Fit for a king - 2022 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 in Malaysia, from RM 1.8 mil

The Estate KL plays host to the launches of two similar-yet-different luxomobiles today, and standing tall next to the Maybach S580 is this 2022 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600. Loaded to the gills with fancy features and stonking power under the hood, prices for this start from RM 1,789,453.18, up to the limits you set.

Much like its three-box sedan counterpart, the ceiling can get really, really high: customisation include a bunch of colour options, huge wheels, a drinks chiller and branded champagne flutes, things like that to really elevate each journey.

Unlike the Maybach Sonderklasse, the Maybach GLS600 maintains the regular car’s gargantuan proportions. It’s really nothing to complain about, considering nobody ever called its base car small either:

Top-class space and features

But this being the double-M brand, eking out more space is a non-negotiable, so out goes the third-row seats. This means the remaining pair of captain seats for those sitting at the back can be pushed 120 mm further back, and with the front pews in chauffeur mode there’s 1.3 metres of legroom.

Those sitting at the back (as you should be in this anyway) can treat the space as “both an office and private relaxation zone”, seeing as it comes standard with memory, heating, ventilation, and massage functions.

Nappa leather covers almost every single touchpoint, and much like the smells of leather wafts in the cabin, there’s quite the aural enjoyment to be had too, courtesy of a Burmester 3D surround sound system.

Neat touches include rubberised bearings on the fan motors and coated vents, both of these to reduce air-cond noises.

Big on size, big on power

Speaking of noises, there’ll only be good ones out the exhaust as the Maybach GLS packs a twin-turbo V8 under the hood. Supplemented by the EQ Boost mild hybrid system that adds another 22 PS and 250 Nm, the 4.0-litre mill offers 558 PS and 730 Nm, with power delivered through the 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic gearbox.

Airmatic air suspension is standard, as is Adaptive Damping System (ADS+), and the sweet Maybach mode that sees the car smoothen out road undulations.

On the safety front, the Mercedes-Maybach comes loaded with active driver assist systems including Pre-Safe and Parktronic.