2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 Adds Power and More Flagship-SUV Polish

Mercedes-Maybach’s flagship SUV is getting a meaningful refresh for 2027, and the biggest change is right in the name. The ultra-luxury GLS now wears the GLS 680 badge, replacing the outgoing GLS 600 designation and signaling a stronger version of Mercedes’ top-end three-row SUV.

The headline figure is 603 horsepower. That gives the 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 a clear performance bump over the previous model and helps keep it competitive in a segment where effortless acceleration is part of the luxury brief. Mercedes has not framed this as a performance SUV in the traditional AMG sense; the appeal remains quiet power, isolation, rear-seat comfort, and the sense that the vehicle can make long trips feel almost frictionless.

The refreshed GLS 680 is expected to go on sale later this year as a 2027 model. Full market-by-market pricing details have not been outlined yet, but this model will continue to sit at the very top of the GLS lineup and well above mainstream Mercedes-Benz SUV trims.

More power, same Maybach mission

The move to 603 hp matters because the Maybach GLS is not just a nicer GLS with extra chrome. It has to justify a position in one of the most demanding corners of the market: six-figure luxury SUVs purchased by buyers who may also be considering a Range Rover, Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Cadillac Escalade-V, or high-spec versions of the BMW X7 and Mercedes’ own AMG SUVs.

For those customers, power is not only about numbers. A vehicle this large and this expensive needs to feel unstrained with passengers, luggage, and highway speeds. More output should help the GLS 680 deliver the kind of smooth, immediate response buyers expect from a flagship. It also gives Mercedes-Maybach a clearer performance story as rivals continue to blend luxury appointments with serious engine output.

The new badge is also important. Mercedes has long used model numbers to suggest hierarchy, even when those numbers no longer map directly to engine displacement. Moving from GLS 600 to GLS 680 places the SUV closer in spirit to the upper reaches of the Maybach sedan family and makes the refreshed version feel more distinct from the outgoing model.

Styling and luxury details get a refresh

The 2027 update also brings revised styling. The GLS was already one of Mercedes’ most visually imposing SUVs, and the Maybach version pushes that identity further with brand-specific trim, a more formal front-end presentation, and details designed to separate it from lesser GLS models at a glance.

One of the more theatrical details is the use of self-leveling wheel-center emblems, a familiar ultra-luxury cue that keeps the Maybach logo upright as the vehicle moves. It is a small feature, but it says a lot about the target buyer. At this level, luxury is as much about presentation and ritual as it is about leather quality or horsepower.

Inside, the Maybach GLS continues to focus on rear-seat comfort. While the core GLS platform is a three-row SUV in standard form, the Maybach treatment prioritizes a more lounge-like second row. That means the vehicle is aimed less at large families needing maximum seat count and more at owners who may regularly ride in the back or want a chauffeured experience without stepping into a traditional sedan.

Expect the cabin formula to remain centered on high-grade materials, extensive comfort features, elaborate ambient lighting, and Mercedes’ latest digital interface presentation. The refreshed model’s luxury updates appear intended to reinforce the Maybach GLS as a rolling private space rather than simply a high-output SUV with a nicer interior.

Chassis technology is part of the story

Power and trim are easy to market, but the chassis changes may be just as important to how the GLS 680 feels. A luxury SUV this tall and heavy has to manage competing priorities: it needs to ride softly over broken pavement, remain composed during quick lane changes, and avoid feeling clumsy from the driver’s seat.

Mercedes’ flagship SUVs have increasingly relied on advanced suspension and body-control systems to solve that problem. For 2027, the GLS 680 receives updated chassis technology aimed at sharpening its road manners while preserving the relaxed character Maybach buyers expect.

That matters because the most convincing luxury vehicles do not merely isolate passengers; they make their size disappear. If the refreshed GLS 680 can feel calmer over rough roads and more controlled at speed, it will strengthen its case against rivals that use air suspension, active anti-roll systems, and rear-wheel steering to deliver similar high-end polish.

Why buyers should care

For a potential buyer, the 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 is not a value purchase in any conventional sense. Its relevance comes from how it combines several roles into one vehicle. It is an SUV with a commanding seating position, a luxury car with a rear-cabin focus, and a high-powered grand tourer capable of covering distance with very little effort.

The update also gives current Maybach GLS owners a clearer reason to consider moving into the new model. A stronger engine, updated appearance, and enhanced chassis systems are the kinds of changes that owners can feel and see, rather than a minor software or trim-package reshuffle.

For shoppers cross-shopping the highest end of the segment, the Mercedes-Maybach remains an interesting middle ground. It is positioned below the most expensive ultra-luxury SUVs while still offering a highly curated interior, serious power, and the cachet of the Maybach sub-brand. That could make it appealing to buyers who want something more exclusive than a regular GLS or Escalade but do not want to move into the pricing territory of the most expensive British luxury SUVs.

What it means for the luxury-SUV market

The refreshed GLS 680 also shows where the top of the SUV market is headed. Even as the broader industry shifts toward electrification, combustion-powered luxury SUVs remain important halo products. They generate profit, reinforce brand image, and serve customers who are willing to pay for personalization, comfort, and status.

At the same time, the expectations for these vehicles continue to rise. A large luxury SUV can no longer rely only on a big engine and soft seats. Buyers now expect advanced ride control, sophisticated digital systems, distinctive design details, and a cabin experience that feels meaningfully different from lower trims.

The 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 is built around that reality. Its 603-hp output gives it more muscle, but the broader update is about maintaining presence in a crowded and highly profitable class. For Mercedes-Maybach, the assignment is clear: make the GLS feel less like a luxury SUV trim level and more like a flagship experience in its own right.