Maybach S-class

Which Maybach S-class Version Should You Buy?

The Maybach S-class choice depends chiefly on powertrain, drive system and body style. The 2014–2017 Limousine offers S400 3.0 AT, S500 4.7 AT and S600 6.0 AT specifications, plus S600 Guard 6.0 AT. The 2017–2020 restyling changes the body to Cabrio and includes S450 3.0 AT, S560 4.0 AT, S600 6.0 AT and S650 6.0 AT alternatives.

The Maybach S-class choice depends chiefly on powertrain, drive system and body style. The 2014–2017 Limousine offers S400 3.0 AT, S500 4.7 AT and S600 6.0 AT specifications, plus S600 Guard 6.0 AT. The 2017–2020 restyling changes the body to Cabrio and includes S450 3.0 AT, S560 4.0 AT, S600 6.0 AT and S650 6.0 AT alternatives. The 2021–present Sedan Long range narrows the decision to S580, S680, S680 Haute Voiture and the S580E 3.0 Plug-in. Across the three listed generations, output runs from 333 hp to 630 hp, while every version uses a turbocharged, front-longitudinal engine with direct injection and an Automatic gearbox.

Maybach S-class generations: what changed?

The first generation ran from 2014 to 2017 as a Limousine with six database entries. Its engines span 2996–5980 cc and 333–530 hp. Buyers can choose RWD or AWD, while the transmission has either 7 or 9 gears. Every listed first-generation version has independent pneumatic suspension at both ends, ventilated disc brakes, an 80-litre tank, 109 mm ground clearance and Euro 6 classification.

The first-generation restyling ran from 2017 to 2020 as a Cabrio with seven entries. The range starts with the 367 hp S450 3.0 AT, advances through the 469 hp S560 4.0 AT, and reaches the 530 hp S600 6.0 AT and 630 hp S650 6.0 AT. Most entries retain independent pneumatic suspension, but the 2300 kg S650 6.0 AT uses independent spring suspension. Available drivetrains are RWD and AWD, and the measured ground-clearance figure is 131 mm.

The second generation began in 2021 and remains open-ended in the supplied data. It is a Sedan Long with four versions: S580, S680, S680 Haute Voiture and S580E 3.0. All four combine a 9-speed Automatic gearbox with AWD, independent pneumatic suspension and 130 mm ground clearance. The S580E 3.0 adds the catalogue’s only Plug-in powertrain; the other three use Gasoline.

Maybach S-class engine and drivetrain specs

Duplicate names below are distinguished by power, drive, performance or weight so that each database entry remains identifiable.

Specific output helps separate capacity from performance. The 2014–2017 S400 3.0 AT produces about 111 hp per litre, compared with about 98 hp per litre for either S500 4.7 AT. In the restyled range, S450 3.0 AT delivers about 122 hp per litre, S560 4.0 AT about 118 hp per litre and the 630 hp S650 6.0 AT entries about 105 hp per litre. The second-generation S580 produces about 126 hp per litre, S580E 3.0 about 170 hp per litre, S680 about 102 hp per litre and S680 Haute Voiture about 105 hp per litre.

Maybach S-class performance, fuel consumption and CO₂

Within the first generation, moving from the AWD S400 3.0 AT to the RWD S500 4.7 AT cuts the measured acceleration time by 1.3 seconds while adding 122 hp and 220 Nm. Between the two S500 4.7 AT entries, AWD adds 55 kg, takes 0.2 second longer to reach 100 km/h and raises combined consumption by 0.5 l/100 km.

For the restyled cars, the 630 hp, 1000 Nm S650 6.0 AT records the quickest acceleration in the catalogue at 4.1 seconds. It is 0.8 second quicker than either 469 hp S560 4.0 AT. In the second generation, S680 is 0.3 second quicker than S580 but consumes 3.1 l/100 km more on the combined figure. S680 Haute Voiture adds 18 hp over S680 and reduces the measured sprint by 0.1 second, while both have the same 13.3 l/100 km combined consumption.

Maybach S-class dimensions, weight, clearance and wheels

Power-to-weight comparisons clarify what the larger engines provide. The first-generation S400 3.0 AT carries about 6.1 kg per hp, versus about 4.9 kg per hp for the RWD S500 4.7 AT and 4.4 kg per hp for the 9-speed S600 6.0 AT. The restyled 1000 Nm S650 6.0 AT has about 3.7 kg per hp, while the 3070 kg S650 6.0 AT has about 4.9 kg per hp. Among current entries, S580 has about 4.6 kg per hp, S680 about 3.8, S680 Haute Voiture about 3.6 and S580E 3.0 about 4.7.

Which Maybach S-class version should you choose?

Choose the 2014–2017 S400 3.0 AT if the priority is the lowest measured combined consumption. Its 6.8 l/100 km is 2.3 l/100 km below the RWD S500 4.7 AT and the 9-speed S600 6.0 AT, although its 6.1-second acceleration is slower by 1.3 and 1.5 seconds respectively. It also supplies AWD and has the lowest measured kerb weight, 2015 kg.

Choose the 2014–2017 S500 4.7 AT for a balance of performance and measured fuel use. The RWD entry reaches 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds at 9.1 l/100 km combined. The AWD entry retains the same 455 hp and 700 Nm but weighs 55 kg more, uses 0.5 l/100 km more and is 0.2 second slower. The AWD car therefore makes sense when drive layout matters more than those measured differences.

Choose a V12-labelled first-generation entry by selecting S600 6.0 AT or S600 Guard 6.0 AT: the data lists 12 cylinders in a V-shaped layout, 5980 cc, 530 hp and 830 Nm for each. The 9-speed S600 6.0 AT has the fullest performance record, including 4.6-second acceleration and a 250 km/h maximum speed. Acceleration and consumption for the 7-speed S600 6.0 AT and S600 Guard 6.0 AT are not measured.

Within the 2017–2020 restyling, S450 3.0 AT is the economy-led RWD choice at 8.3 l/100 km combined. S560 4.0 AT brings 102 hp and 200 Nm more. Its RWD entry is 0.9 second quicker but consumes 1.0 l/100 km more; the AWD entry matches the 4.9-second acceleration and records 8.9 l/100 km combined.

Choose the 630 hp, 1000 Nm S650 6.0 AT when maximum measured acceleration is the deciding factor: 4.1 seconds is 0.5 second quicker than the restyled S600 6.0 AT. The other 630 hp S650 6.0 AT entries serve different comparisons: the 3070 kg car records 6.5 seconds and 210 km/h, while the 2285 kg car has no measured acceleration but records 12.7 l/100 km combined.

For the 2021–present Sedan Long, S580 is the measured economy choice among the Gasoline versions, returning 10.2 l/100 km combined while reaching 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. S680 adds 109 hp and 300 Nm, cuts 0.3 second from acceleration and raises combined consumption by 3.1 l/100 km. S680 Haute Voiture adds another 18 hp and cuts another 0.1 second, with the same measured consumption as S680.

Choose S580E 3.0 when a Plug-in powertrain is essential. It combines 510 hp, 750 Nm, AWD and a 9-speed Automatic gearbox, with 4.9-second acceleration and 23 g/km CO₂. City, highway and combined fuel-consumption figures are not measured, so the supplied data does not support an mpg comparison.

No Maybach S-class price, interior specification, reliability record, problem history, 2026 or 2027 model information, or cars-for-sale inventory is included in the source data. Those factors therefore cannot be used to recommend one version over another here.