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Mercedes-Maybach SL680 review: the most SL of all modern SLs?

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Mercedes-Maybach SL680 review: the most SL of all modern SLs? | Top Gear

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Does this £250k (!) V8 uber-luxury SL take the model back to its roots?

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Mercedes-Maybach SL680 review: the most SL of all modern SLs?

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What in the love of monogrammed bonnets is this?It’s a very expensive, unique take on one of Mercedes-Benz’s most famous models, its SL roadster. Although we should actually say it's a very expensive, unique take on Mercedes-AMG's SL roadster, because until this Mercedes-Maybach SL680 arrived, Merc’s more sporting arm has been responsible for the iconic roadster.Think of this Maybach SL more like a Bentley Continental GTC rival, then.

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Does this £250k (!) V8 uber-luxury SL take the model back to its roots?

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Mercedes-Maybach SL680 review: the most SL of all modern SLs?

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Mercedes-Maybach SL680 review: the most SL of all modern SLs?

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Does this £250k (!) V8 uber-luxury SL take the model back to its roots?

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Does this £250k (!) V8 uber-luxury SL take the model back to its roots?

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What in the love of monogrammed bonnets is this?It’s a very expensive

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unique take on one of Mercedes-Benz’s most famous models

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its SL roadster. Although we should actually say it's a very expensive

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unique take on Mercedes-AMG's SL roadster

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because until this Mercedes-Maybach SL680 arrived

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Merc’s more sporting arm has been responsible for the iconic roadster.Think of this Maybach SL more like a Bentley Continental GTC rival

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then.Maybach is all about the rear seat experience. This Maybach SL does not appear to have... any rear seats.Well. If you dig deep enough into Maybach’s long history you’ll find roadsters

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so here the rear 'seats' of lesser AMG-badged SLs have been vanquished by a Maybach-emblazoned tonneau cover and cowl. Means the pampered lap dogs of the super-wealthy will need to live up to their name and sit on an actual lap

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unless some enterprising person comes up with a cushion for that rear shelf behind the softer-bolstered and bottomed Maybach front seats.Looks comfy.Absolutely. Those seats might not recline to dentist-levels of horizontal like those in the back of a Maybach S-Class

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in a bid to cosset those nestled within them. Indeed

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the Maybach SL might be related to the AMG SL 63 underneath all the badges and chrome - and there is so much of both - but the super-luxury division’s goal is to be a gentler proposition all-round

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while retaining a quiet authority that demands respect.Yeah

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we couldn’t help notice all the badges and chrome.We’re trying to ignore the many double-M emblems on this car - and hoo boy there are loads. The standard ‘Monogram Series’ example driven here

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seems to highlight the Maybach SL680’s changes in the least flattering light. Spending an extra £10k on the Manufaktur exclusive paint in a darker hue for a subtler look is recommended

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though that ups the list price to over £250

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the chrome detailing looks good in places

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and a touch overdone in others. We’ll let you decide where (we like the windscreen surround and slatted grille

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but think the framing of the lower air intakes and sills is a touch heavy-handed). We’re always happy to see a three-pointed star where it should be

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sat like a sight at the leading edge of the bonnet

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though.You certainly don’t get that on yer lesser AMG SLs. That new tonneau cover also changes the SL’s profile for the better when it’s driven as it should be - with the roof down.Any other changes?The front and rear lights have some Maybach-specific detailing within

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while the shape of the rear diffuser and exhaust are now more in keeping with other Maybach models. Not just shaped

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with the exhaust being unique to the Maybach

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emitting a more dignified tone from its twin outlets. Similarly

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the suspension has been tweaked for greater comfort

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along with the Maybach-specific configurable driving modes and a good deal more sound deadening throughout

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combines to create a roadster that does live up to its luxury billing.Does '680' mean a mega V12 like its S680 Maybach relation?Sadly not. The days of Mercedes-Benz brilliantly shoehorning V12s into the bonnet of SLs seem to be behind us

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even if it's quietly kept a V12 in its line-up. Still

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the hope is there’s still a customer base for top-of the line

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even if it’s powered by the same 4.0-litre

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577bhp bi-turbo V8 as its SL63 sibling.No

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it isn’t as quick as that AMG because there's a bit more heft to haul (about 60kgs if you’re asking)

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so the SL680 takes 4.1 seconds to reach 62mph on its way to a 162mph maximum.That's still pretty quick.When required

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and what the SL680 proves very good at is exactly what Maybach wants it to be good at

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which is being luxurious. There’s ample performance from that slightly softer

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and the ride’s pleasingly supple – even in its sportiest suspension setting it’s still softer than any of its AMG relations. That all adds up to an SL that’s arguably more SL in character than any of the others in the current range.It's not necessarily at the expense of agility either

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as a drive down a mountain pass in Italy proved. The SL680 covered ground with an easier

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and didn't shout too loudly.Quiet and classy

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then. Except all those badges. In the case of the bonnet you can mercifully do without them - it’s a no-cost option to have the whole thing body-coloured. We’d go one further and ask that the folding hood does without the emblems too

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and suggest that Maybach has the courage to just put one badge where that three-pointed star is presently.

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What in the love of monogrammed bonnets is this?

It’s a very expensive, unique take on one of Mercedes-Benz’s most famous models, its SL roadster. Although we should actually say it's a very expensive, unique take on Mercedes-AMG's SL roadster, because until this Mercedes-Maybach SL680 arrived, Merc’s more sporting arm has been responsible for the iconic roadster.

Think of this Maybach SL more like a Bentley Continental GTC rival, then.

Maybach is all about the rear seat experience. This Maybach SL does not appear to have... any rear seats.

Well. If you dig deep enough into Maybach’s long history you’ll find roadsters, so here the rear 'seats' of lesser AMG-badged SLs have been vanquished by a Maybach-emblazoned tonneau cover and cowl. Means the pampered lap dogs of the super-wealthy will need to live up to their name and sit on an actual lap, unless some enterprising person comes up with a cushion for that rear shelf behind the softer-bolstered and bottomed Maybach front seats.

Looks comfy.

Absolutely. Those seats might not recline to dentist-levels of horizontal like those in the back of a Maybach S-Class, but they’ve been given more, um, give, in a bid to cosset those nestled within them. Indeed, the Maybach SL might be related to the AMG SL 63 underneath all the badges and chrome - and there is so much of both - but the super-luxury division’s goal is to be a gentler proposition all-round, while retaining a quiet authority that demands respect.

Yeah, we couldn’t help notice all the badges and chrome.

We’re trying to ignore the many double-M emblems on this car - and hoo boy there are loads. The standard ‘Monogram Series’ example driven here, available in either red or white, seems to highlight the Maybach SL680’s changes in the least flattering light. Spending an extra £10k on the Manufaktur exclusive paint in a darker hue for a subtler look is recommended, though that ups the list price to over £250,000.

Overall, the chrome detailing looks good in places, and a touch overdone in others. We’ll let you decide where (we like the windscreen surround and slatted grille, but think the framing of the lower air intakes and sills is a touch heavy-handed). We’re always happy to see a three-pointed star where it should be, sat like a sight at the leading edge of the bonnet, though.

You certainly don’t get that on yer lesser AMG SLs. That new tonneau cover also changes the SL’s profile for the better when it’s driven as it should be - with the roof down.

Any other changes?

The front and rear lights have some Maybach-specific detailing within, while the shape of the rear diffuser and exhaust are now more in keeping with other Maybach models. Not just shaped, either, but tuned, with the exhaust being unique to the Maybach, emitting a more dignified tone from its twin outlets. Similarly, the suspension has been tweaked for greater comfort, and there are softer engine mounts, too.

All that, along with the Maybach-specific configurable driving modes and a good deal more sound deadening throughout, combines to create a roadster that does live up to its luxury billing.

Does '680' mean a mega V12 like its S680 Maybach relation?

Sadly not. The days of Mercedes-Benz brilliantly shoehorning V12s into the bonnet of SLs seem to be behind us, even if it's quietly kept a V12 in its line-up. Still, the hope is there’s still a customer base for top-of the line, big-ticket SLs, even if it’s powered by the same 4.0-litre, 577bhp bi-turbo V8 as its SL63 sibling.

No, it isn’t as quick as that AMG because there's a bit more heft to haul (about 60kgs if you’re asking), so the SL680 takes 4.1 seconds to reach 62mph on its way to a 162mph maximum.

That's still pretty quick.

When required, certainly, and what the SL680 proves very good at is exactly what Maybach wants it to be good at, which is being luxurious. There’s ample performance from that slightly softer, re-tuned V8, and the ride’s pleasingly supple – even in its sportiest suspension setting it’s still softer than any of its AMG relations. That all adds up to an SL that’s arguably more SL in character than any of the others in the current range.

It's not necessarily at the expense of agility either, as a drive down a mountain pass in Italy proved. The SL680 covered ground with an easier, calmer, but still brisk gait, was rarely troubled by poor surfaces, and didn't shout too loudly.

Quiet and classy, then. Except all those badges. In the case of the bonnet you can mercifully do without them - it’s a no-cost option to have the whole thing body-coloured. We’d go one further and ask that the folding hood does without the emblems too, and suggest that Maybach has the courage to just put one badge where that three-pointed star is presently.

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What in the love of monogrammed bonnets is this?

It’s a very expensive, unique take on one of Mercedes-Benz’s most famous models, its SL roadster. Although we should actually say it's a very expensive, unique take on Mercedes-AMG's SL roadster, because until this Mercedes-Maybach SL680 arrived, Merc’s more sporting arm has been responsible for the iconic roadster.

Think of this Maybach SL more like a Bentley Continental GTC rival, then.

Maybach is all about the rear seat experience. This Maybach SL does not appear to have... any rear seats.

Well. If you dig deep enough into Maybach’s long history you’ll find roadsters, so here the rear 'seats' of lesser AMG-badged SLs have been vanquished by a Maybach-emblazoned tonneau cover and cowl. Means the pampered lap dogs of the super-wealthy will need to live up to their name and sit on an actual lap, unless some enterprising person comes up with a cushion for that rear shelf behind the softer-bolstered and bottomed Maybach front seats.

Looks comfy.

Absolutely. Those seats might not recline to dentist-levels of horizontal like those in the back of a Maybach S-Class, but they’ve been given more, um, give, in a bid to cosset those nestled within them. Indeed, the Maybach SL might be related to the AMG SL 63 underneath all the badges and chrome - and there is so much of both - but the super-luxury division’s goal is to be a gentler proposition all-round, while retaining a quiet authority that demands respect.

Yeah, we couldn’t help notice all the badges and chrome.

We’re trying to ignore the many double-M emblems on this car - and hoo boy there are loads. The standard ‘Monogram Series’ example driven here, available in either red or white, seems to highlight the Maybach SL680’s changes in the least flattering light. Spending an extra £10k on the Manufaktur exclusive paint in a darker hue for a subtler look is recommended, though that ups the list price to over £250,000.

Overall, the chrome detailing looks good in places, and a touch overdone in others. We’ll let you decide where (we like the windscreen surround and slatted grille, but think the framing of the lower air intakes and sills is a touch heavy-handed). We’re always happy to see a three-pointed star where it should be, sat like a sight at the leading edge of the bonnet, though.

You certainly don’t get that on yer lesser AMG SLs. That new tonneau cover also changes the SL’s profile for the better when it’s driven as it should be - with the roof down.

Any other changes?

The front and rear lights have some Maybach-specific detailing within, while the shape of the rear diffuser and exhaust are now more in keeping with other Maybach models. Not just shaped, either, but tuned, with the exhaust being unique to the Maybach, emitting a more dignified tone from its twin outlets. Similarly, the suspension has been tweaked for greater comfort, and there are softer engine mounts, too.

All that, along with the Maybach-specific configurable driving modes and a good deal more sound deadening throughout, combines to create a roadster that does live up to its luxury billing.

Does '680' mean a mega V12 like its S680 Maybach relation?

Sadly not. The days of Mercedes-Benz brilliantly shoehorning V12s into the bonnet of SLs seem to be behind us, even if it's quietly kept a V12 in its line-up. Still, the hope is there’s still a customer base for top-of the line, big-ticket SLs, even if it’s powered by the same 4.0-litre, 577bhp bi-turbo V8 as its SL63 sibling.

No, it isn’t as quick as that AMG because there's a bit more heft to haul (about 60kgs if you’re asking), so the SL680 takes 4.1 seconds to reach 62mph on its way to a 162mph maximum.

That's still pretty quick.

When required, certainly, and what the SL680 proves very good at is exactly what Maybach wants it to be good at, which is being luxurious. There’s ample performance from that slightly softer, re-tuned V8, and the ride’s pleasingly supple – even in its sportiest suspension setting it’s still softer than any of its AMG relations. That all adds up to an SL that’s arguably more SL in character than any of the others in the current range.

It's not necessarily at the expense of agility either, as a drive down a mountain pass in Italy proved. The SL680 covered ground with an easier, calmer, but still brisk gait, was rarely troubled by poor surfaces, and didn't shout too loudly.

Quiet and classy, then. Except all those badges. In the case of the bonnet you can mercifully do without them - it’s a no-cost option to have the whole thing body-coloured. We’d go one further and ask that the folding hood does without the emblems too, and suggest that Maybach has the courage to just put one badge where that three-pointed star is presently.

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Does this £250k (!) V8 uber-luxury SL take the model back to its roots?