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This car represents so many weird choices that were made inside the FCA group. The weirdest at least to me was that they still invested a lot of money to develop a hybrid powertrain for the Ghibli so late into it's production, but for example the giorgio platform of the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio was more or less abandoned (no hybrid for you, EVER!) and it received very few meaningfull updates in terms of powertrain options during its (still ongoing) production cycle. Mind boggling that they just poured money into this thing while other brands could have benefited them much more.
Can't agree more. Too bad they are so messed up. They are usually better looking that lets say competitors from BMW and Mercedes but you can't polish a turd as they say.
It was one of my best cars. Had a Ghibli SQ4 over 80000km/3.5y. Only one small issue, similar to the XF, I runned before. Both better than BMW or Merc, I had. It was an MY2016, the best quality, from MY2018 they did the same as Merc/Audi/BMW - Refinement and shareholder value
There's nothing Maserati offer you can't get elsewhere better. Unless you are one of these people who think these cars have some special intangible value, you're not gonna choose one. The fact is that's very few people. So they don't sell. It's no mystery.
back to back comparison drives with it and Lexus GSF 1.5 yrs ago resulted in GSF. Oh, that V8 and rear torque vectoring diff (gears not bs brakes) just made the gorgeous Maserati not enough. GREAT SOUND Jay in this video.
Though Maseratis are not perfect, I still want one because the engine sounds amazing, the performance, exterior and interior looks so beautiful, and that the seats are so comfortable. I’m okay with the fact that it requires Liqui Moli oil and premium gas.
Please try to drive a Trofeo I'm sure a maserati dealer in your area will allow you to do a review it will change your mind. I've owned a 2015 SQ4, a 2018 Grandsport s, and now a 2021 Trofeo, the Ferrari F154 engine and more updated interior completely transformed the car, very powerful, very reliable dally driver and more entertaining than my M3, thanks for your great reviews and love and passion of cars.
Yes I would seriously love a Ghibli or a Quattroporte ... it is the risks around quality and reliability that really do concern me. I am given to understand that one should not really order a Ghibli with the diesel engine option, its a rather crude basic 3.0 diesel used in some common American cars, and one should therefore order the petrol car. Would a Ghibli or Quattroporte be suitable as a daily driver ... would it. They are certainly a lot more beautiful and also more interesting than 90% of what's coming out from the Germans. It will be a plunge ... a leap of faith ... and a Premium Platinum breakdown recovery contract just in case.
Giving the success that fca has had, upgrading several others models under their umbrella, why is such an iconic, niche brand, still being swept under the rug? A little more r&d, Time in testing the engines durability instead of using the customer's as their test mules... I do have hopes for the Grecali. Will wait to see if Maserati has pulled up their boot straps.
A Maserati is a terrible car that is nowhere near what you’re paying for. Before you ask where my Maserati is (my daily is a 911), I’ve had the privilege of driving my father’s Gran Turismo on numerous occasions and my ex had a Levante. I expected so much for the price and was left wondering, why do they cost so much? The value for the money isn’t there for me, and that depreciation is a monster.
I drove a low mileage 2017 Ghibli SQ4 for about a year. Mine had the two tone black and tan interior with dark walnut trim and a sunroof. The interior and the trunk space is what sold me on the car. It was entirely trouble-free and the only reason I traded it off for a GTI was that it was simply too bulky to drive and park in a small college town. I never regretted my short period of Maserati ownership.
There’s no doubt that they are a beautiful looking car, I’d love to see how the SQ4 compares to the 2 wheel drive and my current C7 RS6, this is the one I think is more special than the rest.
Bro exactly I don’t know why people always talk shit about these cars. I have owned mine for about five years and it has been one of the greatest vehicles compared to other Mercedes s classes that I’ve also owned.
@@freespirit2520 I've had mine for five years and it has been a joy. Zero problems; minor maintenance. I have no idea why these video 'critics' crap on these cars.
I drive a Ghibli and in its 150.000km so far, the only thing that ever broke was a small tear in an induction hose at +/- 100K. Apart from that, it has been flawless. Brilliant car and still so beautiful (especially with the 21" wheels). Also noteworthy: the car in the video has the cheaper interior. The full leather interior (dash, tops of door carts, etc.) and alcantara headliner transform the interior. I had the cheaper interior in a few loaners when mine was in for services and it makes it look extremely cheap on the inside IMHO.
There are cars you buy with your brain, and there are cars you buy with your heart. Maseratis belong definitely in the second category. Especially the older ones. As a pretty well-situated software engineer with a not-that-shabby income, I was never crazy enough to buy one, although I absolutely loved the Shamal and the 80s QP. I was silly enough, though, to gift myself an Alfa Montreal for the fun times and marry a Lancia Gamma Coupé, my eternal love (besides other escapades that came and left). I drove the Gamma for over 16 years, regularly and as my first car. I made over 260k km. With the original motor and transmission (!). Probably World record. And, surprise, surprise, it cost me a fortune. And quite a few adventurous moments. And meltdowns. Every. Single. Year. But when I finally let her go, my heart literally broke. There are cars you buy with your heart. Who cares about the brain.
The problem is that Maseratis have rarely had enough heart appeal to overrule the head. From the Biturbo to the the Quattroporte IV, they were all ugly as sin and powered by charmless engines that didn't like to rev. The 3200 was an improvement, but the 4200 was much better (although still not exactly pretty). The GranTurismo was a major step in the right direction, but the angry ant-eater nose and Audi-alike rear didn't help. Neither did the lack of a manual option. The only Masers that really appeal to me are the old straight-six ones from the Fifties, and the criminally underrated Khamsin.
@@richardharrold9736 We have to differentiate the realities of the time periods. I'm 58 and had my fast-and-furious time in the mid/late 80s to the 90s. Back then you had no YT and IG, and Italian exotics were toys for the rich. Living in Switzerland, even with my 70 to 100k yearly income, Ferraris and Lambos were out of my league, but Maseratis could've been affordable if you were fortunate and all went smoothly. The 82 QP was my dream but I knew it would end in financial suicide, even the 82 Gamma Coupé was a nightmare to maintain (let alone the Montreal, which I drove way less, tho, so it cost me less). Didn't like the Biturbo but the Khamsin was a delight for the eye, I absolutely agree. I like the (most) modern Maseratis in regard to their look, more than any model of the competition (BMW & Co). IMO they lack in quality, though, for the price they're sold. And in my eyes, it was a mistake to add a "cheap" entry-level (Ghibli), it washed out the brand. I personally would've seen Maserati in the mid-luxury sedan/coupé/SUV segment, complementing Ferrari covering the sports/super/hypercar niche. With adequate performance and quality, of course. And Alfa covering the middle class (great job here, I must say).
@@JustARandomFio the QP3 with the old V8 would probably have been alright. The problem came when they chopped off two cylinders and downsized the remaining ones to make a turbocharged V6 - it was unbalanced, unreliable, rev-shy and charmless. The modern Ghibli could and should have been a success, if only they'd invested in a better interior and better engines. A bigger 3.6 litre naturally-aspirated V6 as an entry level model, and longer-stroke versions of the old F136 V8 up to around six litres would have made a lot more sense than just a rebadged turbocharged 3-litre Chrysler Pentastar.
There is a third category. Cars that your penis buys, that your head and heart later scream, too late, "WTAF!" (many Maseratis fit within this category)
@@Mike7O7O what, you mean cars you think will get you women? Because that rarely if ever works as intended. More likely to pull adenoidal men reciting statistics and/or hackneyed myths.
I got the diesel for all the reasons you mentioned, servicing can be done by any local mechanic and I still think wow every time I walk up to it to get in. It also does 50mpg!
I also have the diesel. 4 years of ownership and it has only cost me for tyres, servicing and brakes. It's a great car and always gets admiring looks and comments. As for the sound of the diesel, put it in sport and it sounds fantastic to me. It's no V8 sound but it certainly sounds better than it's German competitors. Yes they are better cars overall but this is far far more special. Let's face it how many times do you pull into a supermarket car park and think wow look at that 5 series. Well I never notice them but you can't miss the Maserati if you like cars, especially a white one like mine with red calipers. It's beautiful in my opinion.
Was driving near a late model Ghibli on the freeway only a few days ago, and they have definitely gotten quite large - even as a terminal car nerd, I had to get quite close to it to realize it was in fact a Ghibli and not a Quattroporte. Either way, it's a good day when you spot anything "exotic", out here on the roads, in rural Australia. Cheers!
Great Video, I own a diesel Ghibli and also own a garage, Servicing isn't an issue for me, reliability hasn't been an issue either. I drive it every day to work, cover 1000 miles PM and enjoy every minute of driving it. I watch a million videos before I bought, and despite the criticism in every video I still bought one. I mapped mine straight away, went from 275BHP - 600NM to 305BHP and 660NM, this transformed the car to what a Maserati should be and feel like. I understand the tyre wear, I had Pirelli MGT's which lasted 3000 miles on the rear as a commuter car - not happy. If you'd like to try it out let me know. Mel
Thank you for your comment it gave me a sense of relief. I test drove a 2015 diesel with 80k miles and loved it. Put down my deposit as it has to get a service, mot and a 2 wheel refurb. I pick it on Friday but was becoming concerned as every review I’ve seen was negative but now I’m happy thanks to your comment 👍 cheers mate.
I drive a ‘14 Ghibli diesel for my 5th year now. It just turned over the 200k km’s, and it has been flawless. The only thing that ‘broke’ was the soundbooster system (yep, they have one..). Sooner or later those all go (also with Audi…). Further I still enjoy it every day! It is still a great drive! The best ‘update’ I gave it a few years ago was loosing the P-zero’s, and switch to Michelin Pilot Sport 4s.
My Maserati GranTurismo was 100% reliable, sounded great, looked good and I wasn’t ripped off at a main dealer for servicing. I drove it for 3 years before selling it to some chap in Dublin Beat that!
I used to have a blue Ghibli, but mine was a 1969 4.7 and looked like a really special car, not a sedan. A very visceral car, heavy clutch, heavy steering, loud, beautiful.
Those are very special. Always liked them. Those can actually be found in car museums. I have doubts the same will be said about the current iteration.
@@heiner71 Mine, AM115870, wasn't perfect, but was an event to drive. A grey market import to the US, Euro spec, 4.7l. A big, heavy beast, it rumbled and roared.
I've got a '69 Alfa 1750 GTV. These cars are Italian mistresses. Lovely to ride, give 'em a good fierce drive. They'll throw temper tantrums without warning. Embarrass you in public. Let you down and leave you stranded. Empty your bank account. Lovely, magnificent, beautiful, cruel and an experience we'll never forget.
Had my 2015 Ghibli petrol for 3 years as a daily driver and it hasn't put a foot wrong. JayEmm, I think you nailed the review. For me I wanted something that would stand out in a sea of Mercs, Audi's and Beemers and put a smile on my face. The Ghibli definitely does that.
I've owned one of these for the last two years. Touch wood, it's been faultlessly reliable. I think you nailed the main points in your review. The switchgear and infotainment being robbed from various Jeep products does cheapen the interior a little, but overall I find it a nice and relaxing place to be. I looked at buying a 6-series Grand Coupe instead of the Ghibli, and dynamically, performance wise etc it would probably have been a much better car, but the Ghibli handles beautifully when you really press on, other than at least in the spec I have, it is very undersprung. I bought with my eyes open, expecting it to need frequent attention from a specialist (main dealers are laughably expensive - I think they assume that Ghibli owners have pockets as deep as someone buying an MC20!), but it has been fine. Finally, it's a Maserati, so you always get people asking interested questions about it, asking to have a look inside etc - you don't get that with a BMW!
Good unbiased review. Interesting comment about the Levante, my Wife has a 22 plate GT Hybrid, with the Nerissimo pack which really improves the looks and gives it bigger brakes, wheels and tyres. After years of RR Sports and a Velar (don’t) she really loves it. Ride on the road is good, handling whilst better than a RRS isn’t as good as my SQ8 or a Cayenne, but not bad. Despite being a hybrid fuel economy isn’t great but performance is ok and somehow it still sounds ok, though not as nice as that Ghibli. New Masers today come with a 3 year warranty and service package as standard, a bit like the Ferrari 7 year one, so nothing to pay for service and parts for the three years she’ll probably keep it for - not bad. Level of kit is good, and I like the Tom Tom Nav with Average speed camera countdown. Service is by Graypaul in Nottingham so it’s Ferrari, and so far for routine stuff they’re very good. What clinched it for her was a recent trip to the Savoy Theatre, running late and the doorman offered to valet park her car and it stayed right outside next to the Bentley’s, Astons etc 😁
Hello, I have had a 2018 Gran Lusso SQ4 for 2 years. Champagne coloured bodywork and sand coloured wood and leather interior. I have had a lot of fun with this car. The engine is smooth, you can drive comfortably but when you get into the revs it is raging, almost like a race engine. Always a smile at the wheel. The boot is also very good. Just the dimensions are bigger than you think when you see it, because the bodywork is very well sculpted. Not always easy to park it in a small parking space. But you feel so special driving it. You feel the whole Maserati history, the GT comfort with a race car DNA.
My dad had a Diesel (🤫) version, the engine wasn’t bad at all, as diesels go. It did have some niggles, I recall the AC having a problem that took longer to repair than it should, but nothing major went wrong. The worse part was the radio, which was completely useless and wouldn’t retune the BBC stations as you moved around so you had to keep manually changing it. When my dad mentioned this conversationally to the service manager at Maserati, he said “if it’s any comfort it’s just as bad in a Ferrari” which didn’t comfort 😂 I also think the rear is ugly and it’s hasn’t got better with age yet. The earlier generation of Quattroporte is still best looking Maserati 4 door. I really sage your comments on the infotainment system. I was in a Dodge Ram that had the *exact* same interface, which just shouldn’t happen. 😅 It was also a bit of a barge, parking it in car parks, you have to have your wits because it filled most spaces, how it would ever fit in an Italian road I don’t know. I think it was designed for the American market mostly because the best part I found about it was it was one the of the best long distance cruisers for the money. The seats were comfortable and supportive and you could drive for 5 hours and get out and not have any aches or pains and pair that here to a diesel and your time between fill ups was minimal. Also people came up and made positive comments, the name Maserati just holds some much more provenance than 90% of marques out there. My dad secretly misses it and it whilst it did have some of that ’Mazza Magic’ it was compromised too much elsewhere.
I drive a ‘14 Ghibli diesel (yes haters, a diesel!) for my fifth year now, and it has been nothing else but flawless (over 200k km’s now…). You are spot on about the tires; the best upgrade I gave it was switching from the P-zero’s to the Michelin Pilot Sport 4s: last 2x as long, and the drive is much better. That all pré-17 models broke is not something I read on the (international) forums I am an member of, and we share all our experiences there, good and bad. The best part of your review is the negative undertone. It allows ordinary people like yours truly to drive this delicious car for a bargain. If I think back to the big diesels I drove from Audi (camshaft problems (and yes, those went all!), timing chain tensioners, tiptronics…) and BMW (transfer box issues (Audi Quattro system is so much better) and timing chain issues) I am so glad I don’t get those garage bills anymore. So keep up the good work! Oh, and by the way, it doesn’t weigh 2 tons, it ís the only 4 door saloon with a proper handling (Maserati created 51/49 weight) and indeed a has a bullit proof gearbox (ZF 8HP) and the engine is built by MV-Motori (yes, it is Italian…), and is not the same as in the Jeep etc (Maserati uses the A630HP-version) but has strong similarities: it delivers 600Nm at 2.000 rpm, but can be upgraded to 720Nm (and Nm*Rpm/9550=Kw….). It sounds pretty decent in sport, but nothing beats the sound of the petrols! So thanks again 🙏!!
I always loved the shape of it and would love to own a Maserati one day, but in my view, if you're going to ignore sensible advice, why not go all the way and get a Quattroporte of the previous shape and with the ZF auto box instead? Certainly you'd get the impression of driving something more exclusive when you're inside the car and those things matter when choosing a Maserati, don't they?
Spot on review. I've got a 2020 Lavante V6 petrol, chopped in a range rover (I'll get over that bad new car experience in a couple of years) for the Maserati in 2022. Now Maserati's are heavy/solid/premium/well built/reliable.....but as I said I did own a Range Rover before. so Maserati v JLR....no contest the Maserati wins in every category!
Honestly i think the interior is quiet nice. High quality leather everywhere and beautiful carbon fiber trim (not that one in the video). And personally i prefer this tipe of climate comands to the touch screens that everybody mounts nowadays
I wouldn’t worry if you did loose Joe Achilles as a “loyal subscriber”. I used to subscribe to him until he launched a scathing attack on me on Instagram after making a light hearted joke about him appearing on everyone’s channels. Which, when I said it, I didn’t mean horribly as I had always enjoyed his content, but having tried reaching out to him in an effort to smooth the situation over, I was just ignored, proving him to be a bit of a numpty.
What utter rubbish. I have a Ghibli S 2014. Its been back to the garage once, for an injector plug that popped off when it was almost new. They are far more ordinary than a QP GTS and do not suffer the variator issues than make the F136 engined Maseratis a liability. A Ghibli can be serviced by your local garage - its no more complex than a 5 series. Mine is well built and has done 50k miles with only that one hiccup. Brakes are expensive as there are no pattern parts, but not criminally so. The S is thirsty, but thats always been the price of a Maserati. And you don't look a knob driving it like you do in an M3.
Seriously considered this when they came out. Laughably over-priced in NA where there were almost no dealers, little market presence and the cloud of awful Italian reliability of years past. Bought a 300C Hemi AWD instead - far less $$ and put 380k Kms on it. Marchione made such a mess of FCA…
A car design anime would be amazing, maybe Studio Ghibli could make it. "Like the Wind Rises" is a great film which follows a Japanese aircraft designer. This is a fitting car for the studio, since it shares the name, it's meant to be.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia is a much better car, while the exhaust note of the 4cyl model is not that great, it handles very well and is lighter than the Chrysler Ghibli.
Glad i went for an XJ over this. Went for a test drive in 1 and my god, the fiat/chrysler switches just reek through. Interior creaks, the all "pretty seats" which are not that comfortable at all, a joke of an entertainment system, and that steering wheel is HUGE with rubbish feedback. Back seat space is a joke for a car of that size. The petrol may sound great but cant be forgiven of how the rest of the car is.
I’ve had multiple Maseratis and though the 2014+ cars are far more reliable, well built, and modern, there are changes I don’t like. Using a small engine with turbos is the main problem. Feels all wrong. The old naturally aspirated V8s were perfect. There’s a massive dead spot when you first take off, then all the power kicks in. Very annoying. I solved it on my wife’s Levante with a thing you plug in to the pedal to kill the dead spot. I tested the new Quattroporte and walked away. Keep in mind I’ve had a QP III, QPV, and even imported a QPIV to the US just this month from Japan. They are all superior. Now Maserati is going electric so there’s only the past to look to.
Fantastic balanced and fair review. The likes of Doug de Muro helped kill the model. Driven a few but never pulled the trigger - mainly because IMO, the Ghibli should have had the Alfa Giulia V6. Terrific noise though and a great buy used.
Such a disappointing car. With the old QP, the moment you sit in it, you know you are in something special and a cut above the Mercedes E, BMW 3 etc. of that generation. The interior on this is just so so bad it’s a complete non-starter for me.
I test drove the v6 petrol Ghibli, and whilst there was no doubt it was a stunning car, it felt huge, somehow difficult to place on smaller B roads. The engine was also somewhat of a letdown for me too, it seemed a bit slow to rouse, making the car feel sluggish. I test drove a Giulia Veloce immediately after; that was a revelation! Similar dimensions and layout, yet it felt far more driver-focussed, nimble and agile. I also felt the Alfa's interior was more robust and better put together. I puchased the Alfa.
Everyone tries to autoconvince themselves about their decisions... The Giulia is in no way simmilar size wise nor it has a more "robust" or "better put together" interior. The QA of the Ghibli likely takes 10 times more effort than on your run of the mill mass manufactured Alfa sedan.
@@an-dr6euas a four door saloon, 29cm difference in length, 8cm difference in width is close enough as makes no odds. 100,000th Ghibli rolled off the production line in 2021- hardly low-volume. I can only say what I experienced myself first hand; there was nothing special about the Ghibli's interior plastics, the vents were fragile and the leather was poorly finished.
The Alfa is far better than the maserati. Namely due to the 2 billion euro investment in the new giorgio platform architecture. Chassis stiffness, weight distribution, suspension geometry is all superior in the alfa. Maserati has done cosmetic refreshes and look sharp, but are ultimately old outdated cars.
@@anthonyknox1493 The giulia has a very weak engine, poor interior and poor reliability. The Ghibli is a far better car 100k in 8 years is low volume; the leather is the best i've seen in a luxury car.
We've had a 2016 Ghibli S for just over 1 year and 19000 miles. It's had an on/off brake judder problem which is finally getting sorted by the dealer. Apart from the brake problem it is a wonderful car. When the dealer has sorted the brake judder we will offer you a test drive. Tyres, the Pirelli's are awful so we put 4 M PS4s which are wonderful. Sports Italia service ours, £700 or so. Fuel, 30 mpg on a run, 18 around town. Interior, ours has the super soft leather with red stitching (which is amazing). Sun roof is a waste of time. 410bhp is plenty. Turbo lag can be annoying.
Thanks J, Maserati content always good! Shame this seems to be another 'almost' car, like a lot of Alfas. We all just keep hoping that the next one will be the 'one', if the company survives! 🙏🙏
You can't compare those two cars. Think about the driving dynamics of both. A Ghibli is for driving to the golf club and then driving to a museum. An M3 is a proper drivers car.
@@GryphLane Yes, if you drive fast cars at 20mph under the speed limit, of course they will be dull. Fast cars were not built to be driven like a milk float.
The Ghibli has fantastic road presence and it seems most of it's foibles are generally forgivable. A shame Maserati failed to imbue the Ghibli's interior with the bespoke flare an Italian marque is expected to deliver in this class. Particularly a marque which on some level must share shelving space with Alfa Romeo.
These are still beautiful cars, but I think they should have replaced it whit a new generation based on the awesome Giorgio platform after the Giulia was introduced.
I once drove a Quattroporte, the previous generation. It still has a special place in my memory. It felt like a small hot hatch, nimble and fast in a way you wouldn't deem possible for car of that size. I drove Panamera few days after that and it felt like a whale on the beach. Unresponsive, dull, boring, uninspired, unimaginative, heavy lump of crap.
This generation of Ghibli just doesnt look at that special. the design seems lazy, it doesnt look refined. So even if this car was magically reliable and all, it doesnt quite spark interest.
My local garage owner has a diesel one. It looks incredible and actually sounds really good. He likes it because of the amount of Chrysler parts available at a fraction of Maserati parts.
My 3.0ltr supercharged XJ does similar mpg, a couple of mpg better on a run and on average but when you buy a car like that you understand that's a price you pay. I got mine on 16000 miles for under £19000 and it has all the presence and exclusivity you want. Plus there's a 2 specialists in my local area.
I think it's a bit harsh for that salesman to say that the Ghibli is the worst thing Maserati have made. The Bi-Turbo was surely worse. Chronically unreliable, very expensive to run, and anyone seeing it thinks that you're driving a Hyundai Stellar.
I cannot complain about James’ passionate nature reflects in his videos, but how he remains relatively unbiased. Great work as per usual! My friend has me looking at the Renault Wind as a first car and I have to say I quite like it. Opinions?
@@samthemadman5000 The reliability record is surprisingly positive. I’ve been looking at the 1.2s as they seem more common, but I wouldn’t be opposed to a 1.6
@@samthemadman5000 £2650. Pretty good value I think. Cheaper insurance than a lot of options I was looking at, although slightly higher initial purchase price. Having driven my parent's around for a year (or what will be a year when my current policy is up) I plan to look after it for a long while, so it's probably a better spend of my money
@Kieran Martin yeah they go from 2k to 4k usually, maybe 5k for the higher spec... I always thought it was quite a unique car and they've kept decent value if you own one obviously... I have a couple of cars but I'm thinking of getting rid of my Clio for something more unique, but has to stay French lol
Maserati have repeated a lot of the mistakes from the 1980s biturbo with this one, it seems. I would still say that was the worst Maserati ever, though. When looking for a 4-door saloon in this category that's not your typical German brand, I would prefer the Jaguar XF over this one. More people should consider that car.
James, you asked "do you know anyone with a Levante?" Er, yes - we have a Levante V6S GL and are really happy with it. It's been reliable, feels really solidly built and rides and handles well. Bit of a giggle when screaming in sport mode, too. The Diesel is very laggy and probably wasn't the greatest way to introduce the model. I think this may be the nub of the matter - the Levante is really specification sensitive. The exterior looks great in darker colors, lardy in white. Needs the 21 or 22" wheels too. Very different proportions to other SUVs with its long bonnet/set back cabin. Interior can be boring in black and look very Italian in the contrast colors, especially with the Zegna silk option we have. The HMI is familiar from our old Grand Cherokee (and very easy to use), as are the window controls. Engine-wise, the Diesel is reputed to be very laggy and probably wasn't the greatest way to introduce the model. The base V6 is not that quick, but the 430hp S can really go when given the beans and sounds great doing it. The ZF box is great. Not tried a Trofeo. Fuel economy, meh. Dealers are at least an hour away. We bought used at a couple of years old - an absolutely full spec car with optional and expensive paint color - beautiful paint quality btw. New it was 109,000 and we picked it up for half that with warranty, etc. Against a Cayenne of the same vintage it was good value and is much more "special" to own, if not as perfect. I have been lucky enough to have had many Porsches and respect the Cayenne, but they are everywhere. It's like you said - a bit of a left field choice, but one that we are still happy with. Hope this gives you an owner's perspective on the Levante. You are welcome to try ours and make your own mind up...
Yeah and now on the low end a very clean full service records all available example with 90k miles can be bad for £10k. That is the road less traveled for sure but think of the fun you’ll have the admiring looks you’ll get from the lady’s. And most importantly the nods from fellow drivers !
Why did they use the very cheap interior kit from the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart instead of the much nicer Alfa Giulia. This car should have been better.
1- interior is outdated 2- pedal shifter behind the wheel. the fact that they don't turn with the steering wheel is unacceptable. make a sportive usage impossible
never ceases to amaze me, the chavs who think having a load exhaust sounds the same as proper v6+ engine. One is an annoying racket of noise, the other is a thrum that makes you think "ooooh"
Ghibli was the first mass-produced Maserati at an acceptable price - my company is related to its design and manufacturing engineering - but the early version showed poor build quality, especially in the heat systems. Those problems have been resolved since 2018, but they spoiled Maserai's luxury image. My 2018 Ghibli is reliable, so I recently purchased Levante. It has had no issues so far. Even if the depreciation makes me sad, I don't care about it. I have a Cayenne and Polestar2 EV with reasonable depreciation, but it's less fun than the Maserati.
crap car to buy new, tempting bargain for us wierdos once its taken the titanic depreciation and the price has hit the ocean floor EDIT sorry you just said the exact same thing after i typed it, great minds!
People have been making cars for over a century now. You'd think that manufacturers would be able to make parts which don't break every 5 minutes. They could, they just don't care. They pick the crappiest and cheapest parts they can find and put a nice shiny body to cover those shitty parts. It's just unacceptable. If Mercedes, for example, could build almost bulletproof cars in the 70s and 80s, you'd think they could do it again but they won't.
I had a Ghibli diesel from new. I owned it for nearly 5 yrs and did 85,000 miles in it. Never had a thing go wrong and I wish I’d kept it longer. It was a fantastic car that also looked fantastic; it was different from the norm and not only did it make you feel special, it made me smile! I now have a diesel Levante that I’ve owned for 4yrs, done 64,000miles and again, not a thing gone wrong. I’m now looking to change this for the Grecale. I guess I just like cars that are a bit different and have a little Italian flare about them!1
I'm not sure i could ever buy a car called a Ghibli. And I'm an engineer, I'm formally trained not to care about such things. That's how shite of a name it is
It might be different overseas but from my understanding there is no turbo V6 in the Chrysler 300C in the U.S., the only V6 option is a 3.6 L naturally aspirated V6.
I had a 2015 diesel V6 and I loved it. It was very reliable and a pleasure to drive. I’ve had an F-Type and 520i since then but I miss my Maserati. I’m now on the lookout for a petrol V6 - can’t wait!
4:48 did you know those window switches come from a mid 2000s mercedes? the reason why is because of the daimler chrysler merger and chrysle were obviously too cheap to make new window switches so thats why this maserati has window switches from a merc
Very very vet popular lease vehicle here in the States. This is beautiful exotic sedan yet I prefer and recommend Alfa Romeo over the Maserati. The Maseratis cool but I think a bit large for me although a three warranty would on a preowned example might tempt me like your friend Albert.
I have had 2 grandsports nothing went wrong with either but they were used most days and always in sport mode. If they are not regularly used they really don't like it lol!!.
As per fuel burm my saab 9000 is running ~22 mpg and it's Healthy. No idea where you Brits get these Ridiculous fuel burn expectations. All brit car owners seem to claim ludicrous and impossiblly frugal... anywhere else on the planet mpg mnumbers. IF fuel is such a genuine issue ? Buy a tiny KIA. 🙂
It’s a beautiful car no doubt. But it’s unreliable, junk on four wheels. The manufacturer is not concerned about making a reliable car. It’s only about good looks. There nothing right about it. It’s in for repairs a week. Italy should stick to doing something they are good at, making clothes. Give up manufacturing cars. If person like buying junk but one.
I still wait for your review of the Vantage V600 (up until 2000). Visually my favourite car of all time. Come on people. Someone must have a V600 for James to review.
He's trying his best not to say Chrysler. Once Ferrari let go the Quattroporte go in 2013 it's been downhill ever since. They've been trying to live off of it and it's not working.
This man doesn't know what he wants. Sometimes his Maserati engines are unreliable, and then it's a shame to put a Chrysler engine. Well, it's a sin to put a diesel in a Maserati, and then the high consumption bothers him, it's a fellow Maserati, like a Ferrari, it spends more, but it provides that unique Italian sound and handling. We haven't heard anything specific except for stories about breakdowns. Well, every car breaks down, even under warranty, even German buckets.
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This car represents so many weird choices that were made inside the FCA group. The weirdest at least to me was that they still invested a lot of money to develop a hybrid powertrain for the Ghibli so late into it's production, but for example the giorgio platform of the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio was more or less abandoned (no hybrid for you, EVER!) and it received very few meaningfull updates in terms of powertrain options during its (still ongoing) production cycle. Mind boggling that they just poured money into this thing while other brands could have benefited them much more.
Well the new STLA platform is based on the Gorgio platform, it's just been changed slightly for electric cars.
The Giorgio platform is at least used for the Jeep Grand Cherokee
@@marantamil459 only STLA Large is Giorgio based
@@oliverstemp9132 exactly.
Can't agree more. Too bad they are so messed up. They are usually better looking that lets say competitors from BMW and Mercedes but you can't polish a turd as they say.
It was one of my best cars. Had a Ghibli SQ4 over 80000km/3.5y. Only one small issue, similar to the XF, I runned before. Both better than BMW or Merc, I had.
It was an MY2016, the best quality, from MY2018 they did the same as Merc/Audi/BMW - Refinement and shareholder value
There's nothing Maserati offer you can't get elsewhere better. Unless you are one of these people who think these cars have some special intangible value, you're not gonna choose one. The fact is that's very few people. So they don't sell. It's no mystery.
back to back comparison drives with it and Lexus GSF 1.5 yrs ago resulted in GSF. Oh, that V8 and rear torque vectoring diff (gears not bs brakes) just made the gorgeous Maserati not enough. GREAT SOUND Jay in this video.
Though Maseratis are not perfect, I still want one because the engine sounds amazing, the performance, exterior and interior looks so beautiful, and that the seats are so comfortable. I’m okay with the fact that it requires Liqui Moli oil and premium gas.
Please try to drive a Trofeo I'm sure a maserati dealer in your area will allow you to do a review it will change your mind. I've owned a 2015 SQ4, a 2018 Grandsport s, and now a 2021 Trofeo, the Ferrari F154 engine and more updated interior completely transformed the car, very powerful, very reliable dally driver and more entertaining than my M3, thanks for your great reviews and love and passion of cars.
Italian Chrysler 300...nuff said.
Yes I would seriously love a Ghibli or a Quattroporte ... it is the risks around quality and reliability that really do concern me.
I am given to understand that one should not really order a Ghibli with the diesel engine option, its a rather crude basic 3.0 diesel used in some common American cars, and one should therefore order the petrol car.
Would a Ghibli or Quattroporte be suitable as a daily driver ... would it. They are certainly a lot more beautiful and also more interesting than 90% of what's coming out from the Germans.
It will be a plunge ... a leap of faith ... and a Premium Platinum breakdown recovery contract just in case.
Giving the success that fca has had, upgrading several others models under their umbrella, why is such an iconic, niche brand, still being swept under the rug? A little more r&d, Time in testing the engines durability instead of using the customer's as their test mules... I do have hopes for the Grecali. Will wait to see if Maserati has pulled up their boot straps.
A Maserati is a terrible car that is nowhere near what you’re paying for. Before you ask where my Maserati is (my daily is a 911), I’ve had the privilege of driving my father’s Gran Turismo on numerous occasions and my ex had a Levante. I expected so much for the price and was left wondering, why do they cost so much? The value for the money isn’t there for me, and that depreciation is a monster.
The local Fiat, Alfa, Lancia dealer went bankrupt last month.
Two tons of fun!
I drove a low mileage 2017 Ghibli SQ4 for about a year. Mine had the two tone black and tan interior with dark walnut trim and a sunroof. The interior and the trunk space is what sold me on the car. It was entirely trouble-free and the only reason I traded it off for a GTI was that it was simply too bulky to drive and park in a small college town. I never regretted my short period of Maserati ownership.
There’s no doubt that they are a beautiful looking car, I’d love to see how the SQ4 compares to the 2 wheel drive and my current C7 RS6, this is the one I think is more special than the rest.
@@simonelliott5956 They're excellent to drive and be driven into too...
Bro exactly I don’t know why people always talk shit about these cars. I have owned mine for about five years and it has been one of the greatest vehicles compared to other Mercedes s classes that I’ve also owned.
@@freespirit2520 They talk shit out of pure jealousy.
@@freespirit2520 I've had mine for five years and it has been a joy. Zero problems; minor maintenance. I have no idea why these video 'critics' crap on these cars.
That cut to Joe was absolutely brilliant 😂 I instantly thought of him when you mentioned "people buying an M3 every year" 🤷🏼♂️
I personally wonder why anyone would compare this to an M3 in the first place. Completely different direction of buyers.
@@Corvolet5 And also, why is it implied that he buys an M3 every year. I don't get it.
I drive a Ghibli and in its 150.000km so far, the only thing that ever broke was a small tear in an induction hose at +/- 100K.
Apart from that, it has been flawless. Brilliant car and still so beautiful (especially with the 21" wheels).
Also noteworthy: the car in the video has the cheaper interior. The full leather interior (dash, tops of door carts, etc.) and alcantara headliner transform the interior.
I had the cheaper interior in a few loaners when mine was in for services and it makes it look extremely cheap on the inside IMHO.
There are cars you buy with your brain, and there are cars you buy with your heart. Maseratis belong definitely in the second category. Especially the older ones. As a pretty well-situated software engineer with a not-that-shabby income, I was never crazy enough to buy one, although I absolutely loved the Shamal and the 80s QP. I was silly enough, though, to gift myself an Alfa Montreal for the fun times and marry a Lancia Gamma Coupé, my eternal love (besides other escapades that came and left). I drove the Gamma for over 16 years, regularly and as my first car. I made over 260k km. With the original motor and transmission (!). Probably World record. And, surprise, surprise, it cost me a fortune. And quite a few adventurous moments. And meltdowns. Every. Single. Year. But when I finally let her go, my heart literally broke. There are cars you buy with your heart. Who cares about the brain.
The problem is that Maseratis have rarely had enough heart appeal to overrule the head. From the Biturbo to the the Quattroporte IV, they were all ugly as sin and powered by charmless engines that didn't like to rev. The 3200 was an improvement, but the 4200 was much better (although still not exactly pretty). The GranTurismo was a major step in the right direction, but the angry ant-eater nose and Audi-alike rear didn't help. Neither did the lack of a manual option. The only Masers that really appeal to me are the old straight-six ones from the Fifties, and the criminally underrated Khamsin.
@@richardharrold9736 We have to differentiate the realities of the time periods. I'm 58 and had my fast-and-furious time in the mid/late 80s to the 90s. Back then you had no YT and IG, and Italian exotics were toys for the rich. Living in Switzerland, even with my 70 to 100k yearly income, Ferraris and Lambos were out of my league, but Maseratis could've been affordable if you were fortunate and all went smoothly. The 82 QP was my dream but I knew it would end in financial suicide, even the 82 Gamma Coupé was a nightmare to maintain (let alone the Montreal, which I drove way less, tho, so it cost me less). Didn't like the Biturbo but the Khamsin was a delight for the eye, I absolutely agree.
I like the (most) modern Maseratis in regard to their look, more than any model of the competition (BMW & Co). IMO they lack in quality, though, for the price they're sold. And in my eyes, it was a mistake to add a "cheap" entry-level (Ghibli), it washed out the brand. I personally would've seen Maserati in the mid-luxury sedan/coupé/SUV segment, complementing Ferrari covering the sports/super/hypercar niche. With adequate performance and quality, of course. And Alfa covering the middle class (great job here, I must say).
@@JustARandomFio the QP3 with the old V8 would probably have been alright. The problem came when they chopped off two cylinders and downsized the remaining ones to make a turbocharged V6 - it was unbalanced, unreliable, rev-shy and charmless. The modern Ghibli could and should have been a success, if only they'd invested in a better interior and better engines. A bigger 3.6 litre naturally-aspirated V6 as an entry level model, and longer-stroke versions of the old F136 V8 up to around six litres would have made a lot more sense than just a rebadged turbocharged 3-litre Chrysler Pentastar.
There is a third category. Cars that your penis buys, that your head and heart later scream, too late, "WTAF!" (many Maseratis fit within this category)
@@Mike7O7O what, you mean cars you think will get you women? Because that rarely if ever works as intended. More likely to pull adenoidal men reciting statistics and/or hackneyed myths.
I got the diesel for all the reasons you mentioned, servicing can be done by any local mechanic and I still think wow every time I walk up to it to get in. It also does 50mpg!
Does your heart not die a little bit every time you turn the key and instead of a banshee wail, you're underwhelmed by an agricultural clatter?
The issue with the diesel is like buying a Bugatti then replacing the engine with a electric motor absolutely pointless exercise
@@bmwman1981
In your opinion. His money, his choice and certainly better looking and feeling than a 3/4 series.
I also have the diesel. 4 years of ownership and it has only cost me for tyres, servicing and brakes. It's a great car and always gets admiring looks and comments. As for the sound of the diesel, put it in sport and it sounds fantastic to me. It's no V8 sound but it certainly sounds better than it's German competitors. Yes they are better cars overall but this is far far more special. Let's face it how many times do you pull into a supermarket car park and think wow look at that 5 series. Well I never notice them but you can't miss the Maserati if you like cars, especially a white one like mine with red calipers. It's beautiful in my opinion.
@@amateurgolfreviewer3943 fellow white Ghibli owner 👍, why have a boring German diesel when you can enjoy life 🙏
My neighbour had an Mc stradale,quite possibly the best sounding "normal" car I've ever heard..the noise from that thing was simply sublime..
Even the mid 2000s QP sound incredible. I remember one passing me as I was walking and I could feel the sublime V8 rumble moving my internal organs 😂
This is exactly what attracted me to Maserati's! That era sound incredible...
Was driving near a late model Ghibli on the freeway only a few days ago, and they have definitely gotten quite large - even as a terminal car nerd, I had to get quite close to it to realize it was in fact a Ghibli and not a Quattroporte. Either way, it's a good day when you spot anything "exotic", out here on the roads, in rural Australia. Cheers!
Have they grown? News to me.
Great Video, I own a diesel Ghibli and also own a garage, Servicing isn't an issue for me, reliability hasn't been an issue either. I drive it every day to work, cover 1000 miles PM and enjoy every minute of driving it. I watch a million videos before I bought, and despite the criticism in every video I still bought one. I mapped mine straight away, went from 275BHP - 600NM to 305BHP and 660NM, this transformed the car to what a Maserati should be and feel like. I understand the tyre wear, I had Pirelli MGT's which lasted 3000 miles on the rear as a commuter car - not happy. If you'd like to try it out let me know. Mel
Diesel Masarati: ~grim.
@@alech8336 You can always pay us to drive a gasoline one if youre so offended by this. I dont know about him but I wont complain.
Thank you for your comment it gave me a sense of relief. I test drove a 2015 diesel with 80k miles and loved it. Put down my deposit as it has to get a service, mot and a 2 wheel refurb. I pick it on Friday but was becoming concerned as every review I’ve seen was negative but now I’m happy thanks to your comment 👍 cheers mate.
I drive a ‘14 Ghibli diesel for my 5th year now. It just turned over the 200k km’s, and it has been flawless. The only thing that ‘broke’ was the soundbooster system (yep, they have one..). Sooner or later those all go (also with Audi…). Further I still enjoy it every day! It is still a great drive! The best ‘update’ I gave it a few years ago was loosing the P-zero’s, and switch to Michelin Pilot Sport 4s.
My Maserati GranTurismo was 100% reliable, sounded great, looked good and I wasn’t ripped off at a main dealer for servicing. I drove it for 3 years before selling it to some chap in Dublin Beat that!
I used to have a blue Ghibli, but mine was a 1969 4.7 and looked like a really special car, not a sedan. A very visceral car, heavy clutch, heavy steering, loud, beautiful.
Those are very special. Always liked them. Those can actually be found in car museums. I have doubts the same will be said about the current iteration.
@@heiner71 Mine, AM115870, wasn't perfect, but was an event to drive. A grey market import to the US, Euro spec, 4.7l. A big, heavy beast, it rumbled and roared.
A real Maserati, I just think the brand has lost its way now.
I've got a '69 Alfa 1750 GTV. These cars are Italian mistresses. Lovely to ride, give 'em a good fierce drive. They'll throw temper tantrums without warning. Embarrass you in public. Let you down and leave you stranded. Empty your bank account. Lovely, magnificent, beautiful, cruel and an experience we'll never forget.
@@raypurchase801 My Alfas were quite reliable, I was never left stranded by one and I had many. The GTV is a beautiful car!
I prefer the design of the Quattroporte.
Had my 2015 Ghibli petrol for 3 years as a daily driver and it hasn't put a foot wrong. JayEmm, I think you nailed the review. For me I wanted something that would stand out in a sea of Mercs, Audi's and Beemers and put a smile on my face. The Ghibli definitely does that.
I bought my 2013 Jaguar XF (X250, LCI) four years ago for the same reason ... but kept my 6 Series coupé (E63, LCI).
“I’m more curious about a car that is interesting rather than competent” will be etched on my gravestone.
I've owned one of these for the last two years. Touch wood, it's been faultlessly reliable. I think you nailed the main points in your review. The switchgear and infotainment being robbed from various Jeep products does cheapen the interior a little, but overall I find it a nice and relaxing place to be. I looked at buying a 6-series Grand Coupe instead of the Ghibli, and dynamically, performance wise etc it would probably have been a much better car, but the Ghibli handles beautifully when you really press on, other than at least in the spec I have, it is very undersprung. I bought with my eyes open, expecting it to need frequent attention from a specialist (main dealers are laughably expensive - I think they assume that Ghibli owners have pockets as deep as someone buying an MC20!), but it has been fine. Finally, it's a Maserati, so you always get people asking interested questions about it, asking to have a look inside etc - you don't get that with a BMW!
Good unbiased review. Interesting comment about the Levante, my Wife has a 22 plate GT Hybrid, with the Nerissimo pack which really improves the looks and gives it bigger brakes, wheels and tyres. After years of RR Sports and a Velar (don’t) she really loves it. Ride on the road is good, handling whilst better than a RRS isn’t as good as my SQ8 or a Cayenne, but not bad. Despite being a hybrid fuel economy isn’t great but performance is ok and somehow it still sounds ok, though not as nice as that Ghibli. New Masers today come with a 3 year warranty and service package as standard, a bit like the Ferrari 7 year one, so nothing to pay for service and parts for the three years she’ll probably keep it for - not bad. Level of kit is good, and I like the Tom Tom Nav with Average speed camera countdown. Service is by Graypaul in Nottingham so it’s Ferrari, and so far for routine stuff they’re very good. What clinched it for her was a recent trip to the Savoy Theatre, running late and the doorman offered to valet park her car and it stayed right outside next to the Bentley’s, Astons etc 😁
Hello, I have had a 2018 Gran Lusso SQ4 for 2 years. Champagne coloured bodywork and sand coloured wood and leather interior. I have had a lot of fun with this car. The engine is smooth, you can drive comfortably but when you get into the revs it is raging, almost like a race engine. Always a smile at the wheel. The boot is also very good. Just the dimensions are bigger than you think when you see it, because the bodywork is very well sculpted. Not always easy to park it in a small parking space. But you feel so special driving it. You feel the whole Maserati history, the GT comfort with a race car DNA.
My dad had a Diesel (🤫) version, the engine wasn’t bad at all, as diesels go. It did have some niggles, I recall the AC having a problem that took longer to repair than it should, but nothing major went wrong.
The worse part was the radio, which was completely useless and wouldn’t retune the BBC stations as you moved around so you had to keep manually changing it. When my dad mentioned this conversationally to the service manager at Maserati, he said “if it’s any comfort it’s just as bad in a Ferrari” which didn’t comfort 😂
I also think the rear is ugly and it’s hasn’t got better with age yet. The earlier generation of Quattroporte is still best looking Maserati 4 door.
I really sage your comments on the infotainment system. I was in a Dodge Ram that had the *exact* same interface, which just shouldn’t happen. 😅
It was also a bit of a barge, parking it in car parks, you have to have your wits because it filled most spaces, how it would ever fit in an Italian road I don’t know. I think it was designed for the American market mostly because the best part I found about it was it was one the of the best long distance cruisers for the money. The seats were comfortable and supportive and you could drive for 5 hours and get out and not have any aches or pains and pair that here to a diesel and your time between fill ups was minimal.
Also people came up and made positive comments, the name Maserati just holds some much more provenance than 90% of marques out there. My dad secretly misses it and it whilst it did have some of that ’Mazza Magic’ it was compromised too much elsewhere.
I drive a ‘14 Ghibli diesel (yes haters, a diesel!) for my fifth year now, and it has been nothing else but flawless (over 200k km’s now…). You are spot on about the tires; the best upgrade I gave it was switching from the P-zero’s to the Michelin Pilot Sport 4s: last 2x as long, and the drive is much better. That all pré-17 models broke is not something I read on the (international) forums I am an member of, and we share all our experiences there, good and bad. The best part of your review is the negative undertone. It allows ordinary people like yours truly to drive this delicious car for a bargain. If I think back to the big diesels I drove from Audi (camshaft problems (and yes, those went all!), timing chain tensioners, tiptronics…) and BMW (transfer box issues (Audi Quattro system is so much better) and timing chain issues) I am so glad I don’t get those garage bills anymore. So keep up the good work! Oh, and by the way, it doesn’t weigh 2 tons, it ís the only 4 door saloon with a proper handling (Maserati created 51/49 weight) and indeed a has a bullit proof gearbox (ZF 8HP) and the engine is built by MV-Motori (yes, it is Italian…), and is not the same as in the Jeep etc (Maserati uses the A630HP-version) but has strong similarities: it delivers 600Nm at 2.000 rpm, but can be upgraded to 720Nm (and Nm*Rpm/9550=Kw….). It sounds pretty decent in sport, but nothing beats the sound of the petrols! So thanks again 🙏!!
I always loved the shape of it and would love to own a Maserati one day, but in my view, if you're going to ignore sensible advice, why not go all the way and get a Quattroporte of the previous shape and with the ZF auto box instead? Certainly you'd get the impression of driving something more exclusive when you're inside the car and those things matter when choosing a Maserati, don't they?
Spot on review. I've got a 2020 Lavante V6 petrol, chopped in a range rover (I'll get over that bad new car experience in a couple of years) for the Maserati in 2022. Now Maserati's are heavy/solid/premium/well built/reliable.....but as I said I did own a Range Rover before. so Maserati v JLR....no contest the Maserati wins in every category!
Honestly i think the interior is quiet nice. High quality leather everywhere and beautiful carbon fiber trim (not that one in the video). And personally i prefer this tipe of climate comands to the touch screens that everybody mounts nowadays
I wouldn’t worry if you did loose Joe Achilles as a “loyal subscriber”. I used to subscribe to him until he launched a scathing attack on me on Instagram after making a light hearted joke about him appearing on everyone’s channels. Which, when I said it, I didn’t mean horribly as I had always enjoyed his content, but having tried reaching out to him in an effort to smooth the situation over, I was just ignored, proving him to be a bit of a numpty.
Everyone I’ve ever known to actually own a Ghibli, or actually ANY Maserati, has loved the car on the rare occasions it worked properly.
What utter rubbish. I have a Ghibli S 2014. Its been back to the garage once, for an injector plug that popped off when it was almost new. They are far more ordinary than a QP GTS and do not suffer the variator issues than make the F136 engined Maseratis a liability.
A Ghibli can be serviced by your local garage - its no more complex than a 5 series. Mine is well built and has done 50k miles with only that one hiccup.
Brakes are expensive as there are no pattern parts, but not criminally so.
The S is thirsty, but thats always been the price of a Maserati.
And you don't look a knob driving it like you do in an M3.
Seriously considered this when they came out.
Laughably over-priced in NA where there were almost no dealers, little market presence and the cloud of awful Italian reliability of years past.
Bought a 300C Hemi AWD instead - far less $$ and put 380k Kms on it.
Marchione made such a mess of FCA…
A car design anime would be amazing, maybe Studio Ghibli could make it. "Like the Wind Rises" is a great film which follows a Japanese aircraft designer. This is a fitting car for the studio, since it shares the name, it's meant to be.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia is a much better car, while the exhaust note of the 4cyl model is not that great, it handles very well and is lighter than the Chrysler Ghibli.
Glad i went for an XJ over this. Went for a test drive in 1 and my god, the fiat/chrysler switches just reek through.
Interior creaks, the all "pretty seats" which are not that comfortable at all, a joke of an entertainment system, and that steering wheel is HUGE with rubbish feedback. Back seat space is a joke for a car of that size. The petrol may sound great but cant be forgiven of how the rest of the car is.
I’ve had multiple Maseratis and though the 2014+ cars are far more reliable, well built, and modern, there are changes I don’t like. Using a small engine with turbos is the main problem. Feels all wrong. The old naturally aspirated V8s were perfect. There’s a massive dead spot when you first take off, then all the power kicks in. Very annoying. I solved it on my wife’s Levante with a thing you plug in to the pedal to kill the dead spot. I tested the new Quattroporte and walked away. Keep in mind I’ve had a QP III, QPV, and even imported a QPIV to the US just this month from Japan. They are all superior. Now Maserati is going electric so there’s only the past to look to.
Please consider not flapping your elbows when speaking, it's quite distracting.
You should try my fathers 1971 Indy! was his daily driver back in the 80's
Trofeo version of this is masterful, way more interesting than anything German.
Fantastic balanced and fair review. The likes of Doug de Muro helped kill the model. Driven a few but never pulled the trigger - mainly because IMO, the Ghibli should have had the Alfa Giulia V6. Terrific noise though and a great buy used.
Internet douchebags don't kill cars. 90% of potential owners don't care for or even know reviews from social media "experts".
Maserati has been ruining their own reputation since before Doug was born.
Doug has become a caricature of himself these days - he is just painful to listen too and watch
I think the opposite. The Giulia should have included this V6 as an option, between the L4 and the QV.
Such a disappointing car. With the old QP, the moment you sit in it, you know you are in something special and a cut above the Mercedes E, BMW 3 etc. of that generation. The interior on this is just so so bad it’s a complete non-starter for me.
I test drove the v6 petrol Ghibli, and whilst there was no doubt it was a stunning car, it felt huge, somehow difficult to place on smaller B roads. The engine was also somewhat of a letdown for me too, it seemed a bit slow to rouse, making the car feel sluggish.
I test drove a Giulia Veloce immediately after; that was a revelation! Similar dimensions and layout, yet it felt far more driver-focussed, nimble and agile. I also felt the Alfa's interior was more robust and better put together. I puchased the Alfa.
Everyone tries to autoconvince themselves about their decisions... The Giulia is in no way simmilar size wise nor it has a more "robust" or "better put together" interior. The QA of the Ghibli likely takes 10 times more effort than on your run of the mill mass manufactured Alfa sedan.
@@an-dr6euas a four door saloon, 29cm difference in length, 8cm difference in width is close enough as makes no odds. 100,000th Ghibli rolled off the production line in 2021- hardly low-volume. I can only say what I experienced myself first hand; there was nothing special about the Ghibli's interior plastics, the vents were fragile and the leather was poorly finished.
The Alfa is far better than the maserati. Namely due to the 2 billion euro investment in the new giorgio platform architecture. Chassis stiffness, weight distribution, suspension geometry is all superior in the alfa. Maserati has done cosmetic refreshes and look sharp, but are ultimately old outdated cars.
@@anthonyknox1493 The giulia has a very weak engine, poor interior and poor reliability. The Ghibli is a far better car 100k in 8 years is low volume; the leather is the best i've seen in a luxury car.
We've had a 2016 Ghibli S for just over 1 year and 19000 miles. It's had an on/off brake judder problem which is finally getting sorted by the dealer. Apart from the brake problem it is a wonderful car. When the dealer has sorted the brake judder we will offer you a test drive. Tyres, the Pirelli's are awful so we put 4 M PS4s which are wonderful. Sports Italia service ours, £700 or so. Fuel, 30 mpg on a run, 18 around town. Interior, ours has the super soft leather with red stitching (which is amazing). Sun roof is a waste of time. 410bhp is plenty. Turbo lag can be annoying.
Do you know what was causing the brake judder? Also I’m surprised to hear it suffered with lag.
Thanks J, Maserati content always good! Shame this seems to be another 'almost' car, like a lot of Alfas. We all just keep hoping that the next one will be the 'one', if the company survives! 🙏🙏
A big diesel salloon just as diesels went out of fashion. If this was released in 2004 it would of been a game changer
Absolutely agreed. There is nothing interesting in an M3. But there is about the Ghibli.
You can't compare those two cars. Think about the driving dynamics of both. A Ghibli is for driving to the golf club and then driving to a museum. An M3 is a proper drivers car.
Surely an E46 is interesting if the sub frame might fall off at any moment?
@@johnmitchell2269But it's dull. As are the people that drive them...
@@GryphLane Yes, if you drive fast cars at 20mph under the speed limit, of course they will be dull. Fast cars were not built to be driven like a milk float.
@@GryphLane You drive a Ford Mondeo but you got so much to say about other people getting excited. Maybe concentrate on getting a better car first.
Lovely car.
I'd be terrified to own one.
The Ghibli has fantastic road presence and it seems most of it's foibles are generally forgivable. A shame Maserati failed to imbue the Ghibli's interior with the bespoke flare an Italian marque is expected to deliver in this class. Particularly a marque which on some level must share shelving space with Alfa Romeo.
These are still beautiful cars, but I think they should have replaced it whit a new generation based on the awesome Giorgio platform after the Giulia was introduced.
I once drove a Quattroporte, the previous generation. It still has a special place in my memory. It felt like a small hot hatch, nimble and fast in a way you wouldn't deem possible for car of that size. I drove Panamera few days after that and it felt like a whale on the beach. Unresponsive, dull, boring, uninspired, unimaginative, heavy lump of crap.
Makes the LC500 look liek fantastic value for money.
Don't need a Maserati to do that. LC500 is among the most underappreciated current models by far.
This generation of Ghibli just doesnt look at that special. the design seems lazy, it doesnt look refined. So even if this car was magically reliable and all, it doesnt quite spark interest.
Maserati is a company that I don't understand why they still exist. None of their models appeals to me.
A surprisingly positive review. As always, informative and fun to watch! 👍
I have a 2018 Ghibli Gran Sport. Beautiful trouble free car. Pure class.
At least people don't cringe when they see the front end unlike the current BMW front!
My local garage owner has a diesel one. It looks incredible and actually sounds really good.
He likes it because of the amount of Chrysler parts available at a fraction of Maserati parts.
My 3.0ltr supercharged XJ does similar mpg, a couple of mpg better on a run and on average but when you buy a car like that you understand that's a price you pay. I got mine on 16000 miles for under £19000 and it has all the presence and exclusivity you want. Plus there's a 2 specialists in my local area.
I think it's a bit harsh for that salesman to say that the Ghibli is the worst thing Maserati have made. The Bi-Turbo was surely worse. Chronically unreliable, very expensive to run, and anyone seeing it thinks that you're driving a Hyundai Stellar.
I cannot complain about James’ passionate nature reflects in his videos, but how he remains relatively unbiased. Great work as per usual!
My friend has me looking at the Renault Wind as a first car and I have to say I quite like it. Opinions?
1.2 or 1.6? Nice from the back and sides but not so much from the front... very reliable too... decent hp for a first car
@@samthemadman5000 The reliability record is surprisingly positive. I’ve been looking at the 1.2s as they seem more common, but I wouldn’t be opposed to a 1.6
@@Kay_Emm_ how much is it up for sale for?
@@samthemadman5000 £2650. Pretty good value I think. Cheaper insurance than a lot of options I was looking at, although slightly higher initial purchase price. Having driven my parent's around for a year (or what will be a year when my current policy is up) I plan to look after it for a long while, so it's probably a better spend of my money
@Kieran Martin yeah they go from 2k to 4k usually, maybe 5k for the higher spec... I always thought it was quite a unique car and they've kept decent value if you own one obviously... I have a couple of cars but I'm thinking of getting rid of my Clio for something more unique, but has to stay French lol
Maserati have repeated a lot of the mistakes from the 1980s biturbo with this one, it seems. I would still say that was the worst Maserati ever, though. When looking for a 4-door saloon in this category that's not your typical German brand, I would prefer the Jaguar XF over this one. More people should consider that car.
James, you asked "do you know anyone with a Levante?"
Er, yes - we have a Levante V6S GL and are really happy with it. It's been reliable, feels really solidly built and rides and handles well. Bit of a giggle when screaming in sport mode, too. The Diesel is very laggy and probably wasn't the greatest way to introduce the model. I think this may be the nub of the matter - the Levante is really specification sensitive. The exterior looks great in darker colors, lardy in white. Needs the 21 or 22" wheels too. Very different proportions to other SUVs with its long bonnet/set back cabin. Interior can be boring in black and look very Italian in the contrast colors, especially with the Zegna silk option we have. The HMI is familiar from our old Grand Cherokee (and very easy to use), as are the window controls.
Engine-wise, the Diesel is reputed to be very laggy and probably wasn't the greatest way to introduce the model. The base V6 is not that quick, but the 430hp S can really go when given the beans and sounds great doing it. The ZF box is great. Not tried a Trofeo. Fuel economy, meh. Dealers are at least an hour away.
We bought used at a couple of years old - an absolutely full spec car with optional and expensive paint color - beautiful paint quality btw. New it was 109,000 and we picked it up for half that with warranty, etc. Against a Cayenne of the same vintage it was good value and is much more "special" to own, if not as perfect. I have been lucky enough to have had many Porsches and respect the Cayenne, but they are everywhere. It's like you said - a bit of a left field choice, but one that we are still happy with.
Hope this gives you an owner's perspective on the Levante.
You are welcome to try ours and make your own mind up...
Glad to hear you're happy with your Maser. The Levante strikes me as the most spirited of it's sports-luxo SUV bracket.
I'd love to see a review on the trofero - haven't seen any content on that car!
I asked, but Maserati UK don't really like to respond
Because it is neither a SUV or a wagon..
Yeah and now on the low end a very clean full service records all available example with 90k miles can be bad for £10k. That is the road less traveled for sure but think of the fun you’ll have the admiring looks you’ll get from the lady’s. And most importantly the nods from fellow drivers !
I am seriously considering the 6th gen quattroporte. I would love for you to have a look voice your opinion on it James :)
What a terrible car company. Truly shocking.
At what point did Maserati ever think…..Ooooohhhh that’s a good looking car?
That car would have looked dated in the 1990’s,never mind now
Why did they use the very cheap interior kit from the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart instead of the much nicer Alfa Giulia. This car should have been better.
Grantursmo for me, the look and sound make it special …
1- interior is outdated
2- pedal shifter behind the wheel. the fact that they don't turn with the steering wheel is unacceptable. make a sportive usage impossible
never ceases to amaze me, the chavs who think having a load exhaust sounds the same as proper v6+ engine. One is an annoying racket of noise, the other is a thrum that makes you think "ooooh"
You forgot to mention that there is now a 4 cylinder version of the Ghibli which makes it even worse
Ghibli was the first mass-produced Maserati at an acceptable price - my company is related to its design and manufacturing engineering - but the early version showed poor build quality, especially in the heat systems. Those problems have been resolved since 2018, but they spoiled Maserai's luxury image.
My 2018 Ghibli is reliable, so I recently purchased Levante. It has had no issues so far.
Even if the depreciation makes me sad, I don't care about it.
I have a Cayenne and Polestar2 EV with reasonable depreciation, but it's less fun than the Maserati.
crap car to buy new, tempting bargain for us wierdos once its taken the titanic depreciation and the price has hit the ocean floor
EDIT sorry you just said the exact same thing after i typed it, great minds!
People have been making cars for over a century now. You'd think that manufacturers would be able to make parts which don't break every 5 minutes.
They could, they just don't care. They pick the crappiest and cheapest parts they can find and put a nice shiny body to cover those shitty parts. It's just unacceptable. If Mercedes, for example, could build almost bulletproof cars in the 70s and 80s, you'd think they could do it again but they won't.
I can’t tell You how much I wanted the Ghibli to be Wonderful and How Disappointed I Was When It Wasn’t!!!!
3:00 - I suppose the appeal of a Maserati is the badge and the noise. Doesn't need to be 9 or 10/10
I had a Ghibli diesel from new. I owned it for nearly 5 yrs and did 85,000 miles in it. Never had a thing go wrong and I wish I’d kept it longer. It was a fantastic car that also looked fantastic; it was different from the norm and not only did it make you feel special, it made me smile! I now have a diesel Levante that I’ve owned for 4yrs, done 64,000miles and again, not a thing gone wrong. I’m now looking to change this for the Grecale. I guess I just like cars that are a bit different and have a little Italian flare about them!1
I'm not sure i could ever buy a car called a Ghibli. And I'm an engineer, I'm formally trained not to care about such things. That's how shite of a name it is
It might be different overseas but from my understanding there is no turbo V6 in the Chrysler 300C in the U.S., the only V6 option is a 3.6 L naturally aspirated V6.
1:42 this is so true! They’ve always seemed like quite an attractive weekend car for me but you read the reviews and quickly move onto anything else 😅
I had a 2015 diesel V6 and I loved it. It was very reliable and a pleasure to drive. I’ve had an F-Type and 520i since then but I miss my Maserati. I’m now on the lookout for a petrol V6 - can’t wait!
How was the fuel consumption with the Diesel?
@@TheMusicFan1297 I used to get 50mpg on the motorway. I now have a two litre hybrid - love it!
This car is a victim of Internet. It's a pretty car and the issues are overblown and exaggerated for clicks. People are morons. This is a good car.
4:48 did you know those window switches come from a mid 2000s mercedes? the reason why is because of the daimler chrysler merger and chrysle were obviously too cheap to make new window switches so thats why this maserati has window switches from a merc
Very very vet popular lease vehicle here in the States. This is beautiful exotic sedan yet I prefer and recommend Alfa Romeo over the Maserati. The Maseratis cool but I think a bit large for me although a three warranty would on a preowned example might tempt me like your friend Albert.
I have had 2 grandsports nothing went wrong with either but they were used most days and always in sport mode. If they are not regularly used they really don't like it lol!!.
As per fuel burm my saab 9000 is running ~22 mpg and it's Healthy.
No idea where you Brits get these Ridiculous fuel burn expectations. All brit car owners seem to claim ludicrous and impossiblly frugal... anywhere else on the planet mpg mnumbers.
IF fuel is such a genuine issue ? Buy a tiny KIA. 🙂
It’s a beautiful car no doubt. But it’s unreliable, junk on four wheels. The manufacturer is not concerned about making a reliable car. It’s only about good looks. There nothing right about it. It’s in for repairs a week. Italy should stick to doing something they are good at, making clothes. Give up manufacturing cars. If person like buying junk but one.
I still wait for your review of the Vantage V600 (up until 2000). Visually my favourite car of all time. Come on people. Someone must have a V600 for James to review.
He's trying his best not to say Chrysler. Once Ferrari let go the Quattroporte go in 2013 it's been downhill ever since. They've been trying to live off of it and it's not working.
This man doesn't know what he wants. Sometimes his Maserati engines are unreliable, and then it's a shame to put a Chrysler engine. Well, it's a sin to put a diesel in a Maserati, and then the high consumption bothers him, it's a fellow Maserati, like a Ferrari, it spends more, but it provides that unique Italian sound and handling. We haven't heard anything specific except for stories about breakdowns. Well, every car breaks down, even under warranty, even German buckets.
Financial catastrophe i'm afraid.
Right hand drive. Keep on keeping on. I hate to say this. I think royals should be dating/marrying Amooricans.