2009 Maybach 57

• Overall
• Prices
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability

Performance - What the Auto Press Says

The Maybach 57 and 57 S are each powered by V-12 engines sourced from the AMG performance division of Mercedes-Benz.  Both cars are exceptionally powerful for their weight, with the S model producing acceleration on par with that of many exotic sports cars.  Reviewers say, however, that the 57 is not nimble, handling a bit ponderously, as one would expect of a car that outweighs every full-size pickup truck on the market.

• "The 2009 Maybach 57 seems completely unaware of its three-ton weight when traveling in a straight line. Both the 57 and 57 S excel at acceleration and cruising at speeds generally reserved for supercars or aircraft But that weight becomes all too apparent when the road veers left or right -- not even the Maybach is immune from the laws of physics." -- Edmunds
• "Buried deep within all this outlandish excess, all the limousine toys, and the imposing aura of exclusivity is a very large, shockingly capable, and stunningly powerful automobile You know, a car made of metal, powered by the explosion of gas, with wheels that go around and around." -- Car and Driver
• "For anyone who has fallen on times desperate enough that he or she has to wheel his or her own Maybach, we'd recommend procuring the convincingly more athletic 57 S model for the commute between the club and the other club. It's every bit as big and heavy as the 57, but the additional horsepower and sportier suspension tuning make for bigger grins. -- Kelley Blue Book

Acceleration and Power

The standard Maybach 57 is powered by a 5.5-liter V12 engine making 543 horsepower, with a mechanically-limited top speed of 155 mph.  The 57 S uses a twin-turbocharged version of the same engine, making 604 horsepower, with, the manufacturer says, a top speed of 172 mph.  Both models send that power to the rear-wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission.  Reviewers say both models offer extraordinary acceleration.  The EPA gives the 57 a rating of 10/16 mpg.

• "With twin-turbo V12s derived from Mercedes' AMG performance wing, power output is a staggering 543 horsepower, and a ludicrous 604 hp for the 57 S. Despite curb weights of approximately 6,000 pounds, both Maybachs are capable of achieving 0-60-mph times of around 5 seconds. Equally impressive is the autobahn-bombing top speed of 155 mph (172 mph for the 57 S)." -- Edmunds
• "It may weigh a few hundred pounds more than a Chevy Suburban, but the Maybach has a power-to-weight ratio better than the Honda S2000 roadster's." -- Car and Driver
• "Acceleration is impressive, not excessive, and it launches with smooth authority--emphasis on "smooth." Just as it should be in a luxury sedan, even a driver's version. - Motor Trend
• "Even more impressive than its 612 peak horsepower is the twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12's 738 pound-feet of torque delivered at a low 2,000 rpm. The 5.5-liter version found in the Maybach 57 and 62 is a little less powerful but every bit as remarkable." -- Kelley Blue Book

Handling and Braking

Reviewers say the Maybach 57 is tuned for a comfortable ride for all passengers, not for aggressive driving.  In sharp cornering, drivers feel all of the car's 6,000-plus pounds.  The brakes, however, offer extraordinary stopping power.

• "What the Maybach 57 does deliver is a quiet and serene ride to its passengers while they bask in one of the most luxurious cabins a lot of money can buy -- and it delivers these traits with ease." -- Edmunds
• "The electrohydraulic brakes are equally adept at mitigating the heft. How does a 70-mph-to-standstill stopping distance of 170 feet grab you? Pretty well, we reckon, since that's a shorter distance than can be achieved by Audi's supersedan, the RS 6, or DaimlerChrysler's own Mercedes E55 AMG (either of which weighs almost a ton less)."-- Car and Driver
• " There's still serious body roll in the top setting [of the adjustable suspension], as the suspension never becomes harsh over rough pavement." -- Motor Trend