"Before I Knew It, They Were Asleep in the Back" — The 300-Million-Won Executive SUV, Maybach GLS 600 [Gittongchan Mobility]

[Financial News] It was somewhere along the Yeongdong Expressway. I looked in the rearview mirror. Two people were asleep in the back seat. There was no reason to wake them, so I left them alone, and they remained that way until we reached Donghae. From the driver's seat, I could clearly feel the road surface rising, but nothing seemed to happen in the back. This scene repeated frequently during the round trip from Songpa District in Seoul to Donghae, Gangwon Province. The vehicle was the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC MANUFAKTUR.
The Maybach GLS is Mercedes-Benz's flagship SUV. After its launch in 2021, the first facelift arrived in South Korea in April 2024, about three years later. The Korean lineup consists of two variants: the GLS 600 4MATIC and MANUFAKTUR, which adds exclusive exterior colors and interior trim. The test vehicle was the MANUFAKTUR.
The radiator grille is the first feature to catch the eye from the outside. High-gloss chrome bars stand vertically across it, with Maybach lettering engraved along the top. The same lettering is repeated on the door-sill panels, rear section, and wheels. Chrome trim surrounds the front bumper and B-pillar covers, while the front apron air intakes are filled with a Maybach pattern.
The exterior was finished in MANUFAKTUR Côte d'Azur Light Blue, inspired by the landscapes of the French Riviera. Its color saturation is lower than it appears in photographs. Under sunlight, it takes on a blue hue, while on cloudy days it settles into something closer to gray. The standard wheels are 23-inch Maybach multi-spoke forged wheels.
The cabin is covered in Maybach Exclusive Nappa leather in a MANUFAKTUR Yacht Blue and Black two-tone finish. Diamond-pattern quilting is applied to the seat surfaces and the centers of the backrests. Buyers can choose among three interior trims: MANUFAKTUR Flowing Lines black piano lacquer, brown open-pore walnut wood, and anthracite open-pore oak wood.
Multi-contour seats are fitted in both the front and rear. Air chambers and heating support the back and lumbar area. Much of the reduced lower-back fatigue on the long drive came from this feature. The ENERGIZING package plus combines controls for the cabin temperature, ambient lighting, and massage functions. An air-purification package is also standard, using air-quality and fine-particle sensors to filter out PM2.5. Quietness is an area where this vehicle places particular emphasis. The Acoustic Comfort package uses special glass layers and additional insulation to block outside noise. Even at speeds above 100 km/h on the highway, it takes longer for wind noise to become noticeable.
Sound is layered on top of that quietness. A Burmester high-end 3D surround sound system comes standard. It has 29 speakers, a system output of 1,610 watts, and support for Dolby Atmos. Setting the volume where I normally listen made it too loud. Lowering it by two or three notches was more appropriate. When sound is played over such a quiet baseline, the same volume number sounds different.
The powertrain consists of a 4-liter M177 V8 gasoline engine. It has a displacement of 3,982 cc, a maximum output of 557 horsepower at 6,000–6,500 rpm, and peak torque of 78.5 kg·m at 2,500–4,500 rpm. An integrated starter-generator and 48V electrical system can add 16 kW when needed. The transmission is a 9G-TRONIC. The vehicle accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and has a top speed of 250 km/h.
The way it moves forward when the accelerator is pressed is unusual. It does not lurch forward abruptly. Even when the pedal is pressed deeply, the entire vehicle moves as one solid mass instead of shooting ahead. There is ample power for overtaking, yet there is almost no sensation of being pushed into the seat.
E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL handles the suspension. The fully active suspension adjusts to driving conditions and is paired with four drive programs: Comfort, Curve, Sport and Sport+, and Off-road. Its role became clear on the joints of the Yeongdong Expressway. From the driver's seat, I could clearly tell when a bump was rising. Information traveled through the steering wheel and the footwell, but it never went as far as shaking the body. The impact was shaved down once before reaching the vehicle's occupants.
The rear-seat specifications are equally impressive. Executive seats finished in top-grade Nappa leather recline electrically to as much as 43.5 degrees, while the leg rests extend at the same time. Power-operated side-window sunblinds block sunlight and outside views. The package also includes a rear-seat entertainment system with two 11.6-inch touchscreens, two wireless headsets, a detachable 7.4-inch tablet, and dual USB charging ports with a 100W output.
The front cabin is managed by the second-generation Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX). The display can be configured in three styles and three modes, and it supports both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Driving Assistance Package Plus comes standard, combining Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Brake Assist, which responds to stationary vehicles at speeds of up to 100 km/h, and Active Steering Assist. PRE-SAFE Impulse Side is also included. When it detects a side collision, the system inflates the side bolsters to hold the front-seat occupants in place.
There are also factors to consider. The actual fuel economy shown on the instrument cluster during this round trip was 6.5 km/L. The conditions were favorable because the route consisted largely of highways, yet that was the result. Fuel economy should be expected to fall further in mostly urban driving. The GLS 600 4MATIC is priced at KRW 295 million, including VAT, while the MANUFAKTUR model tested costs KRW 337 million.
[email protected] Kim Dong-chan Reporter