2025 Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 first drive review

There’s a question to start this review with: What do you need in life? Most of the answers would say bucket loads of cash. And let’s face it, cash can solve a lot of problems and buy you all the good things in life – be it a house, a fast car, or a sense of exclusivity. But what if I told you that all these desires could be rolled into one luxurious package on wheels? Enter the Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680.

Mercedes has taken their flagship electric SUV and given it the full Maybach treatment. If you’re expecting over-the-top luxury, cutting-edge tech and a few surprises along the way, you’re right. But does the EQS deliver on its lofty promise, especially with its price tag of ₹2.25 crore? I hopped in the driver’s seat (and, of course, stretched out in the back) to find out.

Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680: Dimensions and design

First off, let’s address the giant chrome elephant in the room — the design. This is a massive car. It’s actually slightly shorter than the regular EQS at 5125mm, but massive nonetheless. A dual-tone paint job and more chrome than an ’80s rockstar’s wardrobe give it an undeniably bold presence. The front features a black-panel grille with vertical pinstripes, while Maybach logos are sprinkled on the air inlets.

The headlamps, each with one million pixels, come with an ultra-range high beam, plus a light show to welcome or bid you farewell. The Maybach name sits on the central chrome strip connecting the headlamps with more chrome detailing on the rear bumper, around the windows, and even on the wheels, which are massive 21-inchers as standard, but you can go even bigger with 22-inch options. At the rear, there’s a continuous light strip that mirrors the front’s lighting animation wrapping up this rather clean and graceful design. But what does all this mean for you? It means that you get noticed everywhere you go. And while you might not hear them (so good is the sound isolation inside), you’ll catch people mouthing the words “Maay-baaach” as you glide silently by. Trust me, I did.

Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680: Cabin and comfort

Step inside and you’ll immediately feel the unmistakable Maybach touch. The seats are incredibly comfortable, with just the right amount of bolstering to keep you firmly in place. Optionally wrapped in vegetable-tanned leather – a Mercedes first – also adds a sustainable touch to the cabin. Up front, the 56-inch MBUX Hyperscreen dominates the dashboard, with three large displays offering exclusive Maybach-specific animations at start-up. The MBUX system is laid out intuitively, with settings clearly divided into sub-menus. The most used controls are right on the screen, so you won’t need to dig through the settings. Active ambient lighting, featuring 64 LED colours and 13 lighting combinations, runs along the entire length of the front and sides and makes it feel like Diwali season inside. It also has an augmented reality head-up display ensuring you stay on course, which along with all aforementioned features makes driving this car a comfortable and luxurious experience.

Rear passengers aren’t left out of the tech party either. With two 11.6-inch touchscreens on the backrests of the front seats, you can control everything from navigation and entertainment to the creature comforts. And yes, you can even share content between displays. The standard MBUX rear tablet, which can be used both in and outside the vehicle, adds another layer of convenience. For the audiophiles, the standard Burmester system with Dolby Atmos delivers a 15-speaker immersive audio experience and is paired with seat exciters, though I kept them off for the entirety of my time with the car. But even all the tech on God’s green earth will not be nearly as exciting as the rear seat experience. For starters, there’s tonnes of space in the back.

The Executive rear seats come with massage functions, ventilation and even neck and shoulder heating. When you really want to relax, activate the Chauffeur Package. It automatically moves the front passenger seat forward while reclining your rear seat for ultimate comfort. If you have some more spare cash, opt for the optional first-class seating where in the middle, you get wooden storage panel with heated/ventilated cup holders and HDMI ports beneath to put your content on the bigger screens. More spare cash? Then you can go for two folding tables, or a cooling compartment for the bubbly. All in all, there is no shortage of extravagance in the rear and the experience is just mind-blowing. Heck, even the extensive NVH measures are targeted towards the rear seats. In the time that I have spent on the job, there is simply nothing that matches this and it shows why Maybach owners pay what they pay for these cars. In fact, it is so good that the next time I have the chance to sit in this car, I might just skip the front row entirely. Although I might not skip the driving.

Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680: Power and performance

Powering this massive beast is a dual-motor setup, giving it 649bhp and a solid 955Nm of torque. That means despite weighing in at over three ton, it can sprint from 0 to 100kmph in just 4.4 seconds. For context, that’s faster than some sports cars — only here you’re doing it while carrying some very expensive furniture. Being electric, it responds instantly to even the lightest touch on the accelerator, and that’s what makes it so exciting to drive as well. A car this big and heavy has no right pulling the way it does, but every time it did, I had a huge grin on my face and I bet it looked as stunning on the outside as it felt on the inside. It is excellent in the corners and carries its weight well, though I did feel a bit dizzy in the back seat after a rapid hill climb.

56-inch MBUX Hyperscreen dominates the dashboard with three large displays. -Shot by Rithwik Vijay for Evo India

Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680: Range and dynamics

Performance aside, the EQS 680 is all about smoothness. The EQS 680 moves with the grace of a ballet dancer — albeit a very large, very powerful one. Thanks to rear wheels being able to turn by 10 degrees, it also handles surprisingly well for such a massive SUV, especially in tight spots or when manoeuvring around city traffic. The ride is incredibly smooth and it is barely unsettled with the surface beneath. Air suspension with continuously adjustable damping, which can raise the ground clearance by 35mm, is standard on this car along with various driving modes including the Maybach-specific drive mode. This new mode, in particular, replaces the regular Comfort setting, and it’s tailored to give rear passengers an even more relaxed ride. Throttle response is adjusted as per the mode you choose and that will affect the range as well.

It’s not for the faint of heart, nor is it for those who want a subtle electric vehicle. -Shot by Rithwik Vijay for Evo India

When it comes to range, the Maybach EQS claims up to 611km with its fully charged 122kWh battery according to the WLTP cycle, which is solid for something this size. The real-world range should be closer to 500-550km depending on how heavy your right foot is, but for most people, that’s more than enough for a few days of city and highway driving without any range anxiety. It can also charge quickly with speeds rated at 200kW, though a charger like this would be a rare find in India.

Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680: Practicality and safety

Now, let’s talk practicality. Despite all its opulence, the Maybach EQS is still an SUV, and that means you get some useful features for everyday driving. There’s enough storage inside the cabin in addition to a 440-litre boot, sufficient for your luggage, picnic hampers, or, you know, champagne. The seats fold down if you need extra space but I doubt you are buying this car for its storage capacity. It’s also worth mentioning that the Maybach EQS doesn’t skimp on safety. There are 11 airbags, including a frontal airbag for the rear-seat passengers, and a host of driver assistance systems that make sure you (or your chauffeur) are always driving as safely as possible.

Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680: Verdict and pricing

So, after spending some time with the Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680, here’s the million-dollar question (or, in this case, a bit over ₹2 crore question): Is it worth it? In a word, yes — if you’re the kind of person who values luxury above all else. This is a car for those who want the very best in comfort, technology, and refinement, and don’t mind paying for it. It’s not for the faint of heart, nor is it for those who want a subtle electric vehicle. The Maybach EQS is all about making a statement — whether it’s with its over-the-top chrome detailing, its first-class back seat experience, or its ability to whisk you from 0 to 100 in under five seconds while barely making a sound. Further, it combines the best of Mercedes’ electric tech with the over-the-top luxury that only Maybach can provide. As for my original question, sometimes what you need in life is right in front of you and in front of me is a Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680.