2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo Review: Better After Ferrari Transplant?
The Maserati Ghibli Trofeo is an Italian car - or is it? In the past, Maserati has received a lot of criticism for sharing parts within the FCA Group, now known as Stellantis. We understand the complaint, as nothing ruins your day quite like finding out that your $100,000 Maserati has the same infotainment system as a $30,000 Chrysler 300. The latter criticism is no longer relevant, though, as the Ghibli received a welcome technology update last year. Some of the cheaper Stellantis switchgear remains, however, which isn't ideal when you're going up against dominant players like the BMW M5. Maserati's Ghibli has been with us since 2014, so it should have bowed out gracefully by now. Instead, the Italian brand is doubling down by bolting a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged Ferrari-sourced V8 under the hood of the Ghibli Trofeo. Is this 580-horsepower V8 enough to save the Ghibli, or should Maserati do what Elsa did, and just let it go?
What's the Price of the 2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo?
The price of the Maserati Ghibli Trofeo for 2022 is $112,700, excluding the $1,495 destination charge in the USA. To put that into context, a BMW M5 retails for $103,700. The BMW M550i xDrive is also faster and delivers a similar driving experience for $76,800.
2022 Ghibli Trofeo Exterior
Dimensions
Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Front Width | Rear Width | Curb Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
195.7 in | 118.0 in | 57.5 in | 76.6 in | 64.4 in | 65.1 in | 4,341.0 lbs |
2022 Ghibli Trofeo Performance
Handling and Driving Impressions
We know this might sound odd, but the Maserati feels more like a muscle car than a finely-tuned performance sedan. First, there's the launch control. It's your basic left foot on the brake, right foot on the throttle setup, but it's not as advanced as the more modern offerings. While most modern cars will shoot off the line without the tires chirping, the Maserati still allows for some spinning. You can feel the limited-slip differential working before it hurls you at the horizon.
Before we go any further, it's worth remembering that this is not a track car. Both its German rivals would have no trouble decimating it on a track. Their AWD systems allow them to slingshot out of a corner while the Ghibli is still trying its best to find some grip. It's not without its charms, though. The steering is rapid and precise but lacks feel. The chassis is nicely balanced, however. In Corsa mode, it will understeer at the limit, which gives you one of two options. Either back off or give it the boot and get the rear out. The Ghibli is easy to handle in both scenarios.
If anything, this Maserati is even better at going slow. In the ICE driving mode, the entire car is more relaxed. It's a carefree cruiser with no hints that it has 580 somewhat neutered Italian horses underneath the hood. The suspension soaks up the bumps, allowing you to sit back and enjoy the fact that you own a Maserati. The question is, does that still mean something?
2022 Ghibli Trofeo Interior
2022 Ghibli Trofeo Trunk and Cargo Space
Warranty
Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance |
---|---|---|---|
4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles |
Verdict: Is the 2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo A Good car?
The standard Ghibli range is a collection of handsome cars that are more expensive yet not quite as good as their direct rivals. Unfortunately, the same is true of the Trofeo model. You do get a 580-hp twin-turbocharged V8 with Ferrari roots, but that's not quite good enough in a world where cars with more than 600 horses are the norm. You can also opt for a less powerful but more engaging Porsche Panamera 4S. And let's not forget about the extremely handsome and mighty Audi RS6 Avant, which, to our eyes, looks even better than the Ghibli. You won't be buying a Ghibli using only logic. Emotion plays a huge role, especially when it comes to Italian cars.
There is another Italian thorn in Maserati's side, however. While Maserati has slowly wasted away over the years, its annoying little brother has been producing a series of magnificent vehicles. We're talking about Alfa Romeo. The Giulia Quadrifoglio blew everyone away in 2017, and even today, it's a better, more rounded car than the Ghibli. It might play in a segment below, but you could almost buy a Guilia QV and a Ti trim Stelvio SUV and end up paying around the same as you would for the Ghibli, give or take a few optional extras. We suppose the Ghibli is a good car in isolation, but the allure of the competition is just too strong. Not even a Ferrari heart transplant is enough to keep it relevant.
What Maserati Ghibli Trofeo Model Should I Buy?
There's only one model, but we'll explore all the options. We'd go for the Bianco Alpi exterior hue, with 21-inch black forged alloy wheels and red brake calipers. The carbon fiber interior package and the Bowers & Wilkens surround-sound system are other additions we'd add. Configured in this way, the Trofeo will cost $120,100 excluding the destination charge.
2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo Comparisons
2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo vs Maserati Quattroporte
The Quattroporte is the Ghibli's bigger brother. It's also available with the 580-hp V8, but in Trofeo guise, it costs $145,900. You can, however, get into a Quattroporte S for a little less than a Ghibli Trofeo. The Quattroporte Modena uses a twin-turbocharged V6 producing 424 hp, which gets it to 60 mph in around five seconds. Since the QP is more of a BMW 7 Series rival, you get more comfort and space than in the Ghibli. The 2022 Quattroporte also has the new 10.1-inch infotainment system.
While the Ghibli Trofeo may not be as sporty as you'd expect, it's the other way around with the QP. It has a firmer, more engaging suspension setup than a 7 Series or an S-Class. Like the Panamera, it's a luxury barge that doesn't mind being chucked into a corner. To us, Maserati's design language also works better on the elongated Quattroporte body. All things considered, we'd have the larger, more prestigious Quattroporte.
2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo vs Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
This car came out of nowhere and blew everyone away. BMW had to launch an entirely new M3 to upstage it - which it only just did, mind you. The Giulia has everything we love about Italian cars. A beautiful body, a magnificent engine, and the kind of handling that leads to bad behavior. The 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 is one of the best ICE engines on offer today. It produces 505 hp, which is down on power compared to the Ghibli's 580 hp, but the Alfa does a better job of using said power. It gets to 60 mph in a Trofeo-beating 3.8 seconds. The second part of Alfa's fantastic recipe is the handling. It's got razor-sharp steering coupled with excellent damping and the kind of agility that makes BMW engineers jealous. Choosing between these two cars is easy. We'd get the Alfa in a heartbeat.