The EQS 680 is an SUV version of the EQS and is over five metres in length but doesn’t look massive or menacing. Instead, it looks more like a big and elegant crossover. The obvious dual-tone Maybach paint shades and badging give it the much-needed ultra luxury credentials. The massive grille that’s completely shut gives it a futuristic look and aids aerodynamic efficiency as well. The massive 21-inch wheels are in line with the Maybach design and help reduce Coefficient of Drag (CD) as well. In short, the EQS 680 does look expensive and pretty much like a Maybach should.
Inside the cabin, the car gets a plethora of features including the Hyper Screen, which combines three screens in the dashboard giving a spaceship kind of experience to the users. It also gets a wide range of connectivity and comfort and driving assistance features that are expected at this price segment. That said, the real fun in any Maybach is in the rear seats so let’s discuss that. The rear seating layout includes a two-seat configuration because of the centre console tunnel extending from the front all the way to the back. The seats can be adjusted electrically for height, backrest angle and headrest support and have massage function too. Also, the cushioning on these seats is no less than luxury couches.
The party piece, however, is the ability to fold the seat flat like that of a business class seat in a commercial plane at the press of a button. In addition to having an Ottoman support, the seats have a footrest allowing passengers to fully extend their legs and rest in a comfortable position. Screens behind both front seats and a removable tablet in the armrest give access to a wide range of functions including media and entertainment. In interest of privacy, occupants can roll up window and rear blinds at the press of a button. If that’s not all, there are foldable tables too that can be pulled from underneath the armrest.
Coming to the driving part, the EQS 680 is equipped with two electric motors, one on each axle, making it an all-wheel drive SUV. With a massive 122 kWh battery, it offers a WLTP range of 611 km and during our testing it returned a little over 500 km on a single charge. Power is rated at 650 hp while torque is a whopping 950Nm. That said, the SUV is quite heavy at around three tonnes but still manages to be quite rapid when you want it to.
The electric torque ensures that acceleration is surprisingly quick and reaches high triple digits with ease. During our test, the car managed to do the 0-100 kmph run in 4.6 seconds, which is impressively quick for something so big and heavy. Even around corners, the car maintains good composure and doesn’t feel nervous with a series of quick directional changes. However, with the suspension being so soft, there is a fair amount of lateral movement through corners but not enough to be an issue. One thing that could’ve been better though are the brakes that offer no feedback, a problem that plagues most EVs because of regeneration.
Most importantly, for the rear seat passengers the ride quality is supremely comfortable and if that’s not enough, there’s a Maybach drive mode too. Once engaged, the Air suspension simply starts gobbling up road undulations and potholes and leaves the occupants with a silky smooth ride. One has to experience it to believe that an SUV can be this comfortable.
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Conclusion
Being a fully-imported vehicle, the Maybach EQS 680 is subject to the highest slabs of import duties and is priced at Rs 2.25 Crores, ex-showroom. For the price, the EV offers a brilliant cabin, impressive comfort and ride quality and good driving experience too. Crucially, despite being an EV, the EQS 680 delivers an authentic Maybach experience along with green credentials that are becoming a fashion statement these days.