The Priciest Mercedes Rivals Rolls-Royce, Not BMW
For decades, Mercedes-Benz has been a benchmark for quality and luxury. If you want a luxury car that doesn’t cost Bentley or Rolls-Royce money, Mercedes is often a default choice. The brand now has multiple models that cost over $100,000 and even a few that surpass $200k, but what’s the most expensive new Mercedes model you can buy? We’ll reveal that model here, while also unpacking the unparalleled technology and quality packed into this decadent beast.
The Most Expensive New Mercedes Is The Maybach S680
2021 Mercedes-Maybach S680 side view
Full-size luxury sedans were once the only symbol of ultimate wealth in the motoring world, but high-end SUVs have eaten into their market share. It’s perhaps gratifying, then, to see that the most expensive Mercedes is still a sedan. We’re referring to the Mercedes-Maybach S680, which has a starting price of $240,500 for the 2025 model year.
After a rocky revival of the Maybach brand in the 2000s, Maybach was reintroduced as a sub-brand of Mercedes in 2014.Â
Today, the S680 is not only Mercedes’ most expensive car, but it’s the last V12-powered model in the German brand’s lineup.Â
Design: A Flagship With Plenty Of Presence
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
The Mercedes-Maybach S680 looks as expensive as it is. The S-Class connection is evident, but there are just enough changes to distinguish it from a standard S-Class, including the bespoke grille, the unique 20-inch wheels, and the fact that it’s over 10 inches longer than an S-Class.
A variety of two-tone paint options are available, adding another exclusive touch to this grand sedan, but each one costs $14,500.
The most expensive Mercedes-Benz comes with the following standard exterior features:
- 20-inch Maybach forged wheels
- All-LED lighting
- LED digital light headlights
- Rear electric comfort doors
- Soft-closing doors
- Heat- and noise-insulating windshield and side glass
- Panorama roof
- Magic Vision Control for wiper blades
The attention to detail applied to this sedan is seen long before you settle into one of the lounge-like seats. Take the Magic Vision Control system, for instance, which features wiper blades with laser-cut holes to deliver a perfectly precise jet of water immediately ahead of the blades’ path. Together with heated blades, the system ensures a crystal clear view of the road ahead and reduces overspray.
Interior: Unparalleled Comfort Meets Immaculate Fit And Finish
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Whether you’re seated in front or at the back, the S680 has one of the finest interiors in any modern car. The high-tech design may lack the sheer charm of a Rolls-Royce Ghost’s interior, but we’re splitting hairs here, as the Mercedes is an exceptional place in which to travel.
The standard materials are stunning. Extended wood trim has been liberally yet tastefully applied, and Exclusive Nappa leather upholstery adorns the seats. Even the ceiling is finished in Nappa leather, while the steering wheel is a classy combination of wood and leather. There is, of course, a bewildering array of colors, materials, and finishes to choose from to customize the cabin, although it doesn’t have the endless selection of colors offered by Rolls-Royce.
Rear legroom is a highlight, with 49.1 inches available. This, together with the ability to recline the rear seat and move the right front seat forward and out of the way, creates a truly relaxing space in which to nap between meetings.
Mercedes-Benz
Standard interior features inside Mercedes-Benz’s most expensive car include the following:
- Heated and ventilated front/rear seats
- Rapid front/rear seat heating
- Massaging front/rear seats
- Rear-seat neck heating
- 64-color LED ambient lighting system
- Four-zone automatic climate control
- 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and 12.8-inch touchscreen
- 3D instrument cluster
- 31-speaker Burmester 4D surround-sound system
- Front and rear wireless device charging
- Rear MBUX tablet and wireless headsets
This is not even close to an exhaustive list, as the S680 is equipped with every conceivable amenity, and that’s without mentioning the optional extras.
Performance: One Of The Last V12s Provides Silky, Effortless Power
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
A V12 engine isn’t strictly necessary these days, as a boosted V8 delivers nearly all the benefits of a V12. That said, for those who appreciate the last word in mechanical refinement, a V12 can’t be matched. In this case, a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 delivers 621 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque.
The 4Matic all-wheel-drive system and nine-speed automatic transmission do an impeccable job of putting all that power down smoothly. The 0-60 mph time is 4.5 seconds, but that’s less important than how smoothly the V12 goes about its job.
The Airmatic semi-active suspension endows the S680 with a sublime ride quality, while the rear-axle steering makes it feel more agile than its size suggests.Â
What Does A Fully Loaded Maybach S680 Cost?
Mercedes-Benz
Despite its high base price, it’s possible to spend a lot more on the Mercedes-Maybach S680. We were able to specify a Maybach with every available extra for a total of $285,580, including the destination charge. The most expensive options were as follows:
- Manufaktur Kalahari Gold/Obsidian Black two-tone paint: $14,500
- Manufaktur exclusive interior: $10,500
- Executive Rear Seat package Plus: $6,000
- Maybach champagne flutes: $3,200
There is also a single Maybach Night Series Design package for $25,000, but this option eliminates many of the other available features. On top of that, buyers would have to consider Mercedes maintenance costs.
Other Expensive Mercedes-Benz Models
For Mercedes fans with a near-unlimited budget, there are two other models that exceed $200,000.
Mercedes-Maybach S580: $203,500
Mercedes-Benz
This is the only other Maybach sedan model and it starts at almost $40,000 less. The main difference is that the S580 uses a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 496 hp, but it’s barely slower than the S680, boasting a 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds. Most of the time, you may not be able to tell that the near-silent engine isn’t a V12.
Mercedes-AMG SL 63 S E Performance: $207,150
Mercedes-AMG
If rear-seat space takes a back seat to performance, you can hardly do better than this, the king of SLs. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid drop-top delivers an astonishing 805 hp and 1,047 lb-ft, for a 0-60 time of 2.8 seconds. Two kids can squeeze into the back seats, and they’ll never stop gushing about this SL’s outrageous performance.
Summary: The Most Expensive Mercedes Is A Relative Bargain
No, we haven’t completely lost our minds. The Maybach S680 is certainly reserved for the ultra wealthy at $240,500, but its only true rivals are even pricier. The Bentley Flying Spur starts at over $270k, and the Rolls-Royce Ghost will cost in the region of $350k. Both have badges that are more prestigious than the Mercedes-Maybach, but the S680 is at least equally as well-equipped at a significant saving, and has better tech than its two iconic rivals in some aspects.
It’s Mercedes at its best.
About the author
Karl Furlong
Senior Editor, Autoblog