There’s a new flagship Maybach SUV for 2026, and it’s not just a GLS 600 with fresh badging and nicer leather. The engine is significantly more powerful. The suspension is smarter. The infotainment is a generation ahead.
The cabin is quieter. And Mercedes is wrapping the whole thing in its 140th anniversary – a heritage play, sure, but also a signal that they’re pulling out all the stops for this launch cycle.
The question is whether the spec sheet justifies the Maybach premium over the old GLS 600, or over a Bentley Bentayga. We haven’t driven the GLS 680, and we don’t have pricing yet. But the official press release gives us plenty to unpack. Here’s what’s new, what’s changed, and what still needs answers.
Key Takeaways
The GLS 680 bumps power to 603 hp and 627 lb-ft – 53 more horsepower and 89 more lb-ft than the outgoing GLS 600 – from an electrified twin-turbo V8 with two newly added Lanchester balance shafts for smoother running.
The suspension scans the road 1,000 times per second using five multi-core processors and more than 20 sensors, and can lean into corners up to three degrees via CURVE mode to reduce passenger wallowing.
The cabin gets targeted acoustic insulation (non-woven material on the transmission tunnel and engine bulkhead, acoustic foam in select bodyshell areas) plus a new MBUX Virtual Assistant that integrates ChatGPT, Microsoft, and Google AI.
Table of Contents
Powertrain – The Numbers That Matter
The headline specs: 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. That is a meaningful 53 hp and 89 lb-ft over the previous GLS 600. The engine code is M 177 Evo – an electrified twin-turbo V8. Under the hood, two newly added Lanchester balance shafts work to cancel out vibrations.
The 48-volt mild-hybrid system uses a second-generation integrated starter generator (ISG 2.0). It can add 23 hp of boost, support coasting, handle recuperation, and make start-stop seamless. This is not a plug-in hybrid. There’s no electric-only range.
The steering system has been revised with a more direct steering ratio for greater precision, agility, and response.
Suspension – The Smartest Air Suspension You’ll Find
This suspension doesn’t just react to the road – it anticipates it. Five multi-core processors and more than 20 sensors assess the driving situation 1,000 times per second. That speed allows adjustments before you feel the bump.
It’s based on AIRMATIC air suspension, so you get the floaty comfort, plus active adjustments. The party trick is CURVE mode: it leans the car into corners up to three degrees to reduce lateral forces on passengers. For a full-size SUV, that’s the difference between “I’m getting carsick” and I can actually read my phone in the back. There’s also an Off-Road program that raises and lowers the suspension automatically to free the vehicle from deep sand or mud. The whole system operates on a 48-volt network with four motor-pump units that can even recuperate energy while smoothing out bumps.
Interior – Where You Actually Spend Your Time
Non-woven insulation on the transmission tunnel and engine bulkhead. Special insulation on the engine cover. Acoustic foam in select bodyshell areas. This isn’t just “more sound deadening” – it’s targeted silencing in the spots that let the most noise through.
Multi-contour front seats with newly developed vibration massage in the seat cushions. The Rear Executive Seats extend that massage to the calf rests – a first for this model. There’s a refrigerated rear compartment for drinks.
Audio: Burmester 3D Surround Sound System with 15 speakers, a 710-watt amplifier, and Dolby Atmos support.
A visual detail worth noting: the illuminated outer climate control air vents use freely moving gondolas instead of conventional fins. Material options include Nappa leather in several colorways (Black Pearl, Night Series Crystal White, a two-tone Beech Brown/Macchiato Beige) and wood trims like MANUFAKTUR Open-Pore Dark Brown Fishbone Pattern Walnut.
Technology – MB.OS and the AI Assistant
The GLS 680 runs on the Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS). It connects to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud and receives over-the-air updates—no dealer visit required for feature improvements, unlike the 2026 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance which delivers 671 horsepower through a plug-in hybrid system.
The MBUX Superscreen integrates three 12.3-inch digital displays under a large seamless glass surface. The driver gets a Maybach-specific driver display with Rose Gold dials and Gold Maybach emblem—a similar approach to luxury appears in the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e 4MATIC review, where the hybrid engine blends performance with eco-friendly tech. The system uses MBUX Zero Layer – it displays most relevant information, recently used apps, and suggestions, and customers can arrange apps into personalized folders.
The MBUX Virtual Assistant integrates AI from ChatGPT, Microsoft, and Google – a first in this segment. It has short-term memory, so it can follow a conversation thread. Instead of saying “navigate to the airport” then separately “find coffee shops,” you can say I’m heading to the airport, find a coffee shop on the way.
The assistant appears as a ‘living avatar’ in the shape of a Rose Gold Mercedes-Benz star. It’s a gimmick, sure, but it’s a distinctive one.
For the back seat: optional twin 11.6-inch full-HD displays with configurable rear MBUX remotes with Maybach-specific UI. Integrated cameras in rear displays support video conferencing. Quick access to climate, comfort, and entertainment functions.
Design & Personalization – The Details That Make It a Maybach
The telltale details start with the wheels. The 23-inch Maybach forged wheels feature a Mercedes-Benz star engineered to remain upright at all times, held in place by a precision ball-bearing mechanism. It’s a small thing, but it’s the kind of engineering flourish you pay the Maybach tax for. There’s also a 22-inch option with the signature 20-hole design.
Electric running boards extend smoothly in less than one second when a door is opened. Finished in anodized aluminum with non-slip black rubber inserts and a chrome Maybach emblem. At night, integrated LED lighting illuminates the step, and a Mercedes-Maybach pattern is projected onto the ground. Practical and dramatic.
The tailgate is redesigned with new taillights featuring three-dimensional star motifs framed in chrome that underscore Maybach identity. The new taillights emphasize vehicle width.
If the bright chrome is too much, the Maybach Night Series Design Package replaces it with Dark Chrome elements, dark anodized aluminum running boards, and exclusive 23-inch Maybach Night Series wheels in seven-spoke design. Stealthier, less bling.s bling.
Then there’s the MANUFAKTUR personalization program with an extended portfolio for Maybach models. The standout is the MANUFAKTUR headliner: hand-stitched entirely by a single craftsperson who uses up to 20 precisely cut leather sections combined for the headliner. That craftsperson signs their work with an individual signature.
In 2026, the headliner is the most popular and most requested MANUFAKTUR refinement among Maybach customers globally; by contrast, the Mercedes-Maybach S600 Guard sets the bar for armored luxury sedans, offering a VR10 protection rating, the highest for civilian vehicles. If you’re ordering a GLS 680, this is the option to consider.
Production – Built in Alabama, Finished by Hand
The GLS 680 is assembled at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama – the same plant that has built SUVs since 1997. The plant has produced more than five million SUVs since 1997. A dedicated two-person team hand-finishes each GLS 680 outside the regular assembly flow. Those team members are trained at Mercedes-Maybach MANUFAKTUR in Germany.
Most buyers assume top-tier luxury craftsmanship means German assembly. The GLS 680 challenges that. It’s a cross-continental production model that combines Tuscaloosa’s SUV expertise with German-trained finishing.
Driver Assistance – Standard and Optional Systems
The sensor suite includes 10 external cameras, five radar sensors, and 12 ultrasonic sensors, paired with a water-cooled supercomputer running MB.OS capable of 254 trillion operations per second.
Standard features include Digital Extra MB.DRIVE ASSIST 2 with Distance Assist DISTRONIC 2. Optional upgrades include MB.DRIVE ASSIST PLUS 2,3 for expanded highway capabilities, and MB.DRIVE PARKING ASSIST 2,4 that detects parking spaces on both sides, including unmarked spots. The Reverse maneuvering function can automatically reverse part of your most recent route. There’s also a Rim Protection Warning that gives a top-view distance alert in tight spaces.
Standard caveats: these systems are aids, not replacements. You’re still in charge. Digital Extras require a Mercedes me ID and acceptance of Terms of Use. OTA updates are subject to geographic limitations.
Comparison – GLS 680 vs. GLS 600 and Competitors
The GLS 680 is clearly positioned above the GLS 600. The power figures alone tell you that: 53 more horsepower, 89 more lb-ft. The new mild-hybrid system, updated MB.OS infotainment, and expanded MANUFAKTUR options reinforce the gap. The GLS 680 is the new flagship, not a replacement for the 600.
Against competitors like the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Bentley Bentayga, we don’t have direct comparison data from this source. But the GLS 680’s differentiators are real: the hand-finishing process in Tuscaloosa with German-trained craftspeople, the E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension with CURVE mode, and the MBUX Virtual Assistant with ChatGPT integration.
Pricing, Availability, and What We Still Don’t Know
Mercedes-Benz Canada has not released official pricing for the GLS 680 yet as of the 2026-07-28 publication date. We know it’s a 2026 model. It will be sold through 57 authorized Canadian dealerships, with Mercedes-Benz Canada headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario. We know it’s the most powerful Maybach SUV ever.
But the price tag? Still coming.
The GLS 600 started somewhere in the $170,000–$200,000 CAD range, depending on options. The GLS 680 will be higher. Exactly how much higher is a question for your local dealer.
Other gaps the press release doesn’t address: fuel economy ratings, towing capacity, warranty details, maintenance packages. For now, we have a clear picture of what the GLS 680 is – and what it isn’t. It’s not a plug-in hybrid.
It’s not a Rolls-Royce competitor on interior wood count. But it is a serious step up from the GLS 600, with engineering details that suggest Mercedes isn’t just phoning in the Maybach badge.
The rest awaits official pricing from Mercedes-Benz Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maybach more luxurious than Rolls-Royce?
It depends on what you value. The GLS 680 brings hand-finishing by German-trained craftspeople in an American plant, a suspension that leans into corners, and an AI assistant with ChatGPT integration. Rolls-Royce offers more traditional wood and bespoke coachbuilding, so it’s a different flavor of luxury rather than a clear hierarchy.
What is $200,000 Maybach?
That price range likely refers to the outgoing GLS 600, which started around $170,000–$200,000 CAD depending on options. The new 2026 GLS 680 will be positioned above that as the most powerful Maybach SUV ever, with 603 horsepower and a host of new tech features.
Is the GLS 680 a plug-in hybrid?
No, it’s not a plug-in hybrid. It uses a 48-volt mild-hybrid system with a second-generation integrated starter generator that can add 23 hp of boost, support coasting, and make start-stop seamless, but there’s no electric-only range.
