What is it like to drive a Maserati Ghibli 2021?

What’s new for 2021?

The Maserati Ghibli will receive a neat little update for 2021. This includes a new “tuning fork” grille design and a “boomerang” taillight design that borrows from the brand’s ethnic breeding heritage. There’s also a standard 10.1-inch Maserati Intelligent assistant infotainment system.

The things we like

• Exotic style

• Large digging note

• You can tell you are driving a Maserati

What we don’t have

• Performance is just fine

• Subpar interior quality is for its price

• High entry fee for V-8 engine

• There is no value

How much?

$ 74,390 to $ 109,890

Fuel economy

The 2021 Maserati Ghibli has two Ferrari engines available: a 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged and a 3.8-liter V8 turbocharged. All Ghibli have an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard rear wheel drive (RWD). You get full wheel drive (AWD) on model S Q4. The Ghibli base and the S model achieved a fuel economy rating of 17 cities / 25 highways / 20 mpg combined. In the Q4 S model, all three numbers drop by 1 mpg. If you upgrade to the V8, fuel economy will drop to 13 cities / 20 highways / 16 mpg combined.

You may also like to read: The 2021 BMW 8 Series is a strong combination of power and suppleness

The V6-powered Ghibli base produces 345 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Upgrading to the S model increases those numbers to 424 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque. Finally, the V8-powered Trofeo model delivers 580 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque.

Custom features and options

The 2021 Maserati Ghibli is available in four different trims; Ghibli, Ghibli S, Ghibli S Q4, and Ghibli Trofeo. All models except the S Q4 model are equipped with standard rear wheel drive with all wheel drive.

The base Ghibli ($ 74,390) usually comes with 19-inch wheels, dual-xenon lights, power sunroof, leather seats, heated front seats, 10.1-inch Maserati Intelligent Assistant infotainment system with navigation, Android Auto, and Apple AAPL,
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CarPlay, SiriusXM, backup camera, front and rear parking sensors, and blind spot warning.

There are two trim packs available for the Ghibli; GranLusso ($ 81,890) and GranSport ($ 81,890). GranLusso emphasizes luxury by adding chrome front fascia inserts, silk and leather cover, heated and ventilated front seats, heated black and wood leather steering wheel, fully adjustable LED headlights with high assist -beam, 10-speaker Harman / Kardon audio, and glossy black brake calipers.

GranSport trim adds a more fun look and feel with a unique front and rear sport fascia, 20-inch wheels, brake calipers with sleek red paint, Skyhook performance suspension with electronic damage, 12-way power front sports sets, leather sports guide black wheel heater with aluminum paddle bearings, high-beam assisted full-beam LED headlights, and a 10-speaker Harman / Kardon headphone jack.

An Ghibli S. ($ 79,390) is equipped in the same way as the base model, but upgrades the performance with 424 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque. Like the basics, the GranLusso ($ 86,190) and GranSport ($ 86,190) are available with the same equipment as well as a performance upgrade.

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An Ghibli S Q4 ($ 81,890) pretty much the same as the S model, but with an additional AWD it takes 0-60 mph time a bit faster and draws all weather better. The GranLusso ($ 88,680) and GranSport Trims ($ 88,690) are also available at this rate.

Finally, at the top of the Ghibli model range is the Trofeo ($ 109,890). This is the only Ghibli available with the turbocharged V-8 engine that produces 580 hp. Other equipment in addition to what you will find in the lower trims includes 21-inch wheels, special leather sets with different stitching, carbon fiber interior trim, black leather sport steering wheel with heating, Harman / Kardon 10-speaker headphones, Inox sports pedals, and LED headlights.

Safety

Maserati Ghibli 2021 was not rated for safety by the National Administration for Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA), but the Insurance Institute for Road Safety (IIHS) gave it the highest rating of “Good” in all accident categories.

Standard security technology on all 2021 Ghibli includes a rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, and blind spot warning. Additional available safety technology includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, maintenance-assisted truck evacuation warning, and adaptive control with a semiautonomous active driving support system.

Behind the wheel

The 2021 Maserati Ghibli is a capable sports sedan that is enjoyable to drive in every trim. That said, we judge the car based on its brand heritage and price tag compared to competitors at the same price in the world of luxury car. By those standards, the performance of the Ghibli is just fine. The turbocharged V-6 engine has a pretty satisfying growth, but out of the way, it’s only moderately good to drive compared to the likes of the Audi S6 or one of the AMG versions of the E-Class Mercedes-Benz.

The S model with more performance is more fun than the base and the V8-powered Trofeo certainly turns up the heat, but for a European sports sedan with a six-digit price tag, it falls short of power high, high-priced competitors.

The story is similar when it comes to inner renewal; just ok for its class and price tag. Competitive interiors offer a more affordable experience, often with more tech driver support features available at lower price points.

At the end of the day, the main features of the Ghibli are the style, sound, and brand panache. If these are your top priorities and you have a generous budget, the Ghibli will be happy. If you are looking for better value, better performance, or better interiors, do some cross-shopping with its competitors.

Other cars to consider

2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio—The Giulia sedan is smaller than the Ghibli, but let’s hear. The high-performance Quadrifoglio has a starting price very similar to the base price of the Ghibli and delivers 505 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds. That makes it faster than the Ghibli Trofeo. Choose wisely.

Related: What is it like to drive an Alfa Romeo Giulia 2021

2021 E-Clas Mercedes-Benz—The high-performance AMG models of the midsize Mercedes-Benz E-Class compete in a similar range to the Maserati Ghibli. The E-Class is a full-fledged luxury sedan with a combination of performance and luxury that few can match.

2021 BMW Series 5—The M550i and M5 versions are comparable to the Maserati Ghibli, but in fact they deliver stronger performance and a more luxurious interior. The style of the Series 5 is a bit quieter than the more remote Maserati, so that’s right for you according to your priorities.

2021 Audi S6– The fun version of the Audi midsize sedan is similar in price to the Ghibli, but you get 444 hp and standard AWD with the Audi. The S6 has arguably the best interior in its competitive class – yes, even better than the Maserati.

2021 Cadillac CT5-V – The Cadillac CT5-V is an American choice in midsize sports sedans. This is a value option with a starting price of under $ 50k and its twin-turbo V6 makes a bit more power than the V6 in the Ghibli base. If you’re willing to wait for model year 2022, the CT5-V Blackwing will do a lot more power than the Ghibli Trofeo for much less money.

Use Maserati Quattroporte – Used examples of the famous Maserati sedan are available at prices similar to new Ghibli while offering a more luxurious experience and more space with the same engine options.

See: Restyled 2021 Maserati Quattroporte offers a robust new performance model

Porsche Panamera used – Available as a sedan or vehicle, the Porsche POAHY,
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Panamera is one of the best executions yet of the four-door luxury sports car. It does not affect luxury or performance; it delivers great help of both without cutting corners. New Panamera can be incredibly expensive with options, but better examples are better value.

Use Audi S8– The “D4” generation of the Audi S8 which ended in 2018 is becoming a real sedan bargain on the used market. Its twin-turbo V8 is like a monster and its high-tech interior pampers the driver and passengers together as they move very fast.

Autotrader Advice

The Maserati Ghibli 2021 has strong switches, but it’s a tough value proposition. Yes, this is the most budget-friendly car in the Maserati line, but it simply doesn’t stand up to competitors who are faster, smarter and more affordable.

If you’re in love with the look and sound of Maserati, the Ghibli you get is the S model. It turns up the performance over the basics without the price getting out of control.

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