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If you are in the market for a mid-sized luxury sedan, you have a few choices. The Audi A6/S6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and of course the BMW 5 Series. Now, Maserati is also bringing their Ghibli to the table, to add a bit of Italian flare.

Usually, to get into a Maserati you would have to spend over $100k. Well, Maserati is trying to change that with the Ghibli. You get in at a bit less than that, for around $75k. That may still seem a little high, but an optioned up 5 Series is pretty close in comparison. The Ghibli isn't just your average mid-sized sedan though, look at it, it's exciting. Just sitting there, it looks like it would eat any pedestrian that would meet it in a cross walk. It's lines are flowing, clean and the front looks like an angered Quattroporte, which is good. Let's get by the looks, to the heart of the Ghibli. Maserati utilizes a Ferrari twin-turbo v6 that produces 404 horsepower, and as you'll hear in the video below, it sounds awesome. The Ghibli is said to handle well too. Now add in a well appointed interior and the Ghibli sounds like the complete package.

BMW, Audi and Mercedes may have to watch out for this one. A head turning exotic in the mix for $75k, could definitely get customers excited for something different.

Check out Consumer Reports video review of the Maserati Ghibli:

http://youtu.be/OBgA7jCsCBs

 

[elchevere]

thanks...you mention a Ferrari engine....will this car have the requirement of changing oil at least once a year--regardless how few miles you drive--at a ridiculous cost of $5,000, which is what it costs to maintain a Ferrari?...curious what the cost of maintenance will be on the car.

 

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I was wondering about the maintenance myself. Would be nice if this particular engine didn't demand the same attention.

 

[GringoEd]

Great looking specimen! I predict West Virginia will get a Maserati dealership before we ever get a Whole Foods. Not going to happen in this century. Sure would like to test drive one.

 

[neilsarkar]

My F10 is my daily driver. I'll pass until I see some reliability stats.

 

[Alan L.]

My F10 is my daily driver. I'll pass until I see some reliability stats.

This....

They should do a comparison test between cars that has been on the road for 2-3 years to see which one is holding up and which one is falling apart.

I am willing to bet that the Ghibli will be in MUCH worse shape than a F10 after some miles based on all the crap I've read about the Quattroporte

Alan

 

[CTSoxFan]

I will admit, this will definitely get a look as my next car. I am not so worried about reliability as I lease, so everything would be under warranty. I agree I would definitely want to see some reliability data first before I was purchasing one.

 

[Stealth.Pilot]

I don't like the Chrysler 300. Not even with the Maserati bodykit.

My M5 will crush that car in any trim.

 

[Stealth.Pilot]

I will admit, this will definitely get a look as my next car. I am not so worried about reliability as I lease, so everything would be under warranty. I agree I would definitely want to see some reliability data first before I was purchasing one.

I don't know. One of my friends bought a Maserati Spyder, and another bought a Granturismo. Both of them had the car in the shop every 2-3 months for repairs, and several occasions of being stranded on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck.

While warranty covers the repair costs, nothing can make up for the pain of the above.

The only saving grace for this car is that it is probably less Ferrari and more Chrysler 300 and so should be more reliable than the Maseratis owned by these friends of mine.

 

[CTSoxFan]

I don't like the Chrysler 300. Not even with the Maserati bodykit.

My M5 will crush that car in any trim.

I don't think anyone is saying it is better than an M5 (at least I hope no one is that stupid)...

I think it might be a viable alternative to the normal 5 series lines.

 

[highyo]

I don't like the Chrysler 300. Not even with the Maserati bodykit.

My M5 will crush that car in any trim.

it better

 

[DS18661]

I can't get past the name. I have a Maserati Giblet......

 

[Needsdecaf]

I think $72k is for a non-S. For an S, you're talking close to $90k and now you're talking about M5 territory.

No thanks.

 

[Sophisto]

No Ghibli for me.
Too much money for sure too much disappointing experiences.

 

[solstice]

A 2012 Maserati GT with low miles can be had for ~$80k with an MSRP of ~$150k. There's a reason for that.
However as with most Italian things it will frustrate the crap out of you but you can't help loving it. Depreciation and not being able to trust your DD is enough to say, no way though.

That said I will never part from my 1999 Ducati 748S. It's the most perfect thing I ever owned.
It's been mostly good but it wouldn't be Italian if there wasn't some exotic experiences. I once needed a new fuel flange and it was delivered promptly from Bologna after only 3 months...to the bargain price of $700.

 

[K-A]

I have mixed feelings on it, design wise (looks like it could date quickly, unlike the organically balanced design idiom of the F10) and don't care what emblem and engine they put in it: I think of it as an inherent downgrade from a BMW or Merc for that matter due to being based on a Chrysler with a complete Chrysler/Dodge interior layout and some shared parts with $18K Chrysler/Dodge's....

.... BUT I will strongly consider it, all things considered, and would way rather have it as a total package over what M-B or Audi are offering in this segment. It would have a tougher time convincing me against an LCI F10.

 

[greyF10]

Wasn't "Ghibli" one of the Hobbits?

 

[NoI4plz]

This....

They should do a comparison test between cars that has been on the road for 2-3 years to see which one is holding up and which one is falling apart.

I am willing to bet that the Ghibli will be in MUCH worse shape than a F10 after some miles based on all the crap I've read about the Quattroporte

Alan

This made me laugh. I don`t think the Italians have to worry about anything. German cars are just about on par when a vehicle is in its 3rd year on the road. Squeaks, random noises, and electrical glitches can be found everywhere...the `fest is full of em lol.

I love the maserati/ferrari soundtrack. Ghibli isn`t as amazing as the 8, but I think its no disappointment.
http://youtu.be/9wh19w5DQtY

 

[Stealth.Pilot]

Why do people keep mentioning Ferrari here. Everyone knows this car is more Chrysler than Maserati!

Even the dash layout and placement of the controls echoes the Chrysler 300. That Nav screen is identical to the one in the Chrysler 300 I rented last week at Hertz.

This car reminds me of when Jaguar rebadged a Lincoln LS.

Sent from BimmerApp mobile app

 

[Stealth.Pilot]

Some quotes which may be useful for anyone who thinks this car has nothing to do with Chrysler.

While it's not confirmed, we hear that the Ghibli's architecture will draw heavily from the Chrysler platform that underpins the 300 and Dodge***8217;s Charger. That architecture***8217;s roots can be traced back to the Mercedes-Benz W210 E-class. The rear-wheel-drive platform has proven it can handle power, as it has underpinned several SRT and AMG derivatives.

It***8217;s rumored that the 2014 Maserati Ghibli is going to share plenty of its parts with the Chrysler 300, which wouldn***8217;t surprise us in the least. Maserati says its base engine for the new car is going to be a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V-6, likely the same 410-horsepower unit found in the 2014 full-size Quattroporte. There will also be an available 3.0-liter diesel V-6, undoubtedly related to the engine available in the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the overseas Chrysler 300, making 240 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque***8211;pulling force***8211;in the Jeep.

Main functions are smoothly handled by an 8.4-inch touch screen with Garmin navigation, virtually identical to that of a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Joke if you must about Chrysler's latest -- and hopefully last -- European marriage, but it whips the nav system on any Ferrari. WiFi hotspot capability also hails from Motown, not Modena.

Shifting from park to drive can be done without looking -- just slam the lever all the way back. Changing from park or drive to reverse requires visual confirmation either by looking at the instruments or shifter position, not ideal for quick three-point turns or parallel parking. We encountered the same issue with this transmission in that other Fiat product, the Chrysler 300. Hopefully ZF comes up with a belated, gated solution.