Comparison tests 2016 Bentley Mulsanne Speed vs. 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600

[Merc1]

Can they be ordered with the kind of color options that you get on a Bentley/ Rolls? I have not seen them on a configurator yet, but I would think there could be a way with the designo versions.

Of course not. The S600 Maybach is still a mass production model, whereas the Bentley can be ordered with all kinds of extras not offered on the Benz.

M

 

[Rolf]

A truly disappointing comparison test from MT, they give no particular reason why the Bentley won this head to head. Also I think the Mulsanne is probably not the best rival for the Maybach from Bentley range the Flying Spur from a price, performance and size perspective would have been better suited.

As for this MT comparison only reason I see the Mulsanne winning is probably due to its more exclusive looking interior and some exquisite details like the mega expensive iPad folding tables and also ice cooler for the champagne. The Maybach has more space, more relaxing seats, is quieter and has better ride comfort.

I still feel the Maybach will sell well due to its supreme space and comfort especially in China where they like to be chauffeured. It will appeal to different people than the Bentley.

 

[SDNR]

A truly disappointing comparison test from MT, they give no particular reason why the Bentley won this head to head. Also I think the Mulsanne is probably not the best rival for the Maybach from Bentley range the Flying Spur from a price, performance and size perspective would have been better suited.

As for this MT comparison only reason I see the Mulsanne winning is probably due to its more exclusive looking interior and some exquisite details like the mega expensive iPad folding tables and also ice cooler for the champagne. The Maybach has more space, more relaxing seats, is quieter and has better ride comfort.

I still feel the Maybach will sell well due to its supreme space and comfort especially in China where they like to be chauffeured. It will appeal to different people than the Bentley.

Well of course you are correct the Mercedes-Maybach will out sell the Bentley .....but that is simply because the Mercedes is essentially a production-line luxury product whereas the Bentley is bespoke.

With respect, you seem to be missing the point - the Mercedes certainly is the superior vehicle if we are simply comparing numbers ......but this the problem for Mercedes: the S class offers every conceivable amenity with outstanding performance, superb quality, and state-of-the-art technology .......but it lacks character, uniqueness, and the elite taste of the Bentley Mulsanne.

In short, the Bentley offers an emotional experience whereas the Mercedes is entirely grounded in the "real world" .....like the old Maybach 57/62, it caters to every physical comfort but it doesn't exactly inspire with its "mass market" aesthetics.

The Bentley will always have less "mass appeal" ........very few people really live in the kind of rarified world the Bentley is intended for - it's not so much a matter of wealth (because there are more people than ever who can afford these cars), its a matter of taste.

 

[Wunderkind]

A truly disappointing comparison test from MT, they give no particular reason why the Bentley won this head to head. Also I think the Mulsanne is probably not the best rival for the Maybach from Bentley range the Flying Spur from a price, performance and size perspective would have been better suited.

As for this MT comparison only reason I see the Mulsanne winning is probably due to its more exclusive looking interior and some exquisite details like the mega expensive iPad folding tables and also ice cooler for the champagne. The Maybach has more space, more relaxing seats, is quieter and has better ride comfort.

I still feel the Maybach will sell well due to its supreme space and comfort especially in China where they like to be chauffeured. It will appeal to different people than the Bentley.

The Bentley won because it felt "better".......................

 

[empower77]

A truly disappointing comparison test from MT, they give no particular reason why the Bentley won this head to head. Also I think the Mulsanne is probably not the best rival for the Maybach from Bentley range the Flying Spur from a price, performance and size perspective would have been better suited.

As for this MT comparison only reason I see the Mulsanne winning is probably due to its more exclusive looking interior and some exquisite details like the mega expensive iPad folding tables and also ice cooler for the champagne. The Maybach has more space, more relaxing seats, is quieter and has better ride comfort.

I still feel the Maybach will sell well due to its supreme space and comfort especially in China where they like to be chauffeured. It will appeal to different people than the Bentley.

I am not sure I agree. In countries like India and China where status symbols are a big deal; assuming that the pricing of the Maybach is very similar to the continental; I highly doubt a buyer would choose that over the Bentley. Then again, buyers of such cars are usually hoarders; meaning they buy multiple # of cars and it is not uncommon for them to have a fleet of ultra luxury cars in their stable.

 

[SDNR]

I am not sure I agree. In countries like India and China where status symbols are a big deal; assuming that the pricing of the Maybach is very similar to the continental; I highly doubt a buyer would choose that over the Bentley. Then again, buyers of such cars are usually hoarders; meaning they buy multiple # of cars and it is not uncommon for them to have a fleet of ultra luxury cars in their stable.

Honestly, for a new (high luxury) market like China, they are more likely to be impressed by the initial impression of the Maybach interior.

As the reviewer astutely noted "when you spend enough time in both, the quality of the materials in the Bentley truly starts to impress."

The Mercedes will more than impress most people .....I see it all the time on the net, people constantly say the interior of the Benz is better than the Bentley. Without wanting to sound pretentious, the truth is most people are not overly familiar with really high quality products ......I'm talking about the difference between an Armani fashion suit and a made-to-measure one from Caraceni ....or in the case of Bentley, a British tailor like Henry Poole.

Luxury is a fascinating concept, I have a personal fascination with how luxury is marketed. So many luxury products are superficial and overrated and rely heavily on clever marketting.
I think some of Bentley's branding strategies are a little questionable; their furniture collection is dreadful bordering on tacky ......but the Mulsanne is magnificent (although I have to say I do not particularly like the design of those champaign flutes).

The Mercedes-Maybach is a first class product that perfectly expresses Mercedes ethos. Mercedes would never build a car like the Bentley because it's simply not what they do. Bentley is a niche producer that is entirely dedicated to the high-luxury market .....Mercedes is not.

 

[empower77]

Honestly, for a new (high luxury) market like China, they are more likely to be impressed by the initial impression of the Maybach interior.

As the reviewer astutely noted "when you spend enough time in both, the quality of the materials in the Bentley truly starts to impress."

The Mercedes will more than impress most people .....I see it all the time on the net, people constantly say the interior of the Benz is better than the Bentley. Without wanting to sound pretentious, the truth is most people are not overly familiar with really high quality products ......I'm talking about the difference between an Armani fashion suit and a made-to-measure one from Caraceni ....or in the case of Bentley, a British tailor like Henry Poole.

Luxury is a fascinating concept, I have a personal fascination with how luxury is marketed. So many luxury products are superficial and overrated and rely heavily on clever marketting.
I think some of Bentley's branding strategies are a little questionable; their furniture collection is dreadful bordering on tacky ......but the Mulsanne is magnificent (although I have to say I do not particularly like the design of those champaign flutes).

The Mercedes-Maybach is a first class product that perfectly expresses Mercedes ethos. Mercedes would never build a car like the Bentley because it's simply not what they do. Bentley is a niche producer that is entirely dedicated to the high-luxury market .....Mercedes is not.

While I understand what you say; people with that level of wealth do not typically care about the craftsmanship or level of comfort or electronic gizmos. They go with the brand equity and try to one-up their peers; so if my neighbor has a fully loaded S600; I will get a flying spur V8 since Bentley > S class...

 

[SDNR]

While I understand what you say; people with that level of wealth do not typically care about the craftsmanship or level of comfort or electronic gizmos. They go with the brand equity and try to one-up their peers; so if my neighbor has a fully loaded S600; I will get a flying spur V8 since Bentley > S class...

I think you are absolutely correct .......there are very few true Connoisseurs. Sadly many buyers are more attracted to the status of the product rather than a true appreciation of it.
@Merc1 has spoken several times about his impressions of the Mulsanne's interior, not everybody is as perceptive as he is to what makes the Bentley so special and exceptional.

Remember this video http://www.germancarforum.com/threads/bentley-mulsanne.30393/page-26#post-741676

The mechanic is very enthusiastic about the extraordinary way the Mulsanne is engineered.

 

[DjordjeC63]

I am not sure I agree. In countries like India and China where status symbols are a big deal; assuming that the pricing of the Maybach is very similar to the continental; I highly doubt a buyer would choose that over the Bentley. Then again, buyers of such cars are usually hoarders; meaning they buy multiple # of cars and it is not uncommon for them to have a fleet of ultra luxury cars in their stable.

Chinese like long cars and Mercedes, so guess which one is bulls-eye?

 

[Bucketslash11]

A truly disappointing comparison test from MT, they give no particular reason why the Bentley won this head to head. Also I think the Mulsanne is probably not the best rival for the Maybach from Bentley range the Flying Spur from a price, performance and size perspective would have been better suited.

As for this MT comparison only reason I see the Mulsanne winning is probably due to its more exclusive looking interior and some exquisite details like the mega expensive iPad folding tables and also ice cooler for the champagne. The Maybach has more space, more relaxing seats, is quieter and has better ride comfort.

I still feel the Maybach will sell well due to its supreme space and comfort especially in China where they like to be chauffeured. It will appeal to different people than the Bentley.

i think there is also a bias in this review

i've seen youtube commenters and MT commenters noticing that whenever there's a mercedes involved liebermann would always pick it as the winner or praise it to no end

once again, this is what other people have noticed

 

[Wunderkind]

The Maybach launch event for Hong Kong will be held next Friday. I will be going to check it out.

Personally, I'd love a S500 Maybach. It is 95% of a S600 Maybach 99.5% of the time and uses much less fuel. Pity I don't have a chaffeur : )

 

[Sovereign]

It is a very simple proposition for me...that is..my head says Mercedes Maybach as it is definitely a superior PRODUCT but my heart says Bentley because it stir my emotions.

And I think Mercedes played it very safe this time with the right strategy. The name Maybach give it some exclusivity although not as strong as the Bentley nameplate. But the price difference of almost $110000 and the aspect of being low keyed at the same time give Mercedes quite an advantage in markets where Bentley is a recognizable name such as North America or Europe. However in many parts of the world Mercedes doesn't even need Maybach name, because it is considered almost as prestigious a brand as Rolls Royce.

I hope one day Maybach would be a bespoke Mercedes. The problem with the above article is that its writing doesn't give strong enough arguments for Bentley. The only argument and a very strong one against Mercedes Maybach is that you can have 80-90% of the same vehicle in the guise of Mercedes S350.

 

[SKY]

The review says the same I said when the MB was introduced. The S600 Maybach should be more than a longer W222 with more expensive rear seats. It should be different from the outside and the inside.

 

[SDNR]

The review says the same I said when the MB was introduced. The S600 Maybach should be more than a longer W222 with more expensive rear seats. It should be different from the outside and the inside.

You mean like the Maybach 57/62?

To be honest, I'm not sure Mercedes-benz buyers are really demanding a serious Rolls-Royce Phantom competitor.

 

[SKY]

You mean like the Maybach 57/62?

To be honest, I'm not sure Mercedes-benz buyers are really demanding a serious Rolls-Royce Phantom competitor.

Rather the same differentiation that exists with respect to the S-Class Coupe.