The Cadillac Escalade may be the best-selling large luxury SUV, but the most fabulous American-made SUV is German.
The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 is the brand’s flagship three-row SUV and built at its Tuscaloosa, Ala., plant alongside the Mercedes-Benz GLS line it is based on.
The Maybach version elevates the luxury to the next level and has been updated for 2027 with new styling and more power.
The GLS 680 now features a new grille with an illuminated surround and hood ornament above it, both firsts for the brand. Behind that grille is a new turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 rated at 603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque, which are up 53 hp and 89 lb-ft, respectively, from the outgoing edition.
The GLS 680 gets massive amounts of sound insulation that includes a woven material lining the transmission tunnel and engine bulkhead and its dashboard hosts a trio of 12.3-inch displays that create a “Superscreen” for the MBUX infotainment system, which now has built-in ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Microsoft Bing Search AI Assistants.
Front seat passengers get heated, ventilated massaging seats and optional second row Executive Seats feature all of that plus a recline function and legrest.
The GLS 680 comes standard with a computer-controlled adjustable air suspension that can use Car‑to‑X telematics to receive information on the road surface from similarly equipped vehicles ahead so the suspension knows what to expect. It can be further enhanced with the E-Active Body Control system, which individually adjusts each corner to reduce body roll.
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The vehicle rolls on standard 22-inch wheels and 23-inch wheels are an option. Its 360-degree camera system includes a Rim Protection Warning that activates if it spots an approaching curb that might scuff them.
Final pricing hasn’t been announced, but the 2026 GLS 680 starts at $181,350 and the 2027 model will be in dealers late this year.
