Maserati GranTurismo (2023-) Review

Introduction

The old Maserati GranTurismo was many things. Certainly, it was beautiful – few cars have ever looked that dramatic – and there’s no questioning its performance with that big V8 under the long bonnet. But it was a brute, and it was an old brute at that. By the standards set by modern grand tourers, it couldn’t really keep up any longer. Which is why there’s a new model, which looks much the same, but is vastly more modern inside.

Gone is the old V8, replaced with a more efficient V6, and the old leather-bound cabin is replaced with a much more modern and more high-tech interior. Such is the GranTurismo’s transformation, there’s even an electric version in the pipeline. But at first, petrol will be the only option, so we took the new Maserati for a spin to find out whether it’s as soulful as its predecessor.

At a Glance

The new GranTurismo might not look all that different from its predecessor, but that’s like complaining when Brad Pitt’s kids look too similar to their dad. It’s still a great thing to look at, with its perfect proportions, low nose and muscular haunches. The trademark long bonnet screams grand tourer, and the powerful rear end is perfectly suited to the car. There are some great four-seat coupes on the market, but this must be among the sexiest.

In the cabin, the GranTurismo is vastly more modern than before, with a much greater focus on digital tech than ever before. There are two touchscreens, as well as a digital instrument display and even a digital clock display in the centre of the dash. The tech itself isn’t perfect, but it’s much better than that of the old GranTurismo, and it makes the car feel up to date and contemporary.

The same goes for the new engine, which is a detuned version of the 3.0-litre V6 found in the MC20 supercar. Available with a choice of two power outputs, it’s a sonorous and potent engine that has a great vocal range, even if it doesn’t quite offer the character of the old V8. And for those who want something even more different to the V8, there’s an electric ‘Folgore’ model in the pipeline.

One of the issues with the old V8 was the way it drove, which was old-school at best. But the new model feels significantly more stable, agile and poised, while still being immensely comfortable. It’s great in bends or on the motorway, and that might just make it the perfect car for long-distance touring.

Key Features

Clearly, the GranTurismo’s design will be a key draw for potential customers, and there’s unquestionable beauty in its shape. Admittedly, it doesn’t look all that different from its predecessor, but that’s no bad thing. And if you look closely, you’ll notice this new model is a little more elegant than the old car, with slightly less brashness to the design and a bit less muscle. Although it’s a similar size to the old GranTurismo, it looks a bit daintier. It’s beautiful.

And now it finally has an interior that’s worthy of the exterior. Much of the technology has been stolen from the Grecale SUV, but it’s so much better than what went before that we won’t complain about that. The screens are sharp and they have all the functionality you expect, even if some of the menus are occasionally clunky. You could say the same about the Aston Martin DB11, though.

But there has to be more to a grand tourer than just style, and the GranTurismo delivers with an impressive engine and driving experience. The V6 petrol engine is less sonorous than the old V8, but it’s still exciting when you want it to be, yet it’s also refined when you just want to relax. The chassis has a similar quality, with the ability to corner impressively but also to ride smoothly when you’re just cruising along the motorway.

Performance & Drive

At the moment, just two engines are available for the GranTurismo, but that’s all set to change later this year, when the electric ‘Folgore’ version comes to market. But for now, it’s a straight choice between two versions of the same 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

The entry level option is the Modena, and though it is technically the cheapest – well, least expensive – version of the GranTurismo, it still has a plentiful 490hp. As with every other petrol-powered GranTurismo, all that power is distributed between all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, allowing the Modena to get from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 188mph.

Alternatively, customers can choose the Trofeo version, which uses the same V6 engine to produce 550hp, cutting the 0-62mph time to 3.5 seconds and increasing the top speed to an impressive 199mph. That’s bordering on supercar performance from something designed to be comfortable and refined.

Yet the GranTurismo manages to balance both sides of its character admirably. Let’s start with that engine, which is essentially lifted from the MC20 and the Grecale Trofeo. Despite being smaller than most grand tourers’ engines, the ‘Nettuno’ V6 feels remarkably meaty, and it makes a terrific noise. Admittedly, it isn’t as characterful as the old car’s V8, but it is at least more refined and quieter when you just want to waft about in comfort. Put your foot down or head for one of the sportier settings, and it comes alive with this deep growl that turns to a scream as the revolutions rise. It’s great.

As is the way in which the GranTurismo handles. The wheels respond instantly to steering inputs, and the steering wheel itself has plenty of feel and precision. Though the car is quite heavy and quite wide, it manages to feel surprisingly nimble, despite failing to hide its significant bulk. But it deals with that bulk well, and though there’s a bit of roll in corners, the rear-biased all-wheel-drive system ensures the car feels really intuitive and well balanced in the bends.

All that said, the GranTurismo never feels like a supercar – Maserati builds the brilliant MC20 for that – but for cruising along European motorways at high speeds, there are few cars better. Partly because few cars have such good suspension. The air suspension that’s fitted to every GranTurismo as standard provides incredible ride comfort in its softest settings, allowing the car to soak up pretty much anything the road can throw at it. It does feel a bit more brittle in the sportier settings, but the comfort is impressive, even when compared with the best cars in the business.

Running Costs & Emissions

Until the Folgore version of the GranTurismo arrives on the scene, the big Maserati coupe is unlikely to appeal to those with an eye on saving the pennies. That said, it’s cheaper to run than the old GranTurismo, although that’s hardly an accolade. With an official thirst of around 27mpg, the basic Modena model isn’t ruinous to run, but it’s hardly an eco champion. And excessive use of the 490hp power output will see that figure fall a bit.

Again, those looking at the GranTurismo as a company car will probably want to wait for the Folgore model, which should be comparatively cheap in terms of Benefit-in-Kind tax. The V6 versions, on the other hand, emit enough carbon dioxide to ensure they remain firmly planted in the highest tax bracket.

Interior & Technology

The GranTurismo’s cabin is a massive step forward for Maserati, although some of the classic features of the old car have, sadly, gone. We miss the analogue dials with their beautiful needles, but the new model certainly looks much more modern with its digital instrument cluster and its two-screen central instrument display.

Both systems are also seen in the Grecale, and they are certainly imperfect – we aren’t convinced about the menus, which feel a bit fiddly, and our test car’s touchscreen was occasionally laggy – but it’s better than anything found in old-generation Maseratis. In fact, it’s good enough to be considered competitive, particularly alongside the clunky screen in the Lexus LC and the ancient Mercedes-Benz tech found in the Aston Martin DB11.

We aren’t sure about the lower screen, either, because that rather busy display is used to control things like the climate control and the nose-lifting technology designed to prevent drivers from scraping the underside on speed bumps. And while touchscreen climate control panels look alright, they’re a bit fiddly and distracting to use on the move.

Also prominent in the GranTurismo’s cabin is the central clock, which is really another screen. Although its primary display is that of an analogue clock, the screen can display all manner of features, from a lap timer to a G-meter. On the forthcoming Folgore electric model, it will be used to display data about the battery.

More impressive than all that, though, is the way in which Maserati has modernised the design of the GranTurismo and improved the build quality. The materials are almost universally excellent and the way in which they’re glued together is impressive. There are one or two issues – we’d like to see some of the chrome-effect plastics replaced with the real deal – but otherwise it’s every inch the premium coupe.

Practicality & Boot Space

Big Italian coupes aren’t always known for their practicality, and the GranTurismo is hardly the most spacious four-seater on Earth. That said, it isn’t bad at all, with the new model offering a bigger boot than the old car. At 310 litres, it isn’t exactly huge – you get more space from a VW Polo – but it’s more than adequate for most drivers and it’s reasonably competitive for the class. Certainly, you could conceivably go on holiday in the GranTurismo without a hitch.

Particularly because you can choose whether you use the rear seats for passengers or luggage. Rear cabin space is hardly plentiful, but you can just about squeeze an adult in back there, even smaller passengers will be more comfortable than taller ones. On short trips, though, most people will cope as long as those in the front aren’t especially tall. Nevertheless, the GranTurismo is best suited to use as a two-seater, with luggage space behind the front seats.

Safety

Euro NCAP hasn’t crash-tested the new GranTurismo yet. In fact, the organisation has never tested any Maserati since the Ghibli was launched in 2013, and that includes the supposedly more mainstream Levante and Grecale models. Nevertheless, the Ghibli’s showing in the crash test was very strong, achieving a five-star rating with ease after scoring 95% for adult occupant protection. If the GranTurismo can do a similar thing, it’ll be well on its way.

The technical specifications suggest it should perform reasonably well, too, with plenty of standard equipment to help drivers reduce the chances of accidents in the first place. Systems such as autonomous emergency braking and a reversing camera are included as standard, while customers can upgrade to more advanced driver assistance technology, such as a 360-degree parking camera and blind-spot monitoring to tell you when another car is in the hard-to-see areas over your shoulders.

Options

What you get for your money rather depends on which of the GranTurismos you choose, but only to an extent. Every model is pretty lavishly equipped with leather upholstery, all the aforementioned interior technology and the usual selection of alloy wheels and rear-view cameras.

But the basic Modena takes a slightly more classic attitude than the rest of the cars in the range, promising wood trim and posh leather, whereas the Trofeo has a much sportier look, with carbon trim that hints at Maserati’s racing heritage.

Yet the best way to set your GranTurismo apart from the rest is with the numerous options available to add to your vehicle. Not only can you have a selection of colours and alloy wheel designs, but you can choose your leather, interior trim and even the colour of the brake callipers.

Once you’ve waded through all that, you get to choose from the ‘proper’ option packs, including the Level 2 ADAS package, which provides loads of extra driver assistance technology and safety features. Or you could go for the Sport Design pack, which offers aluminium pedals and extended leather interior trim.

But we’d go for the Tech Assistance package, which comes with a crystal clear head-up display and the digital rear-view mirror. To combat the slightly limited visibility at the rear of the car, a little camera at the back can display what it sees on the frameless rear-view mirror in the cabin. Drivers can switch between the conventional mirror and the digital display with a flick of a switch.

Other options of note include the Sonus Faber sound system, ventilated front seats and the power-adjustable steering column, as well as auto-dimming door mirrors. We’d steer clear of the tinted rear windows, though, because the back windows aren’t really big enough to need it.

Rival Cars

The GranTurismo is up against some of the biggest names in the business, from the more mainstream premium brands to the high luxury marques. Perhaps the closest rival is the soon-to-be-replaced Aston Martin DB11, which is equally beautiful and powerful, but more flawed inside.

Then there’s the glorious Lexus LC (above), which is stunning to look at and is available with a brilliant V8 engine, but it’s let down by its so-so technology, which contrasts starkly with the faultless build quality. Or you could choose the Porsche 911 Turbo, which is a bit more of a sports car than the Maserati, but it’s epic to drive and it’s fantastically well made.

Or there’s the Mercedes-Benz SL (below), with its thunderous engines and aggressive bodywork, but the grand tourer to end all grand tourers is the Bentley Continental GT. Big, smooth, beautifully upholstered, the Bentley is everything a big tourer should be, but it’s priced accordingly. The GranTurismo isn’t quite in the same league when it comes to luxury, but in terms of driving dynamics and design, the GranTurismo can compete with anything.

Verdict & Next Steps

Maserati has nailed it with the new GranTurismo. Yes, the loss of the old V8 is sad in a way – we’ll miss that sound – but the new V6 is still a peach of an engine and it gives the GranTurismo a fabulous mixture of refinement, noise and punch. If you never sampled the old GranTurismo, you’ll adore it. And this version is likely to draw in a few customers who never sampled the old car, because the more modern interior has allowed the Maserati to properly compete with the likes of Aston Martin for the first time in years. And though the Italian car is flawed, it still manages to be one of the most appealing and intriguing cars in its class.

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Maserati GranTurismo