German luxury to the extreme
There is currently only one model in Mercedes-Maybach’s South African range, although various S-Class and G-Class examples have been offered for sale in the past. Based on the massive 7-seater GLS SUV but with 3 fewer seats, and frosted with even more extravagant appointments and cosmetic add-ons, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS600 presents uncompromising space and luxury with a pricetag to match.
But let’s be brutally honest here: The Mercedes-Maybach GLS-Class (and its -Benz and -AMG-branded siblings) is a formidable machine, but it’s also a huge monster to control. And, while it has all manner of parking- and driver’s aids in its arsenal, it still takes a fair amount of skill to pilot it with confidence.
Sheer size turns a normal parking bay into a sliver, and the sheer distance from the driver’s seat to the rounded corners make it difficult to judge the car’s extremities. Thank goodness for that excellent surround-view camera and the self-parking system, then!
Related: What’s the difference between a Mercedes-Benz S-Class and a Maybach?
Cool gadgets, but they don’t solve all problems
But that’s where we run into some problems. Mercedes’s self-parking system is uncannily precise at both alley docking and parallel parking, but it’s a bit of a faff to use. The actual operation is easy enough (hands off the steering wheel, select the appropriate gear, and press the brake as needed), but it all happens very slowly.
For an experienced driver, this wouldn’t be too much of a deterrent, because we’re had years of practice at slotting into cramped parking bays. But for someone who’s only now starting out on the road, the prospect can be very daunting. And being embarrassed while your big Maybach crawls around to park itself, holding up the traffic in any parking lot certainly won’t boost the new driver's confidence, either.
Related: 5 Extras you should retrofit to a Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.
Leave it to James
Whatever your chauffeur's name, you’d be better off leaving the Mercedes-Maybach for them to wrangle. Just sit back in the sumptuous rear cabin, relax, and enjoy the luxury on offer instead. But, if you insist on driving yourself about, a GLA or GLB would definitely be a better choice...
