Mercedes-Maybach GLS Is, Oh So Cullinan-ish – Rolls-Royce Has Left the Chat

Well, the Cullinan is not exactly handsome and never will be unless it ages like fine wine instead of fine milk. But then again, not many vehicles are in this class. Hate may be coming this way, but the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Bentley Bentayga, and Mercedes-Maybach GLS could make do with some touching from the sexy stick – kind of like the top-of-the-line Range Rover, which still oozes classiness and elegance.

Second, let's move on to the real reason behind this story, which is the pictured Mercedes-Maybach GLS. If you haven't figured it out, it is for sale, and while no one can deny its coolness, it pales in comparison with its rival from the Goodwood brand, which shares its nuts and bolts with the Ghost and Phantom, whereas the Maybach GLS is basically a Benz GLS with a few extra bits and bobs. That one starts from $87,000 in our market, whereas the Maybach GLS 600 costs double ($174,350 MSRP).

To its defense, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 costs a fraction of the price of a Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The latter comes from $376,750, and with some options installed, it can easily scrape the half-a-million-dollar mark. This model uses a twin-turbo V12 with a 6.75-liter displacement. It puts 562 hp (570 ps/419 kW) and 627 pound-feet (850 Nm) of torque under the driver's right foot. The maximum speed is capped at 155 mph (250 kph), and it needs just under six seconds to reach 62 mph (100 kph).

Mercedes's Maybach GLS 600 makes do with four fewer cylinders. Under its hood lies a 4.0L V8 with two turbos and mild-hybrid assistance, which steams out 550 hp (558 ps/410 kW) and 538 lb-ft (730 Nm) of torque. Despite lacking in the thrust department compared to the Rolls-Royce, it is one second more agile to 62 mph. Its top speed may be irrelevant to the three-pointed star brand, which doesn't disclose it on most of its official websites, but it is identical to the Cullinan.

Petrolheads are aware that the Maybach GLS is nothing more than a spirited and more luxurious version of the Benz GLS, featuring extremely fine materials inside and the usual amenities required from such a ride. The same goes for the Bentayga, which shares its traits with the Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, and Lamborghini Urus. However, the model's usual clientele couldn't give a flying hoot about its underpinnings, hence why it's quite common to spot one in the wild.

We won't judge you if you decide to blow your hard-earned money on a Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 instead of paying more for a Rolls-Royce Cullinan. And if this is what you intend to do, then how about checking out the pictured example? It is a brand-new ride with only the delivery miles on the clock, sports a mix of black and red on the outside, has numerous chrome appointments, including that imposing grille, and rides on 23-inch silver multi-spoke alloys.

The exterior is clearly uncommon and quite tasty (if you're into this color combo), and the interior is a rolling work of art to anyone who digs white leather. The high-end material covers most touchable surfaces. Elsewhere, it features extremely comfortable seats at the front and rear, comes with a rear-seat entertainment system, folding trays, a premium sound system, and the usual intrusive ambient lighting that Mercedes has recently become famous for (that's not the only thing modern Mercedes cars are famous – ahem, build quality!).

The equipment list is vast and includes a plethora of standard gear, as well as numerous options that have made it even pricier. Speaking of the Benjamins, you should know that this Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 costs almost as much as a new Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The asking price on Hollmann International was €297,143 at the time of writing, including tax, which equals just a little over $320,000. Mind you, that means it's out of this world to the ordinary crowd, yet that's all right, as it was never intended to be a mainstream vehicle.

Again, we won't judge you if you decide to go for this Maybach instead of adding a few more dollars and getting a Cullinan. But if you had a budget of well over $300,000, which ride would you go for and why? I'd probably get more cars than one from completely different classes because there's no such thing as a perfect vehicle, is it? Thus, we all need a great weekend car, a comfy daily, and a crossover/SUV for when the weather gets a bit rough and the asphalt is no longer dry.