Item: Maserati Ghibli
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

This 325bhp mild hybrid certainly provides decent on-road performance and is the most sensible engine option compared with the far thirstier and pricier V6 and V8 alternatives.

Hybrid

Saloon

Do you look at the models of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz and find them all a bit too… common? Well then, Maserati might be up your street.

This Italian car maker has one SUV in its line-up – the Porsche Cayenne-rivalling Levante – but also the Ghibli and Quattroporte saloons, GranTurismo coupé and GranCabrio drop-top.

Despite its long history, Maserati has been through several periods of inactivity but is now in better health thanks to being part of the large Fiat Chrysler Automobiles group.

In the future, we’re expecting to see Maserati grow its SUV range with new models to sit above and below the Levante, as well as a new range-topping sports car.

MASERATI

GHIBLI

This trim level is reserved for the hybrid model and gets you 19in alloys, Xenon headlights, leather seats that are heated in the front, a 10.1in touchscreen infotainment, wireless phone-charging, plus 12-way electrically adjustable front seats with driver’s side memory.

Hybrid GT 4dr Auto

hybrid-gt-4dr-auto

Alpina B5

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Aston Martin Rapide S

Audi A6

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BMW 5 Series

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BMW M5

Bentley Flying Spur

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DS 9

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Maserati Ghibli

Mercedes E-Class

Mercedes S-Class

Porsche Panamera

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

Rolls-Royce Ghost

Rolls-Royce Phantom

Volvo S90

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

Most of Maserati's competitors, including Audi, BMW&nbsp;and Mercedes, offer a plug-in hybrid for similar or less money, making the Ghibli quite a pricey choice in comparison. However, the Ghibli is expected to hold on to its value against <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-best-cars-for-depreciation-and-the-worst/n23009">depreciation</a> as well as all its competitors except the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/review/n17174">Mercedes E-Class</a>.

Sadly, while the official 34.9mpg figure for the hybrid Ghibli is better than its petrol-only stablemates, it can’t get anywhere near the claimed figures of the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) alternatives, which can all provide a useful amount of electric-only driving to reduce running costs.

Not being able to run in an electric-only mode also means that emissions are higher for the Ghibli than for a PHEV. Company car buyers will be pay 37% benefit-in-kind <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-is-company-car-tax-calculated/n22618">(BIK)</a> rate, while if you opt&nbsp;for any of its less expensive plug-in hybrid rivals, you'll be paying a fraction of that.

You can save some money on servicing because the first three are included with all hybrid and V6 models as part of Maserati’s Premium Service Plan.

While <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/maserati">Maserati</a> charges you a lot for the entry-level Ghibli, it’s&nbsp;not stingy with equipment. You get luxuries including leather upholstery, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, wireless phone-charging, xenon headlights, as well as important features such as sat-nav with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring and Bluetooth and USB connection.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> gave the Ghibli the maximum five-star rating, although it’s worth pointing out that it was tested in 2013 under a much less stringent regime. You can add a suite of safety tech, including automatic emergency braking <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">(AEB)</a>, lane keep assistance and blind-spot detection, as part of the Driver Assistance Pack.

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We expect most Ghibli buyers to look&nbsp;towards the model with a hybrid engine, called the GT. What <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/maserati">Maserati</a> means by hybrid is actually a mild-hybrid.&nbsp;The system offers a small boost to the engine when setting off from a stop, but can’t power the car on&nbsp;electricity&nbsp;alone, unlike plug-in hybrid versions of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">BMW 5 Series</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/review/n17174">Mercedes E-Class</a>.

Still, with 325bhp on tap, the part-electric supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine gets the rather hefty Ghibli up to speed in a swift fashion that will please most enthusiastic drivers.

It's worth noting, though, that the&nbsp;5.7sec 0-62mph time is&nbsp;almost matched by the less powerful P300 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/xf/saloon/review/n85">Jaguar XF</a>&nbsp;and isn’t that far ahead of the 530e 5 Series, let alone the 389bhp 545e. The 5 Series should sound a bit more fruity than the rather flat four-cylinder in the Ghibli, too.&nbsp;

If you want your Ghibli to sound and go like a traditional performance saloon, you need one of the petrol V6 versions. Even the less powerful 345bhp one feels quick, helped by an automatic gearbox that responds sharply when you’re using the (optional) paddles.

What lets it down&nbsp;is refinement. It makes the right noises when you rev it, but transmits too much vibration through the floor of the car. Even the hybrid has some issues in this area, with a steady background boom coming from the exhaust at a constant cruise. That's not ideal for long trips.

The Ghibli has&nbsp;three driving modes –&nbsp;called ICE (Increased Control and Efficiency), Normal and Sport – but none of them&nbsp;really fits their billing.

Sport primes the gearbox,&nbsp;weights the steering and, on models with the optional Skyhook damping control, stiffens the dampers to the detriment of ride quality (the Ghibli occasionally skips&nbsp;sideways over ruts mid-bend).

Sadly, softening the dampers in Normal mode doesn't help the ride –&nbsp;the extra breathing space means&nbsp;the body shudders more.&nbsp;The wheels pick up on too many scars in the asphalt too, whereas the 5 Series with adaptive suspension and the XF both have&nbsp;better blends of ride comfort and handling agility.

On the plus side, the steering in the Ghibli is pleasantly precise with a reassuring amount of heft as you turn the wheel, although it could do with being quicker to respond to really fulfil&nbsp;the remit of being a sporty luxury car.

Again, the 5 Series and XF are better in that regard. They feel far more eager to change direction, and are more comfortable being pushed through bends.

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

hybrid

It's not perfect, transmitting vibrations through the floor of the car, but the Ghibli's entry-level petrol engine (if a 345bhp V6 can be called such a thing) sounds great and delivers performance worthy of a sports saloon.

V6 Auto

Given the strong performance of the standard V6 petrol engine (and the fact that it's significantly cheaper) there's no need to upgrade to the 424bhp flagship S model.

Sounds glorious at full chat, but is only suitable for the VERY well-heeled enthusiast.

The Maserati Ghibli&nbsp;proves you can teach an old dog new tricks – its entry-level diesel engine has been replaced with a far greener hybrid one.&nbsp;Not that you'd call this powerful luxury saloon an old dog (although it does have&nbsp;a fine Italian pedigree).

Ditching diesel might seem brave considering that 80% of Ghibli buyers used to opt for one that supped from the black pump, but rivals including Porsche did the same a few years ago&nbsp;and you wouldn't describe them as struggling, would you?

Whether it will be successful for Maserati remains to be seen. It's fair to say that, despite being on sale since 2013, the Ghibli is still far from a common sight on the road, unlike the&nbsp;BMW 5 Series&nbsp;and&nbsp;Mercedes E-Class it's up against. That may be because the Ghibli is priced to compete with high-end versions of those cars.

Alongside the hybrid choice, there are some suitably potent petrol engines filling out the rest of the range. You can have the 345bhp and 424bhp 3.0-litre V6 engines found in the Modena and Modena S models, or – if you're a particularly well-heeled petrolhead –&nbsp;there's the twin-turbo 572bhp 3.8-litre V8 Trofeo.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/maserati">Maserati</a> has made a number of other changes to the model, too. There's now a new infotainment system, extra safety kit&nbsp;and improved sound insulation to help keep it relevant in today’s fiercely competitive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/luxury">luxury car</a> class.

So how does the Maserati Ghibli compare with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">5 Series</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/review/n17174">E-Class</a>&nbsp;and other rivals,&nbsp;and which version is best? This review will answer those questions and more, so read on for our full verdict.

When you do decide which car is right for you, make sure you get it for the best price by using the free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying service</a>. It can help you save thousands of pounds&nbsp;on hundreds of makes and models without any haggling, and has some tempting <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/maserati/ghibli/saloon/deals">Maserati Ghibli deals</a>.

The Maserati Ghibli now comes with a revised 10.1in touchscreen infotainment system that’s a marked improvement over the original one. It's relatively responsive and logically laid out, and the BMW iDrive-style rotary controller and shortcut buttons make the system quick to navigate on the move. You also get the latest smartphone integration, which is a&nbsp;huge bonus.

It's a shame, then, that the materials surrounding it are not so slick. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/maserati">Maserati</a> prides itself on luxuriousness and exclusivity, but too many of the plastics in the Ghibli feel lightweight and rather cheap-feeling in standard GT guise. Pricer Modena and Trofeo versions get extended leather covering the dashboard and door cards that improves matters.

More positively, the driver gets a generous amount of electronic steering wheel and seat adjustment as standard, so most people will be able to find a comfortable driving position.

All Ghiblis are automatics, and the two pedals line up nicely with your right foot. The view forwards is good, but over-the-shoulder vision is less clear because of the car’s high rear end.

You get parking sensors and a rear-view camera as standard, and an upgraded 360-degree system is available with the Driver Assistance Pack Plus package.

Looks swanky and now has a mild-hybrid option, but is off the pace in most other areas.

Two tall adults travelling in the front of a Maserati Ghibli are well looked after. There’ll be no complaints about head, shoulder or leg room, and the generous cubby under the central armrest provides them with good storage. There are deep pockets in the front doors too, but you can't fit a bottle of water in each of them as you can in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">BMW 5 Series</a>.

The rear seats are a different story. Three adults will be a proper squeeze and even two sitting on the outside seats will find leg room tight if those in the front are six-footers.

The Ghibli’s swooping rear window-line means a more claustrophobic experience for adults in the back because it cuts away to the side of their heads. What’s more, the headrests for the outer seats don’t adjust, which is unusual in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/luxury">luxury car</a> class. In short, the 5 Series and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/review/n17174">Mercedes E-Class</a>&nbsp;do a much better job of accommodating&nbsp;their rear passengers.

Those two rivals have better boots, too. The Ghibli’s is slightly smaller on paper and certainly can’t be accessed as easily – the opening is quite narrow and shallow. You get a couple of tie-down hooks, a 12v power outlet and a small bit of netting to the side to hold loose items in place, plus a slim underfloor storage area to hide a laptop in.

Luggage capacity can be increased by pulling a couple of leather straps on the outer edges of the rear seats and pulling them forwards, but the seatbacks don’t lie flat.

If you opt for Modena you get a 345bhp V6 petrol engine along with 20in wheels, LED matrix headlights, adaptive suspension, aluminium pedals and an extended leather package for the interior.

Modena

modena

Modena S gets you the more powerful 424bhp V6, plus a black exterior styling package.

Modena S

modena-s

The Trofeo is the full monty, with the 572bhp V8 and bigger 21in alloys, upgraded brakes, a launch control feature for quicker getaways, plus a full interior leather package.

Trofeo

trofeo

The Maserati Ghibli looks swanky and could be the departure from the norm some buyers seek, especially in V8 Trofeo form. However, the GT Hybrid is off the pace when compared with plug-in hybrid luxury car rivals, which can save you more on company car tax and are mostly less expensive too.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plush ride and the ability to cruise in near-silence </li> <li>Powerful and efficient engine</li> <li>Space for passengers to stretch out in the rear seats</li> <li>Exquisite materials and build quality</li> <li>Endless luxuries on the options list</li> <li>Sensible fuel and tax bills</li></ul>

If you’re in the market for a luxury car, you’ll be after a sumptuous interior, a ride that can soak up the worst of the UK’s pockmarked roads and supreme refinement that allows you to travel at speed in near-silence.

Your cheapest (and smallest) options are the Audi A6, Mercedes E-Class and brilliant BMW 5 Series, the latter of which is so good we voted it our 2017 Car of the Year. Larger options that are definitely worth considering if you plan to travel in the back include the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 and the Mercedes S-Class, which is beautifully finished inside and not as expensive to run as you might think.

Or if money really is no object at all, the Rolls-Royce Ghost is hard to overlook – especially in extended-wheelbase form. It’s as opulent as cars get.

Maserati Ghibli review

Introduction

What Car? says...