2026 Mercedes-Maybach SL680 Review: All Relaxation, No Excitement

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      Luxury over sport. The SL680 Maybach emphasizes comfort and luxury instead of sporty performance, feeling more cumbersome in comparison to the Aston Martin Vantage.

      Advanced technology, mixed outcomes. The car’s AI assistant can be intrusive and may misinterpret commands, affecting the overall driving experience.

      Roomy yet heavy. While the Maybach is spacious, it offers limited cargo capacity and feels ponderous on the road.

      Serene comfort. The SL680 is quieter and more comfortable than many competitors, making it ideal for long journeys.

      In summary, the 2026 Mercedes-Maybach SL680 is an opulent roadster that excels in comfort and style but does not deliver the engaging drive found in a true sports car.

      AI-assisted, editor-reviewed.

      Last month, I spent a couple of weeks with two $250,000 sports cars: the 2026 Aston Martin Vantage S and the 2026 Mercedes-Maybach SL680 Monogram. Both are roadsters powered by an AMG-engineered V8 and were even painted in the same dark green metallic color of Ireland—a $9,900 “Manufaktur” option. However, despite the similarities, you would never confuse one for the other in a blind comparison.

      During my previous experience with the SL680, I didn’t stray far from my regular routine. This time, I had the advantage of transitioning directly from the Aston Martin and the chance to take the Maybach on a genuine road trip. It may be branded as a sports car, but at its core, this convertible is primarily a luxury vehicle. How bad could it be?

      I referred to it as "little," but that's misleading. While the Vantage felt nimble and agile, the Maybach presents as bulky and boat-like. The luxurious Benz reacts quickly during turns due to its extremely responsive steering, but the entire experience feels so light that it challenges the laws of physics, which heightens your awareness of the substantial artificial boost integrated into the wheel.

      This manifests as a slight twitchiness when centered, especially noticeable when manually steering (rather than relying on the car's assistance) on straight highways—common during a 400-plus-mile journey across the Midwest. When pushing the car through curves, however, the attention doesn’t linger on dead-ahead steering.

      On the rare occasions I found myself on winding roads, I was struck by how slow the Maybach felt despite its immense power and relatively compact size. Some cars shrink around the driver when pushed, while others feel elongated the moment the steering wheel is turned. Weighing nearly 4,400 pounds, the Maybach significantly falls into the latter category.

      Speaking of carrying items, let's address cargo. Storage isn't usually at a premium in my typical commute (from my bedroom to my home office), but an overnight trip requires packing toiletries and at least one change of clothes. For that, I used my L.L. Bean roller duffel, which fits in any American commercial airline overhead bin. I could likely fit two of those in the SL, at most. My daypack was stored in the front.

      Even while driving leisurely through traffic, the Maybach's shift programming feels sluggish, even in its sportiest drive mode. The exhaust lacks any harsh sounds or growls when you release the throttle. This vehicle is designed to be recognized without creating a lot of noise. Mission accomplished, but the outcome feels lackluster to me, even if the car performs adequately with its subtle soundtrack.

      Being in Michigan, straight roads are an exception rather than the norm. On the highway, the Maybach’s front end tends to shift around with the slightest input. To add to the challenge, the chassis seems almost sensitive to the road's crown. Whenever I wasn't allowing the car to drive itself, it felt like it consistently nudged me toward the shoulder—as if its self-driving system's passive-aggressive impulses were slipping through the "off" switch.

      It’s possible the car was just embarrassed to be seen with me and attempted to escape its own misery. I should have inquired; the integrated AI assistant might have provided a diagnostic of its mental state. Let’s discuss that for a moment.

      Last year, I took a (non-Maybach) GL 580 on a trip to Chicagoland. Aside from the finicky touch controls and overbearing driver assists, I generally enjoyed it. It also had “Hey, Mercedes” functionality, but it remained quietly idle until called upon. I rarely find myself aligned with Eric Cartman, but we both agree on the proper social order between humans and machines. I don’t need my digital assistants getting too ambitious.

      The Maybach SL680 at RedBud MX in Buchanan, Michigan.

      Case in point: The weekend before my road trip, my wife and I went to the city to attend a show. Everything went smoothly; the convertible Maybach