2018 Maserati Ghibli S GranSport new car review
- Sharp looks.
- Iconic heritage.
- Feel-good factor.
- Not particularly quick.
- Questionable value.
- FCA reliability.
What is it?
The fastest, sharpest version of Maserati’s compact sedan – a twin-turbocharged, performance-oriented “GranSport” version of the powerful Ghibli S.
How much does it cost and what do you get?
Priced from $195,990 plus on-road costs, the Ghibli S GranSport stands tall at the top of its family tree. Positioned $57,000 clear of the entry-level diesel model, the Ghibli S features a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre engine with 321kW of power, driving the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Ghibli S models offer a reasonably impressive set of standard specifications including an 8.4-inch central infotainment screen with sat nav, a reversing camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a suite of driver aids including autonomous emergency braking, active cruise control, lane keeping and blind sport assistance, along with traffic sign recognition.
The $20,000 GranSport treatment brings sports suspension, 21-inch wheels, adaptive LED headlights, sharper-looking bumpers, a Harmon/Kardon stereo, heated seats and a sportier steering wheel and pedal combination.
What’s it like inside?
The Ghibli’s cabin features attractive styling, solid ergonomics and the sort of design details you might expect from the brand – massive metal gearshift paddles, an oval-shaped clock and beautifully rendered instruments are present and correct. Digital displays include a 7-inch unit in the driver’s instrument cluster and a large 8.4-inch central infotainment screen commonly found in more affordable elements of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles family.
Maserati’s 12-way power adjustable driver’s seat is a comfortable place to perch, and its extended leather interior feels genuinely luxurious.
More than adequate room in the front and rear meets a surprisingly spacious bootlid with a powered release function that feels a little silly on a low-slung sedan.
What’s under the bonnet?
Lift the lid on the Ghibli and you’ll find an attractive engine bay blending modern plastic elements with old-school cool in metal rocker covers emblazoned with the brand’s iconic script.
Prod the starter button and the Ghibli wakes with a somewhat muted growl, before settling into a docile idle. Our time with the GranSport was met at either end by a loan of Maserati’s equivalent Levante S SUV and BMW’s latest M5 sedan. The former makes the sedan sound a little too hushed when pressing on, while BMW’s similarly-priced sledgehammer reveals how far ahead the competition has progressed in the performance stakes.
Maserati’s claimed 0-100km/h dash of 4.9 seconds lags well behind the supercar-baiting three-point-wow times of German rivals which offer richer soundscapes to boot. Driven in isolation, the Ghibli S feels brisk if not truly rapid, held back somewhat by a reasonably heavy kerb weight and oppressive Bosch-sourced traction control system.
The engine sounds a touch flat, even when approaching its 6500rpm redline, and its solid mid-range punch is let down by a lack of fury at the top end of the tacho.
Then again, the Ghibli’s preferred environment isn’t a white-knuckle ride on the Nurburgring or furious a mid-afternoon run strobing high-beams at slower traffic on the autobahn - situations Australian owners are unlikely to replicate.
What’s it like to drive?
We drove the Ghibli during the metro rat race, to dinner at an excellent Italian restaurant and for a relaxed Sunday drive outside Sydney’s rat race. The sports sedan impressed on all three stages, blending comfort with a certain level of panache no doubt welcomed by supporters of the brand. Quiet and composed for the most part – even if its ride is a touch stiff around town – the Ghibli does a reasonable impression of a refined European luxury car when on the move.
It’s more convincing as a cruiser than a performance car, hampered by new electric steering with little of the immediacy found in key rivals, along with Brembo brakes shared with the rest of the range that can feel imprecise at times.
A minor complaint surrounds a tendency for Maserati’s tight limited-slip differential to chatter under throttle during low speed manoeuvring. Even so, the Ghibli S GranSport is the best driver’s car in its clan, adding a degree of focus sorely lacking in lesser models which feel woolly and underpowered when pressing on.
Is it safe?
The Ghibli’s strong frame and impressive suite of driver aids should keep you out of harm’s way.
Would I buy it?
Honestly? No, the Ghibli isn’t for me. Partly because you can buy a (much) better sports sedan for $200,000, and partly because the brand doesn’t call to me in the same way rivals do. Blame the brand’s utterly anonymous presence in the 1990s, when German performance marques cemented their place as the default option for powerful sports sedans.
What else should I consider?
Italian car lovers should consider the Alfa Romeo Giulia QV, a faster and far more dynamic alternative that might not quite match the Maserati’s badge appeal.
This sort of money will comfortably get you behind the wheel of a soon-to-be-upgraded Mercedes-AMG C63 S or the latest BMW M5. The head says BMW’s much quicker, more refined and technically advanced machine is the way to go. But some hearts will not be able to resist the pull of one of the most iconic brands on the road.
2018 Maserati Ghibli S GranSport specifications
Price: From $195,990 plus on-road costs
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol
Power: 321kW at 5500-6500rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 2250-4000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel-drive
Fuel use:13.8 L/100km