Declassified: Updated Mercedes-Maybach GLS flagship SUV

The luxurious SUV from the German marque has received a refreshed exterior, interior updates, and a more powerful engine.

Mercedes-Benz unveiled its current flagship GLS crossover, the second generation, back in 2019. It underwent its first facelift in 2023, its second in spring 2026, and the refreshed high-performance Mercedes‑AMG GLS 63 4Matic+ made its debut last month. The luxurious Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 variant joined the range in late 2019, received its first update alongside the rest of the family, and now the German company's US office has revealed a new version: the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680.

As part of the second facelift, the top-tier version of the flagship crossover gains a revised front end: redesigned headlights with a new light signature featuring daytime running lights shaped like a pair of the brand's three-pointed stars, a large illuminated grille with a different shape but still retaining a chrome surround and vertical slats. The lower section of the front bumper also keeps a wide trim around the central air intake, though the side elements adorned with Maybach logos have been removed.

The sides of the refreshed Mercedes-Maybach GLS remain untouched, with 22-inch wheels as standard and optional 23-inch forged alloys. The lower rear bumper design stays the same, but the rear has been altered with a full-width light bar featuring a new light signature of three-pointed stars and a central brand logo. A two-tone paint finish remains available.

Inside, the two-tone three-spoke steering wheel remains unchanged, but the dashboard is new. It now features a full-width MBUX Superscreen with three displays (a virtual instrument cluster, a central infotainment touchscreen, and a front passenger touchscreen, each measuring 12.3 inches diagonally), with circular air vents resembling jet turbines integrated into the sides of this digital panel. Second-row passengers get individual 11.6-inch displays.

The first and second-row seats now feature an improved massage function. The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 also comes with an upgraded Burmester 3D sound system featuring Dolby Atmos, 15 speakers, and a more powerful amplifier (now 710W). The flagship crossover is equipped with the latest driver assistance systems, which operate using data from sensors and a dozen external cameras. Expanded assistance functions are available with the optional MB.Drive Assist Pro package.

The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 is powered by a revised 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 (M 177 Evo) operating as part of an MHEV system, producing 611 bhp (53 bhp more than the pre-facelift version) and a peak torque of 850 Nm (120 Nm more). The setup includes a 48-volt starter-generator providing an additional 23 bhp, also used for the start-stop function. The crossover also features AirMatic air suspension as standard equipment.

Pricing for the new model will be announced later, with production set to take place at the plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. The company noted that the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 will reach US dealers later this year. The current Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 starts at $181,350 in the US, equivalent to approximately 14.2 million roubles at the current exchange rate.