Maserati Ghibli - TopCarNews

Maserati Ghibli (2013 – present) | Expert Rating [hide]

Summary

The Maserati Ghibli is a large executive saloon, which was launched in 2013 and substantially updated in late 2017. It is available with either a petrol V6 or petrol-electric hybrid engines.

The Ghibli’s twin-turbo petrol V6 engines are built for Maserati by Ferrari in Maranello. This arrangement will come to an end when the current model Ghibli finishes production, as Ferrari and Maserati are no longer part of the same overarching Fiat Group. A diesel engine was previously offered but has been dropped from the range.

The Maserati Ghibli has received fairly average reviews from the UK motoring media, although its worth pointing out that its cause is not helped by its rivals being some of the best cars on the market – the class-leading BMW 5 Series is possibly the best car that BMW makes, while the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6 are similary superior to most cars in their respective families. So the Ghibli is a good car in a field dominates by outstanding cars.

The Ghibli has been praised for its style and image, as well as its Ferrari-sourced petrol V6 engine. However, it has been criticised for not matching the level of comfort and quality that the best cars in its class display.

Key specifications

Body style: Large saloonEngines: petrol, diesel
Price: From £64,515 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2013Last updated: Summer 2019
Replacement due: TBA

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Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert

“Maserati is a bit of a hidden gem. The Ghibli serves up every bit as much luxury as perhaps better-known rivals, but with a diesel engine offering fuel consumption figures close to 50mpg it is also a surprisingly sensible purchase, especially in the corporate market.”
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Auto Express

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol (mild hybrid) automatic Ghibli Hybrid GransportScore: 5 / 10“On paper, the new Ghibli Hybrid seems like a great way to keep Maserati relevant yet desirable. In reality, it’s something of a disappointment, with uncompetitive hybrid technology failing to provide either the economy or the emissions it needs to keep pace, nor the driver appeal of its best rivals.”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“The Maserati Ghibli combines style and quality with sharp handling to rival the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automaticScore: 8 / 10“It’s not Maserati’s finest hour, but it’s a breath of fresh air in this often straight-laced market.”
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Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“The Maserati Ghibli offers an Italian alternative to the popular German premium saloons, albeit at a higher price. It struggles to match those rivals for quality and doesn’t drive as well either, but the engines are strong, the badge is a proper luxury draw and its exotic looks really make it pop.”
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Autocar

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol (mild hybrid) automatic Ghibli Hybrid GransportScore: 6 / 10“Some cars are brilliant. Some are charming. The Ghibli Hybrid doesn’t have enough of either to win people over.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automaticScore: 7 / 10“Maserati further polishes an impressively capable machine that combines genuine handling ability with improved refinement”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7 / 10“It’s the most rounded Maserati ever created. But the sense it leaves is not of how good it is, but of how much better it could and should have been.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic S GranLussoScore: 6 / 10“It would be easy to understand anyone falling for the Maserati Ghibli’s interior, and its quietly handsome style, too. While it doesn’t offer all the electronics hardware of a Mercedes E-Class or a BMW 5 Series, the list of missing items is less serious than previously.”
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Car

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“If you want an upmarket diesel saloon, it’s hard to make a case for the Maserati Ghibli as the competition is so well-rounded, and also much cheaper in some cases, with better interior quality. If you want a nutcase saloon to thrash through the mountains at the weekend and sit on the motorway during the week, it’s an intriguing option that does feel special to look at.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automaticScore: 8 / 10“The Maserati Ghibli remains pragmatically almost impossible to recommend, but easy to fall for. Buy one and you won’t have the cheapest, comfiest or most tech-laden car in your street, but you will be safe in the knowledge that you’ve got the most stylish and probably the most interesting.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6.8 / 10“The Maserati Ghibli is hugely alluring in many ways, but it comes with a higher price tag and more compromises than other large executive saloons.”
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Carwow

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“The Maserati Ghibli is a sleek and sporty alternative to more mainstream executive cars from Audi, BMW and Mercedes, but it’s comparatively expensive to run.”
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Eurekar

Model reviewed: Ghibli Hybrid“Maserati has little choice but to venture down the hybrid technology route, but whether it will win over the die-hard V6 and V8 fans that have been such loyal followers, remains to be seen.”
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Evo

Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic Ghibli SScore: 7 / 10“Stylish and much improved dynamically, but still a way short of the best in class overall”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automaticScore: 7 / 10“Stylish and dripping with badge appeal, but off the pace of class best”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 7.6 / 10“Stunning saloon is great to drive, but pricey”
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The Sun

Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic“I loved driving this saloon. For all its faults, the Maserati Ghibli is a heart-rules-over-the-head buy. It’s the only car in this sector that can give its pin-stripe suitors a bit of passion.”
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The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic Ghibli SScore: 6 / 10“It’s comfortable and it’s practical and it’s quiet and, I have to say, it’s also a lovely place to sit. Apart from the beeping. And on top of all that, it’s a Maserati. Which means you can say to your husband, ‘Shall we take the Maserati tonight?’, which will make you feel extremely warm and fuzzy.” (Jeremy Clarkson)
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol (mild hybrid) automaticScore: 4 / 10“A great-looking car with an evocative name, and a surprisingly adept mild hybrid system, although it doesn’t seem to confer any substantial economy benefits. But the ride quality on UK roads is simply unacceptable and Maserati faces hugely competent rivals with full hybrid drivetrains.”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“The allure of this exotic Italian brand is undoubtedly strong, plus the Maserati Ghibli looks suitably special inside and out. However, its diesel engine and ride comfort are disappointing, while the BMW 5 Series and Jaguar XF are both more enjoyable to drive. As is so often the case with Maserati, it’s a case of whether you let your heart overrule your head.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 5 / 10“Don’t fancy a German four-door? There’s an updated, eccentric Italian alternative… but you need to really want one.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview“If you’re overly familiar with its established foes (most of them German), and the Maserati Ghibli diesel is sitting on the company car list among them, it may prove difficult to resist its more superficial charms. Head further up the range, though, and it’s hard to escape that Alfa Romeo now makes a better fast four-door than Maserati.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automaticScore: 7 / 10“It boils down to one simple question: should you? In isolation, the Ghibli is convincingly seductive and perfectly credible. As it stands, the diesel emits 158g/km CO2 and sits in the 26 per cent company car tax band, so it’s there or thereabouts. But forget all that, and do me a favour when you get to the end of this paragraph: just say the last word out loud – Maserati.”
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What Car?

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 4 / 10“The Maserati Ghibli sports swanky looks, but is off the pace in most other areas.”
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Which?

Model reviewed: Range overview“It’s an imposingly styled and highly luxurious car, but too many flaws limit its appeal compared with German rivals.”
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Safety rating

The Maserati Ghibli was tested by Euro NCAP in 2013 and was awarded a five-star rating.

This rating expired in January 2020 and is no longer valid.

Eco rating

The Maserati Ghibli has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. If it happens, we’ll update this information.

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