UK Fleet launch, Ascot

Remember when you were a child and you so looked forward to Christmas thinking about that special present you had been waiting for and dreaming about for weeks. Then Christmas morning came and there under the tree was a perfectly wrapped, pristine package in the finest paper your parents could afford. Then you carefully took the wrapping off it and saw the contents. Then it wasn’t exactly what you were expecting and you were a little disappointed and maybe upset to find that the wait was not worth the build up to what should have been the perfect morning. Is the Maserati Ghibli reminiscent of that Christmas morning all those years ago?

This is an important year for Maserati; it is their centenary year with a lot happening in the 100 years it has been in existence. It has had some notable successes, including winning the F1 Championship in 1957. Maserati was an independent company until 1993, when it was acquired by Fiat Group.

The all new Ghibli is without question a stunning looking car, which looks fantastic from every angle, but especially from the front. That grille is awesome. It’s so bold and aggressive and says a lot about the car and its owner. The styling is very Italian and the designer should be very proud of this masterpiece, it is almost a work of art and a true classic.

The Ghibli diesel is the first ever diesel powered car in Maserati’s history. Under the sleek bonnet is a 3.0 litre V6 unit that produces 275ps coupled to a ZF built 8 speed automatic gearbox, which is quick, quiet and smooth. It accelerates 0-62mph in a very respectable 6.3 seconds with a top speed, of 155mph. The CO2 emission figure is 158g/km and fuel economy is 47.9 mpg. But we did not manage anything near that when we drove it around Berkshire. 

The diesel engine also has a start/stop system, but this is not active in sport mode. Maserati have introduced “Active Sound” system on the diesel which has two sound actuators in the exhaust and accentuates the engines most attractive tones and modulate them according to how the car is being driven. To put it simply, this feature gives the car a more sporty and loud noise from the exhaust.

The Ghibli is a sports saloon and as such it has a sporty ride and does feel a little “choppy” in any drive mode the driver selects. The roads around Ascot are not bad, but even on these relatively smooth surfaces, any imperfection on the road feels like a big pothole. But you have to remember, this is designed to be a sporty drive and not a luxurious saloon and as such you get what it says in the brochure. This rear wheel drive saloon has a perfect weight balance of 50:50 with the handling, braking and steering feel being as good as you get, a true sports saloon. I personally could not live with that ride and would very quickly get a bid fed up with it. I prefer a softer, more comfortable ride from a 4 door luxury saloon. But that may well be an age related thing.

Maserati are aiming the diesel version at the fleet market, to compete with cars such as the Audi A6 and A7, BMW 5 Series, 6 Series Gran Coupe, Jaguar XF, Mercedes E and CLS Class, which have all found favour with user choosers and fleet managers. The majority of which have diesel engines fitted. Maserati have deliberately gone for the larger capacity engine and not a smaller, more popular one such as a 2.0 litre. This could be a mistake if they really want to entice fleet customers and have a desirable car in the used car market. While the engine is certainly quick and quiet and will appeal to many who want a more frugal Maserati, you have to realise that frugal for a Maserati is a relative term.

We also drove the 3.0 petrol versions of the Ghibli and with power outputs of either 330ps or 410ps from the V6 twin turbo engine. This engine certainly suited this sports saloon much better and it’s easy to say it is twice the car the diesel is. So much nicer to drive, but it does come at a cost, in terms of money, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. There just isn’t a best of both worlds with the Ghibli, you either choose economy from the diesel or a brilliant driving experience from the petrol which has always been Maserati’s forte.

The interior is well appointed, high quality and looks and feels like an expensive luxury saloon with lots of Italian chic about it. There are very few buttons, as all the controls are on the large touch screen on the dash which are very easy to use. The leather on the seats is ultra-luxurious with only the best material being used. The interior and the cabin is a nice place to sit, although rear leg room is not as good as you would expect. The front however is large and feels spacious.

There are currently 19 dealers in the UK, but Maserati UK say they have plans for up to 30 by the end of 2015. In 2012 they sold 309 cars in the UK, 319 in 2013 and expect these numbers to rise to 1,500 this year, and 3,000 in 2015. They have taken over 500 orders so far for the Ghibli, so it is looking promising for Maserati. But all those new cars sold means a lot of used ones need to find homes over the years to come. Maserati expect the UK to be the third largest market in the world after North America and China.

The Ghibli prices start from £48,830 for the V6 diesel, £52,275 for the Ghibli V6 petrol 330ps and £63,415 for the Ghibli S V6 petrol 410ps. But add on a few nice options such as fine grain extended leather interior at £2,420 and alcantara headlining at £1,150, and the must have “Skyhook” electronically variable active damping system at £2,045, plus a few other bits and pieces - and you can easily add on another £7000 to £8000 to the list price.

Mention the word ‘Maserati’ to virtually anyone and their jaw drops, and you can see that the word ‘WOW’ is milling around in their brain. The new Ghibli is certainly a fine looking machine and with the petrol engine it is first rate. The diesel engine is a great idea and will sell in numbers to fleet buyers and those who want a relatively frugal large saloon that stands out in a crowd. Does it live up to the expectations like that Christmas present, or is it a bit disappointing? 

The looks of the car and the interior quality will for many make up for the lack of a comfortable ride and the fact it is simply not built by a premium German or British manufacturer. But ultimately that is really where the problem is: many buyers will play safe and stick with what they know and not risk parting with hard earned cash for an expensive Italian saloon. Even though Maserati has a rich history and heritage they are venturing into a new sector for them which has been dominated for years by other brands.  

As much as Maserati have been testing reliability and quality and can prove beyond doubt it is a good proposition, it will still have that Italian reliability and build quality question mark hanging over it. You can’t quickly take away that negative thought. It takes time to build confidence, it is not something that happens overnight. Time and a lot of miles, will tell just how reliable the Ghibli really is.

I was really looking forward to driving the Ghibli, but I have to say, I was a little disappointed, just like that Christmas present all those decades ago.

Martin Ward, Manufacturer Relationship Manager