JoeMa

I visited a MB dealership in Devon PA to check out the new EQS 680 Maybach SUV and took it for a test drive. Of course it is a beautiful SUV, inside and out. The exterior was two-tone Silver/Black (beautiful paint job) and the interior was a dark Brown. It was basically a base model with almost no options and still had a MSRP just shy of $180K. The rear seating is noticeably higher than a standard EQS SUV but it gives the rear occupant a better view out the front windshield. Almost every surface is covered in Napa leather and looks very luxurious. The steering wheel is polished wood on the outer surface (that your hands touch) and the inside of the wheel is leather, very nice to the touch. It has soft-close doors and the doors can be opened and closed with the FOB. The doors also have the magnetic hold feature that holds the door where you leave it, very nice.

I wasn't expecting it to drive that much different than our EQS 580 SUV but it surprised me in several areas. The ride was noticeably smoother, it had a better braking feel, and the acceleration was excellent. All-in-all, it is a more refined version of our SUV. Is it worth $50K or more than our SUV, that's up to you but if you have the means and want the best EQS SUV on the planet, check one out. If you already own an EQS SUV, you'll be surprised how impressive this car feels on the road.

W205C43PFL

Glad to hear first Maybach EV SUV lived up to its name then.

JoeMa

I forgot to mention that the HUD was updated in the EQS Maybach SUV. The display was a bit larger and easier to read. I only had a brief ride so there may be more the engineers came up with.

Crito

Most insurance companies only go to $150K and if I'm going to go to all the trouble of buying exotic car insurance might as well be $250K instead of $180K. And I'm sure the HUD is super fantastic but what customers want is a NACS charging port.

It'll probably be a great car to buy used in a year or two though.

JoeMa

You're right!

JoeMa

BTW, they ask if they could evaluate my EQS on a trade and they offered me $75K for our EQS 580 SUV with 9,000 miles and new tires and they would discount the EQS Maybach $27,500. I thanked the salesman (very friendly) for the test drive and said good bye. What will the EQS Maybach SUV be worth in a year or two? I would guess $100,000 or less. That said, we over paid for our EQS 580 SUV but we love it and will keep it for several more years.

MBNUT1

Would you mind saying what was MSRP on your EQS580?

JoeMa

MSRP: $136,280
Minus: $7,500 tax rebate
Net cost: $128,780

So according to the dealership in Devon PA, it depreciated $53,780 in 15 months with only 9,000 miles and four brand new all-season tires. That's some serious depreciation. The lesson, plan on keeping your EQ vehicle at least 3 years or be prepared to take a bath.
We're keeping ours for at least two more years if not longer. We love it.

MBNUT1

Thank you kindly for sharing the details. Your synopsis was what I was looking for.

This also tells you when they have a used on on the lot how much they have in it.

sarhoshamiral

Yuck. I had a similar MSRP as yours and leased it (7500$ tax rebate + 4500$ additional benefit from Mercedes partner program helped). Residual is 67000$ I think, I was kind of guessing it but your trade-in evaluation kind of confirms I will not be buying this car at the end of the lease to trade it in

JoeMa

Hopefully some of the refinements I observed in the EQS Maybach (improved braking and larger HUD) are coming to the MY24 EQS SUV. We already know soft close doors, 118 kW battery pack, a heat pump, and disengagement cluck on the front motor are coming. After all, you call this the "S class" of the EQ lineup. Shouldn't options available on the ICE version of the S Class be available on the EQS SUV? Magnetic door hold and heated arm rests to name two. Make those available in the EQS SUV.

Pay attention Mercedes, we are your customers and we know what we want.

sarhoshamiral

Isn't the larger HUD same as the AR HUD option on EQS? I have that one and the space HUD can project is really large. I wonder if they utilized the space differently in Maybach and 2024 EQS with AR HUD will have the same update? I agree that on my AR hud, some of the information is fairly small and it would just take a software update to make it bigger. One can dream that Mercedes will push such an update over the air but I am not holding my breath

BenjaminKohl

Yeah, may just be a difference between 444 HUD on your EQS SUV and the 445 AR HUD that is standard on Maybachs.

JoeMa

You may be right, I never saw the 445 HUD option in an EQS SUV. The HUD in the Maybach was also centered above the steering wheel whereas my HUD display (444) is off center about two inches to the left and there is no adjustment in the software to move the display left or right, only up and down.

nath_h

I wonder if the brakes are the same as will be on the new 'reworked' brakes on the 2024 EQS. Do ya'll think there's any chance the early versions will get an update with better/improved brake feel to match the new models? IMHO, brake feel is the only downside of the car.

MBNUT1

That would be awesome if it could be improved with a software update.

JoeMa

Someone posted a video of the actual EQS Maybach that I test drove:

sarhoshamiral

That 2 tone color really doesn't go well with EQS body and Mercedes seriously needs to lighten up on the interior LEDs.

jiaotong

Did they give you any idea on allocations? My local dealer is vague at best and I am ready to order.

JoeMa

I did inquire if they have more coming and they do not. He said the one they have was not ordered but sent to them by MB based on their location and sales volume. I did not specifically ask if they have any allocations. I would guess not, looks like MB will be slow-rolling these for now.

ILoveNY

Finally Doug reviewed the night series

jiaotong

I bought a 680 and am pretty excited for it. I don't have it yet but it is en route.
Obs Black over Sonoran Brown two tone. Espresso interior.
They were super interested in a deal and gave me $25K off MSRP, OTD for 175,133.
I will post more when I get it!

JoeMa

Congratulations! Those are the exact colors I would choose. Did you spec any options other than the two-tone paint?

Soulman

So it has the open and close doors we were all promised back in 2022?
Thanks for the update JoeMa.

JoeMa

Yes, they're standard on the Maybach model.