If you’ve always wanted to own a car from the much loved Trident marque, but couldn’t quite afford the Quttraporte, then here’s your chance. And it’s called the Maserati Ghibli. Built upon the flexible yet performance-oriented M156 platform, the new Ghibli first went on sale back in 2013. This luxury mid-size sedan has remained more or less the same since its launch over five years ago. However, the Ghibli nameplate itself isn’t all that new, but had been on a sabbatical since the mid-90s. Today, the new 2019 Ghibli remains the entry-point for those wishing to begin their journey into the world of Maserati, and is the most affordable model the company produces. The segment it sits in is also occupied by the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, and Jaguar XF.
Exterior
It’s pretty obvious that the Maserati Ghibli is defiantly averse to ugliness. Its design is an uninterrupted blend of smooth lines, gentle curves, and near-perfect body proportions. However, it sure as hell isn’t a spectacular creation of automotive art, nor does its styling speak to those who are on the horizon for something unique or contemporary. With the new Ghibli, it seems like Maserati missed a great opportunity to create something truly memorable and long-lasting, at least in terms of its design. The front gets the usual Maserati family look, with its long hood, low nose, wide grille, slender headlamps, and a sporty looking bumper with a subtle lip spoiler.
The most prominent design aspects along the side profile of the Ghibli include the Maserati-trademark triple vents and brand logo on the C-pillar. Aside from those, there are the chic 18-inch alloy wheels, flared fenders, sloping roofline, and bulging rear haunches. The back is perhaps the blandest part of the whole exterior, and it has got going for it is trunk lip spoiler, partial-LED taillights, and some quad-exhaust pipes. The 2019 Ghibli measures in at 4.971 meters X 2.100 meters X 1.461 meters in length, width, and height. Meanwhile, its 2.998-meter wheelbase is best-in-class, though the same cannot be said about the Ghibli’s 500-liter boot.
Interior
If you’re expecting to be blown away by the Maserati Ghibli’s interior, then worry not, because you won’t be. Just as was the case with its exterior, it seems like the Italian automaker lost out on yet another opportunity here. This cabin is genuinely void of any real charisma and it certainly won’t woo you in the manner you’d expect it to. Of course, it’s not all bad news. For one, the quality of this interior and much of the materials has come a long way from Masas of yore, but the German rivals are much better. Also, the leather seats are really comfortable and there’s enough space up front. However, the rear bench is irrefutably tight and it can easily feel a little too dark and dingy.
As for creature comforts, the Ghibli is offered with automatic and adaptive headlights with washers, acoustic windshield, rain-sensing wipers, keyless-entry with push-button start, electronic parking brake, power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control, premium sound system, and an 8.4-inch touch-infotainment system. Some of the safety toys include airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, and all-around parking sensors.
Engine and performance
The most energetic version (S Q4) of the Ghibli comes with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, which makes 410 hp and 550 Nm of torque. Coupled to an 8-speed auto ‘box and an AWD system, the S Q4 can hustle to the ton-mark in 4.8 seconds, with the needle stopping at around 285 km/h.
Verdict
The 2019 Maserati Ghibli range costs from AED 303,450 to AED 355,950 for the entry-level and top-trim, respectively. Meanwhile, financing options for the former begin from AED 4,730.
