The new Maserati GranTurismo certainly has the looks, but are they backed up by a great driving experience? Jack Evans finds out.
What is it?
Maserati has a proud history of creating head-turning GT cars and this – the new GranTurismo – is one of its latest offerings. While the new generation of GranTurismo is being defined by the introduction of the battery-powered ‘Folgore’ model, which arrives as Maserati’s first electric vehicle, the Italian firm has still chosen to offer it with conventional petrol setups as well. It’s a modern-day continuation of a name which has been with Maserati for decades.
You could argue, then, that the petrol GranTurismo Trofeo which we’re testing is the more old-school version that buyers could pick. But is it one? We’ve been finding out.
What’s new?
Revealed back in 2022, this latest generation of GranTurismo revives a model which had been integral to Maserati’s line-up between 2007 and 2020. Many of the previous car’s show-stopping design aspects have been retained, but then few had issues with them in the first place. No, Maserati has chosen to upgrade the tech on board while making some substantial tweaks under the bonnet – but more on that shortly.
The Italian firm offers two flavours of petrol-powered GranTurismo, too, with more road-going Modena versions and higher-powered Trofeo variants meaning that there’s a model to suit all types of drivers. Oh, and pricing? The GranTurismo starts at £133,320 for the Modena, rising to £163,590 for the Trofeo and finishing at £179,950 with the electric Folgore. After options, our test car came in at an eye-watering £212,060.
What’s under the bonnet?
While you would’ve found a V8 engine powering the old GranTurismo, this latest version adopts a twin-turbocharged V6 instead. Dubbed ‘Nettuno’, it’s related to the V6 engine that you’ll find powering Maserati’s flagship MC20 supercar, but utilising a wet sump as opposed to a dry one. The former is usually a little easier to maintain and cheaper to install.
However, it is no less potent. You get 543bhp from the GranTurismo in Trofeo specification, which when combined with 650Nm of torque gets you from 0-60mph in 3.3 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 199mph. Despite this performance, Maserati claims you should still see around 28.2mpg combined – so you shouldn’t have to spend half of your long-distance adventure finding a petrol station.
What’s it like to drive?
You’re usually after a refined experience in a grand tourer. It’s the type of car that is meant to take away the aches and pains of long-distance stints, but still give you ample opportunity to make the most of twistier sections of road. In most instances, the GranTurismo hits the mark in all of these areas. Surprisingly, the V6 engine remains quite subdued – even in sportier driving modes it doesn’t make its presence known.
The GranTurismo doesn’t have the silky smooth ride that you might expect from a fully-fledged GT car and, at slower speeds, grumbles over speed bumps and potholes. However, once you’re up to cruising speed it whisks along very pleasantly – though there is a bit of tyre noise generated at motorway paces.
How does it look?
Make no mistake, the GranTurismo turns heads. While its styling hasn’t evolved all that much over the previous-generation car, that’s not a bad thing in the slightest. The long bonnet and dramatically sloping roofline remain, but the car’s grille has been updated to make it a little sharper and more eye-catching than before.
The headlights have been redesigned, too, and this helps to make the GranTurismo an even sharper-looking car than before.
What’s it like inside?
The interior of the GranTurismo follows a typical four-seater layout which is common among GT cars. The rear seats are quite compact but there’s more space there than you might think and the large central tunnel gives these seats a cocoon-like feeling, too.
Up front, you’ve got a decent view out and though you sit quite low in the car there’s a good level of visibility. It’s a mixed bag in terms of material quality, mind you, with the high-end leather being contrasted somewhat by some low-rent plastics for certain controls on the dashboard. The buttons for the gears, for instance, have a shiny, not-so-pleasant feel to them and lack the theatre that you’d expect – particularly for a function that you’ll be using day in, day out. However, at 310 litres, the boot space on offer isn’t bad at all and provides enough room for several weekend bags.
What’s the spec like?
As touched upon, the Maserati GranTurismo is not a cheap car. However, for its high cost you are getting all of the prestige associated with that famous trident badge – but what else is included? On Trofeo models like ‘our’ test car, standard features include a full sports body kit with all manner of carbon fibre accents, as well as active aerodynamics which open and close shutters at the front of the car.
Inside, there’s a 12.2-inch full digital driver’s cluster, as well as a 12.3-inch high-definition touchscreen with Android’s Automotive software. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are easy to connect to and do a great job of mirroring your smartphone on the car’s display. The 14-speaker Sonus Faber sound system is also included on Trofeo models and it sounds great – it’s the kind of speaker setup that you’d want on a long journey.
Verdict
The Maserati GranTurismo moves the game forward enough without changing things too much. While the V6 engine may not deliver the same kind of drama that you’d get from the older V8 it is no less potent and, when combined with a comfortable and well-appointed interior, helps to make this a car that you’d be quite happy to spend long stints behind the wheel in.
It’s expensive, yes, but as an all-round proposition, the Maserati GranTurismo is very appealing.
Facts at a glance
- Model as tested: Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo
- Price: £212,060
- Engine: 3.0-litre V6
- Power: 543bhp
- Torque: 650Nm
- Max speed: 199mph
- 0-60mph: 3.3 seconds
- MPG: 28.2
- Emissions: 227-229g/km