-$188k Bentley Bentayga.

The GLS is more than just a luxury SUV: it's a luxury resort on wheels. This vehicle was designed to pamper its occupants, and it does it better than most. The standard air suspension irons out bumps and lumps in the road surface without becoming overly floaty. It lacks the connection of a Bentayga with the road, but this is meant to cosset you from rather than connect you to the surface. That smooth ride translates to the highway too, where it melts the miles away in serene comfort.

The Mercedes E-Active Body Control system goes further than any other suspension system to smooth out the ride and uses the car's camera system and radar system to individually adjust the suspension.

But it can't fight the laws of physics, and at 6,085 lbs, its weight can be felt through the corners. That's not where it performs best, and the AMG-related engine here is merely a supporting act rather than the star of the show. Similarly, the nine-speed automatic transmission is buttery smooth, amplifying the comfort factor by virtue of disappearing into the background.

Maybach has managed to take a standard GLS and turn it into something truly unique and luxurious beyond the base car's wildest dreams. Not only has the interior been wholly transformed, partially thanks to the lack of a third row, but every single inch of the cabin has been touched by the hand of pure luxury. The way this SUV rides has to be one of its biggest selling points: if you're looking for a comfortable and refined driving experience, then look no further; it' near-Rolls-Royce levels of plushness but at a fraction of the price. The engine also provides enough power for any occasion, but instead of delivering heaps of power in one go, it has been tuned to spread its torque like fine caviar over a piece of French bread. Sure, the exterior is a bit flashy, but when you're spending this type of money, you might as well let people know about it.

Mercedes might charge a small fortune for the only one trim available, but the Mercedes-Maybach GLS SUV is an all-inclusive behemoth with very little left to do but choose personalisation options and choose how garish you want to be. If we were buying, we'd get it with one of the classier two-tone paint options like Emerald Green and Mojave Silver, but we'd stick to the slightly more demure 22-inch wheels. The Crystal White/Silver Grey Pearl Nappa leather is our kind of wealthy, and the Black Flamed Ash wood would suit it to a tee. We'd retain the four-seater arrangement and opt for the mini fridge in the back, but not the silver champagne flutes. Instead, we'd specify that Maybach stock it exclusively with Bud Lights at our behest. Chances are, if you really want one, though, you don't care how we'd spec it.