Until the late 90s, the concept of the SUV didn't even exist. But today, these big boys are redefining comfort and excellence among automobiles. With robust engines and luxurious interiors, they compromise in neither performance nor luxury. Two constant and ever-evolving members of the list of most luxurious SUVs in the world include the Bentley Bentayga Extended Wheelbase and Mercedes-Maybach GLS.

The Bentley Bentayga has a luxurious design, but that doesn't mean it compromises its speed or performance in any way it is one of the fastest luxury SUVs in the world. Now to amp up the luxury and convenience, Bentley has launched its Extended Wheelbase version. Derived from the original design of the Bentley Bentayga, this design includes several enhancements and design changes, but most importantly, an increase in length.

The Mercedes-Maybach GLS along with the Rolls Royce Cullinan is one of the few SUVs that can compete with the Bentley Bentayga when it comes to both luxury and performance. The Merc's initial design is based on the Mercedes-Benz GLS, but the visuals have been modified to create a variant that puts it at the epitome of opulence. The luxury quotient for this car is ramped up and so are the ergonomics. This face-off is going to be a close one, but there won't be a dearth of luxury, for sure!

Bentley Bentayga EWB and Mercedes-Maybach GLS engage in an "extended" battle for luxury supremacy.

Bentley Bentayga EWB: Pushing The Limits Of Luxury-On-Wheels

2023 Bentley-Bentayga-extended-wheelbase front third quarter view
Via: Bentley
 

The influence of the initial Bentley Bentayga and the Mulsanne limousine can be seen very clearly in the design of the Bentley Bentayga EWB. As the name suggests, the 7-inch increase in the wheelbase is in the rear doors of the car and is more on the account of increasing the comfort of the passengers while not sacrificing the aerodynamics of the design. The rear doors come with a power closing mechanism. To add to its bashful design, the car is provided with a 22-inch 10-spoke polished wheel.

Bentley Bentayga EWB interior dashboard view
Via: Bentley

The interior is kept mostly like the original design except for the seating arrangement and some other changes. The long-wheelbase comes with the 4+1 seater option and gives you five-seat configurations if the armrests are folded down. Other adjustments made to the seats include the automatic posture adjustment, center armrests, automatic seat temperature sensors, and heated doors, all very highly luxurious options. All of this and more is included in what Bentley says is better-than-first-class airline seat specification.

Related: Here's Everything You Need To Know About The 2022 Bentley Bentayga

Mercedes-Maybach GLS: Prioritizes Comfort And Performance

Mercedes-Maybach GLS SUV, red, front quarter, parked infront of building
Via: Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Maybach GLS, unlike most SUVs, gives you the option of choosing the color and wheel combination of your automobile, but on the flip side, choosing the wrong color palette can destroy the aesthetic of the design. The external design mostly consists of a honeycomb stacked between aluminum plates giving it the necessary sturdiness expected from an SUV while maintaining its prowess for high performance and acceleration.

Mercedes-Maybach GLS interior dashboard layout view
Via: Mercedes-Benz

Some of its most notable external features which give the car its very signature aesthetic include the rear windows with default privacy glass tint, panoramic sunroof, 22-inch high gloss black alloy wheels with a high sheen finish, and LED headlights and anodized aluminum side steps with rubber grips and lights. The Maybach weighs slightly lighter than your signature SUV but the added luxury elements both on the internal and external design bring up the weight. Some very effective safety measures include crash sensors, multiple airbags, and ABS.

Related: How The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 Stacks Up Against The Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Bentley Bentayga Extended Wheelbase Vs Mercedes-Maybach GLS: Performance Face-Off

Bentley Bentayga EWB front third quarter accelerating view
Via: Bentley

The Bentley Bentayga EWB with its 4.4-liter engine is one of the fastest SUVs in the world, thanks to Bentley's excellence in making fast cars. The electric motor along with the V8 engine can accelerate to a speed of 100 MPH in 4.6 seconds.

The engine design is kept very similar to the standard Bentley Bentayga. Some of the modifications that are made mainly include the enhancements based on the Bentley Dynamic ride which are aimed at increasing the efficiency of the system and also decreasing the noise made by the engine. The car can hit a top speed of 180MPH.

Mercedes-Maybach GLS front third quarter accelerating view
Mercedes-Benz

The Mercedes Maybach GLS has a twin-turbo V8 engine and has performance that is excellent for this type of engine. The 4.0-liter engine can go from 0-60 MPH in 4.8 seconds. The power of the engine is transferred equally to the four wheels through the nine-speed automatic transmission technology and does so with effortless precision and ease.

The 538 lb-ft peak torque engine is powerful and durable pushing the engine to a power of 550 hp which is way more than regular SUVs and a performance only a few SUVs can match. The Maybach GLS can hit a top speed of 130 mph with ease.

Related: The 600-HP 2022 BMW Alpina XB7 Is A True Luxury SUV Speed Demon

Bentley Bentayga EWB Vs Mercedes-Maybach GLS: Final Verdict

Bentley Bentayga EWB and Mercedes-Maybach GLS front view side-by-side comparison
Via: Bentley, Mercedes-Benz

To sum it all up, the Bentley Bentayga EWB is Bentley's way of offering its premium SUV a lot more usability for the common folk. By offering class and comfort to its standard version which already boasts high performance and luxury styling, Bentley has done a great job in sticking to the basics and doing them right for the EWB version of Bentayga.

Bentley Bentayga EWB and Mercedes-Maybach GLS side view comparison
Via: Bentley, Mercedes-Benz

On the other hand, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS is the benchmark for luxury SUVs with its dynamic styling and extraordinary comfort. Compared to the GLS, the Bentayga EWB lags in terms of luxury and comfort but boasts superior performance and thus making this battle for the crown of luxury SUVs a bit more interesting.

Sources: Bentleymedia.com, Media.mbusa.com