2019 Maserati Ghibli Test Drive Review: The Heart Over Head Experience

The Ghibli is named after an African desert wind, and Maserati has made sure its mid-size luxury sedan is as hot and swift as its namesake. There are smarter buys to be had in the segment, but a Maserati is designed to appeal to your heart and not your brain. Not only are you buying into the Maserati badge's exclusivity and heritage, but also a Ferrari derived V6 engine that rates as one of the finest on the market. You are also buying into a level of luxury that includes soft close doors and a heated leather steering wheel and seats on the base model. While the 2018 model had some issues we weren't impressed with, changes for 2019 have elevated the Ghibli to levels of day to day usability that see it better rival the likes of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series. Still, it's an imperfect beast.

What's the Price of the 2019 Maserati Ghibli?

Maserati divides their Ghibli line-up into three bases 'models' each available in three 'trims'. The cheapest of all configurations is the base Ghibli, which carries an MSRP of $75,480 before options and a $1,495 destination charge. Next up in the base Ghibli line-up is the GranLusso at $81,980 with the Ghibli GranSport priced the same. The Ghibli S starts at $80,480, climbing to $86,280 for the GranLusso and GranSport versions of the Ghibli S while adding Q4 AWD to any of the S-badged models increases the priced by $2,500. The Ghibli is fairly expensive, however, as a comparable Mercedes-Benz E450 starts at around $61,000 while the Ghibli S-rivaling AMG E53 starts at less than $73,000.

2019 Ghibli Exterior

Dimensions

2019 Ghibli Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

One of the hardest things for an automaker to do is give a large and heavy sedan the nimble and precise handling characteristics that can define it as sporty. The Ghibli is not light and clocks in at just above or below 4,000 lbs depending on specs. Balance is the key, and the Ghibli is as close to perfect as we could expect in that sense. Steering is precise and has a reassuring amount of heft to it, although it feels a little rubbery when making adjustments or longer corners on the freeway.

Throttle delivery is buttery smooth, even when you slip into Sport mode, and everything sharpens up. The transition from comfort into Sport is noticeable, and the car feels like it's tensing up to go, but it's not jarring, and both modes suit the car thoroughly for their intentions. The automatic rev-shift feature isn't quite as smooth as we would like but does the job well.

The one criticism we can find is in the suspension, which can let you know you're on a rougher road, but at freeway speed, the damping soaks everything up well. Overall, it's on the stiffer side as you would expect, but doesn't punish you for that in general. Off the freeway and into a windy road, the Ghibli is planted and athletic. The balanced chassis then comes into its own and exhibits no urge to either understeer or oversteer unless you push for either trait, and you have to push hard to reach the limits of grip.

2019 Ghibli Interior

2019 Ghibli Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

Verdict: Is the 2019 Maserati Ghibli A Good car?

The Maserati Ghibli is a superb car, both as a whole and if it's a Maserati you want. It has its faults, but none of them are in performance or experience. It's also a head-turner and seriously fun to drive, but we can't help but feel it's one for those that particularly want that trident badge and the attention it garners. While the all-round performance is excellent and deserving of that Maserati badge, those looking for the best in driving dynamics in a mid-size luxury sedan should also cross-shop the BMW M5 or Mercedes-AMG E63. For those looking for an opulent interior and a sleek but luxurious ride, the Mercedes E-Class is also just the ticket. However, the Maserati Ghibli is a clear contender as a more emotionally driven and nuanced choice.

What Maserati Ghibli Model Should I Buy?

There's no way anyone with an enthusiast's heart would go for anything less than the Ghibli S and its much more insistent power. For those that want to take their driving seriously, the performance focussed GranSport is the way to go, but, either way, you're buying a four-door car for a reason. For that reason, we would recommend the Climate Package to make sure your passengers are as impressed as they are comfortable, and the 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system for the same reason.

2019 Maserati Ghibli Comparisons

2019 Maserati Ghibli vs Maserati Quattroporte

While the Ghibli is classified as a midsize luxury sedan, buyers may be drawn to the full-size Maserati Quattroporte, even if it does ask a $30,000 price premium over its little brother. For the money, you get an extra 10 inches of car, however, with the bulk of that dedicated to the comfort of the rear passengers. You get the same V6 as found in the Ghibli in 424 hp tune, but you also have the option of equipping a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine in GTS guise, giving the Italian sedan a deserving exhaust note along with 523 hp and 524 lb-ft. The two are much the same in terms of available features, so the choice ultimately comes down to what you need your Maserati for. If it's S-Class rivaling luxury, then nothing short of the Quattroporte will do, but if you like being the driver and not being driven, the Ghibli is the better buy. All it's missing is a V8.

2019 Maserati Ghibli vs Audi A7 Sportback

The price of Italian exclusivity is a mere $6,980 when it comes to choosing one over an Audi A7. But that might not always be the best option. At a base level, both are equipped with twin-turbo V6 engines measuring 3.0-liters in displacement, and both develop around 335-345 hp. The Ghibli has a stronger variant, however, with up to 424 hp on tap, outgunning the A7 entirely. But the A7 is vastly more practical, with more usable interior space, a liftback design affording it more than seven cubic feet of extra trunk space, and a more modern interior that feels of a higher quality consistently, unlike the hit-and-miss Ghibli. The Audi also has a more intuitive infotainment interface, more tech, and more safety features. But where it can't match the Ghibli is on character; the Ghibli is more fun to drive, sounds more soulful, and will make you smile. If that's the kind of car you like, the Ghibli will impress, but objectively speaking, the A7 is a better luxury midsize offering.