The first time you step inside the cabin of the Ghibli, you'll be taken aback by its stylish design, but upon closer inspection, it turns out that Maserati has cut some corners. It is easy to spot the fact that some of the switchgear has been lifted straight out of Stellantis cars, such as the Jeep Cherokee, which brings the interior down a notch, especially when compared to the impeccable cabin provided by the BMW 5 Series. Maserati does, however, offer luxury upholstery options such as full, perforated, or natural leather. There's more good news: the trunk is decently sized, and Maserati introduced an advanced new infotainment system for 2021, which lifts the rest of the interior by a notable degree.
According to Maserati, the Ghibli will seat five adults. Still, in our experience, you'd be better off sticking with four, as the narrow center seat in the rear is uncomfortable at best over short trips, and you can forget about long road trips with five up. At least the Ghibli's interior, in any trim level, is covered in quality leather, and front legroom and headroom are enough for six-footers. In the back, taller passengers might feel the pinch over longer distances. In the front, the driver gets a sporty driving position, and the seats offer good side support, but just as with other Italian sportsters such as the Lamborghini breed, the pedals are slightly offset, which can take some getting used to. Front passengers can easily get in and out of the car, but those in the rear will find it a bit tighter. If you're after space and luxury, perhaps look at something like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Maserati Ghibli Trims | GT | Modena | Modena Q4 |
---|---|---|---|
Seating | 5 | 5 | 5 |
The interior of the Ghibli might contain some cheaper parts borrowed from the Stellantis family, but many of the other materials on offer here are world-class. The GT is presented in Nero (black)/Amann (gray) as standard, but you can choose from two other colors, Cuoio (tan)/Amann and Rosso (red)/Amann. These colors are applied to both the seats and the dashboard. The headliner and seatbelts are black and the steering wheel is trimmed in black leather.
The Modena expands your choices but an all-black color scheme is the only no-cost option with the standard leather upholstery. Full premium leather can be specified for $1,100 in Nero or Cuoio, with a Nero or Nero/Cuoio dashboard. Full premium perforated leather can be had for $3,500 in Cuoio, Rosso, or Nero, the latter with Rosso or Grigio stitching. Pieno Fiore natural leather costs $5,500 and is available in all these color schemes as well.
You can choose from various colors for the headliner, as well as several different trim options. These include the standard no-cost High Gloss Piano Black trim, Open Pore Radica Wood Trim for $1,200, or High Gloss Carbon Fiber Twill Trim for $1,500. You can spec the luxury Zegna package on the GT, which includes silk and leather interior upholstery for $4,800.
Just because this car is Italian doesn't mean that it has to be impractical. In fact, the Maserati Ghibli is one of the most practical in its class, with a total trunk space of 17.7 cubic feet. That's enough space for about five wheels of Pecorino, Fontina, or whatever cheese you like to transport to work and family gatherings. Compare that to the 14 cubic feet you get in the BMW 5 Series, and you can start to get an idea of the extra level of convenience. For those who love cheese more than life itself, the 60/40-split-folding rear seat opens up even more space. On the inside, the Ghibli supplies its occupants with good-sized door pockets and an average-sized center console bin and glove box. A small storage nook behind the shifter is perfect for a pair of glasses, and there are two cup holders next to the shifter.
Maserati Ghibli Trims | GT | Modena | Modena Q4 |
---|---|---|---|
Trunk Volume | 17.7 cu. ft. | 17.7 cu. ft. | 17.7 cu. ft. |
The GT features a sunroof, leather upholstery, heated 12-way power front seats with two-position driver memory, dual-zone climate control, blind-spot alert, a leather-trimmed, power-adjustable, and heated steering wheel, a rearview camera with front and rear park assist, push-button start, and keyless entry and go. The Modena is similarly equipped but adds paddle shifters to suit its more powerful engine, smarter interior trim, and a sportier nature.
In the past, the Ghibli's infotainment system couldn't stack up to the likes of BMW's iDrive or Mercedes' MBUX systems, but Maserati changed that in 2021 with an all-new offering. All Ghibli models benefit from a large 10.1-inch display screen that is controlled by a "Maserati Connect" program. The new infotainment system also includes the Maserati Intelligent Assistant with voice command. The 2023 Ghibli includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth streaming, SiriusXM satellite radio, navigation, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The standard eight-speaker system is adequate, but the optional $1,100 ten-speaker, 900-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system really bangs. A $2,500 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system is optional too, but only on the Modena trims.