2018 Maserati Ghibli Road Test and Review

Maserati’s rich heritage, steeped in motorsport successes and Italian flair, is the bedrock of its aspirational brand. Though few luxury car buyers know the specifics of the company’s past, most esteem the trident badge above the ranks of Germany’s premium marques: BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi. However, despite its well-regarded position, Maserati vehicles sell in paltry numbers compared to “lesser” luxury manufacturers. A relatively small dealer network and limited model range are in part to blame, but there’s a larger issue: Maserati is terrible at self-promotion. Ad placements in select luxury publications aren’t sufficient to attract a large number of affluent consumers. Maserati needs resources — and it might finally have them.

Now headquartered near its parent company, Fiat Chrysler automobiles (FCA), Maserati is being nurtured for growth. Product improvements, new models, expanded trims, and broader promotion are all part of the plan. To gauge the Italian brand’s progress, Autobytel traveled to Michigan for some seat time in the updated 2018 Maserati Ghibli S Q4. Here’s what we learned.

The 2018 model year Maserati Ghibli receives its first round of updates since it was introduced in 2013. Styling tweaks include revised front and rear fascias, new wheel designs, and LED headlights. Other changes include new active driver assist features and a bump in power for the S and S Q4 models, along with an electric power steering system for all Ghibli variants. Maserati now offers GranLusso (luxury) and GranSport (performance) versions of the Ghibli with specialized enhancements.

What could loosely be described as a shrunken Quattroporte (Maserati’s full-size luxury sedan), the Ghibli is drop-dead gorgeous from most angles. At the front, a sculpted hood dips low over the front wheel arches to meet a hexagonal grille with vertical slats and a Trident badge at its midpoint. Elegant LED matrix headlights with LED daytime running lights add menace to the Ghibli’s expression. GranLusso models wear chrome trim along the lower front bumper, while GranSport versions don a unique lower mold with larger air intakes. 

In profile, Maserati’s signature tri-port garnish is visible behind the front wheel arches. Standard 19-inch Poseidon aluminum wheels can be upgraded to 20-inch Urano aluminum designs with the GranSport package. A notched C-pillar features another Trident badge in bright chrome. A defined character line visually raises the sedan’s haunches for a poised stance. The Ghibli’s rear end is its least alluring angle. LED taillights and prominent quad exhaust ports (on S models) offer some intrigue, but a bulbous trunk lid and unremarkable rump feel out of line with the vehicle’s otherwise handsome design language.

Like the exterior, the Ghibli's interior aesthetic is largely stunning — with a few small oversights. Sumptuous leather seats are available with Ermenegildo Zegna Silk trim (GranLusso) or improved bolstering (GranSport). 12-way front-seat power adjustment and heating come standard, with ventilation included as part of the GranLusso trim. Trident badges are embroidered on the headrests. A black leather steering wheel with brushed metal trim features perforated notches for natural hand placement at 9 and 3. Though a bit large in diameter, the wheel feels superb. An analog speedometer and tachometer bookend a digital TFT screen that shows media and telemetry information. Duo-tone leather covers the dashboard, door trim, and center console for an upscale atmosphere.

Rear-seat riders experience less lavish accommodations. Without an available panoramic sunroof, the dark headliner and large C-pillar make the rear cabin feel slightly claustrophobic. Full-size adults have enough leg and headroom, but they’ll no doubt long for the front passenger seat on the next journey. In terms of utility, 17.7 cubic feet of trunk space is right on par for the mid-size luxury sedan segment.

All versions of the Ghibli use a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, but while the base model makes do with “only” 345 horsepower, S-badged sedans crank out a generous 424 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission funnels power to the rear wheels (standard) or all four wheels (Q4 trims). Our Ghibli S Q4 tester rockets to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and tops out at a lofty 177 mph. Never does the Ghibli feel in need of power, and a brilliant transmission finds the right gear faster than a manual operator ever could.

Fuel economy is never the strength of high-performance vehicles, and the Ghibli S Q4 is no exception. 16 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 19 mpg combined is fairly rapid consumption, but at least that fuel turns to power in a thrilling way. Furthermore, the Ghibli has a 21-gallon fuel tank to extend fill-up intervals.

The best engine in the world is useless without a way to get the power down. Thankfully, Maserati is well versed in high-performance concoctions. A rigid chassis, limited slip rear differential, adaptive dampers, beefy brakes, and grippy all-season tires carefully extract the Ghibli S Q4’s output. We would have loved to flog the Ghibli around Michigan’s M1 Concourse to properly test its limits, but rain-soaked roads told us plenty about the sedan’s maneuverability with limited traction. The rear-biased all-wheel drive system favors oversteer to front-end plow, but keeping the Ghibli in line is no great struggle — even in the wet. Full pegs of the throttle translate to forward momentum rather than side-step dances. Braking performance is equally impressive, and Maserati's new electronic steering system operates quickly and smoothly.

At a more leisurely pace, the Ghibli remains satisfying. A quiet cabin and supple ride complement progressive power delivery to facilitate premium cruising. There’s no escaping the burbling exhaust note and popping overrun, but that’s half the fun of driving a Maserati.

Sharing parts with other FCA products is a blessing and a curse. Some chintzy buttons and switches within the cabin feel out of place on a luxury product, but high-tech safety and convenience features overshadow any disappointment. Chrysler’s 8.4-inch infotainment system finds its way into the Ghibli's center stack, retaining its ease of use and advanced functionality. A Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, multiple USB connection points, and an available 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system are among the Ghibli’s tech highlights, but we’d also like to see a head-up display and wireless phone charging on the options list.

Standard safety features include front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, a backup camera, and LED DRLs. Additional driver aids like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, a forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, a surround-view camera, traffic sign recognition, and pedestrian detection are available as part of a package.

The 2018 Maserati Ghibli starts at $75,275, including a $1,495 destination charge. Our S Q4 tester retails for $83,555. Either GranLusso or GranSport trims on top of the S Q4 trim bump the price tag to $89,115. In addition to the aforementioned standard features, the S Q4 includes dual-zone automatic climate control, Sirius XM radio, Bluetooth, remote ignition, keyless access and starting, a sunroof, and extended leather with contrast stitching. GranLusso models add open-pore Radica wood trim, soft-close doors, a heated steering wheel, laminated rear windows, a hands-free power trunk, and 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. GranSport models instead feature high gloss piano black trim.

Standalone options for the S Q4 include Pieno Fiore natural leather upholstery, Alcantara headliner and pillars, power adjustable foot pedals, and exterior carbon fiber accents. Meanwhile, a driver assistance package (detailed on the last page) costs $1,590. A climate package ($550) adds rear heated seats, a power rear sunblind, and heated windshield washer nozzles. The interior carbon fiber package ($1,090) substitutes the lightweight material for the Ghibli’s shift paddles, door sills, steering wheel, and trim panels. The nerissimo ($1090) and nerissimo carbon ($3,390) packages outfit the Ghibli’s exterior in black painted or carbon fiber details.

Highs:
- A phenomenal transmission with rapid gear changes and high-quality shift paddles
- Premium details inside and out to make the Ghibli stand apart
- Thrilling acceleration and nimble handling
- Provocative exterior design demands attention

Lows:
- Some cheaper buttons and interior trim pieces are pulled from Chrysler vehicles
- The rear cabin feels cramped (even if it isn’t)

The mid-size luxury sedan segment is extensive, but buyers considering the Maserati Ghibli S Q4 are probably shopping the BMW M550i xDrive, Mercedes-AMG E43, and Porsche Panamera S as alternatives.

Among these models, only the BMW utilizes a V8 engine (twin-turbocharged at that). Two extra cylinders buy the M550i the most power of the bunch, at 456 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. With its all-wheel drive system, the BMW is quickest to 60 mph, too, with a blistering 3.9-second sprint. The last bee in BMW’s bonnet is its 19 cubic feet of trunk space (marginally better than the Porsche and Maserati). Meanwhile, despite producing 440 hp from its twin-turbo V6, the Panamera is by far the most efficient of the group, with 23 mpg in mixed driving. Even the Mercedes-AMG E43 gets a small victory in the form of a low starting price ($72,995).

The 2018 Maserati Ghibli S Q4 faces intense competition from other premium brands, and despite its improvements for 2018, a spec sheet comparison doesn’t give the Italian sedan an edge in any one category.

However, like the larger Maserati brand, there’s something intangibly superior about the Ghibli. The look, handcrafted details, and invigorating sound may not translate to an empirical victory, but swooning onlookers and envious neighbors aren’t likely to care — all they see is that Trident badge.