2023 Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo Review: Aging Italian Still Charms

The Trofeo is the top-performing Maserati Quattroporte in the range and the only one fitted with a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 572 horsepower and 524 lb-ft of torque. We've always loved the Italian for its svelte looks that make it stand apart from the crowd, combined with enjoyable driving dynamics and the strong performance delivered by its sonorous V8 engine. But it's not notably quick these days, compared to rapid sedans like the cheaper Audi S8 and Porsche Panamera GTS, as well as the more expensive upcoming hybridized 2024 Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance, all of which will get to 60 mph in well under four seconds. Cabin quality and space utilization are additional pointers to the car's age, and the general consensus seems to be that it has been outsmarted and outperformed by its newer competitors, especially at its steep asking price. Is it all over for the macho Italian in a tuxedo, or does it still have enough charm to warrant a second look?

New for 2023

The Trofeo continues into its last model year mostly unchanged, with just a small difference in specs. Without making any official announcement, the power and torque figures of the 2023 Quattroporte Trofeo have taken a knock, downgraded from last year's 580 hp and 538 lb-ft to 572 hp and 524 lb-ft. However, the change is small enough not to have affected the officially quoted performance figures; 60 mph still comes up in 4.2 seconds, and top speed remains unchanged at a heady 203 mph. Production of this engine ends after 2023, so this year is your last chance to get one. The 2022 car was already deemed very expensive, so it's unfortunate that the price of a brand-new Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo sedan has now increased by yet another $14k.

2023 Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo Price: Which One to Buy

With an MSRP of $157,000, the price of the 2023 Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo has increased by nearly 10% over that of the 2022 Trofeo. This does not include the $1,495 destination fee. There is just one trim with not a lot of options to choose from, so it's pretty much a matter of what you see is what you get. The car is properly specced with all the expected luxury and convenience features, however, such as leather upholstery, heated and ventilated sports front seats, a sunroof, and a ten-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. This is in addition to all the expected driver assists, including adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, and blind-spot/lane-sensing systems, so the only option we'd consider adding is the 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, which will cost you an additional $2,500.

Interior and Features

The interior is still smart and modern, typically Italian in terms of styling, but is falling behind when it comes to quality.

The Quattroporte doesn't look its age when you first step inside. First impressions are very good, and the interior sets the car apart from competitors for looking smart and modern, yet still showcasing a sense of traditional Italian style. There is a driver-information display between the main gauges, but it's not a fully digital cluster; still, the gauges are stylish and highly visible. The two easily reachable shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel and the elegant heated and ventilated sports front seats are not found in cheaper trims and reinforce the sporty impression. Leather and carbon-fiber trim abounds, and there is a modern center touchscreen running the latest infotainment software.

However, when you look closely and start to poke and prod around the 2023 Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo, you get the impression that the quality of the finishes and materials is no more than skin-deep in some places, and a few substandard switches and surfaces that have no place in an expensive car like this rear their heads.

Space

Interior space is expansive in front, with the second row offering perfectly adequate accommodations for two adults - with two caveats. Headroom is not overly generous and will cramp the style of people over six feet tall, and the center position is rather tight with little shoulder space, while the bench's raised center section means even less headroom for that passenger. Rivals offer more generous accommodation on average. Access is easy enough through large door openings, and there's no steeply raked rear roof to contend with when getting in.

Cargo

If the rear seat isn't exactly enormous, rest assured that the 18.7-cu-ft trunk is among the largest found in any sedan and even beats some crossovers for trunk space. What's more, the second row splits and folds in a 60/40 ratio to liberate even more trunk volume.

In-cabin stowage is good, with four door pockets, large and small lidded center-console storage, uncovered cupholders next to the gear shifter, a traditional glove compartment, and cupholders/small-item storage in the rear fold-down armrest.

Materials and Colors

The seats are upholstered in Pieno Fiore natural leather, and the default color scheme is Nero (black)/Rosso (red). Three other no-cost interior colors are available; the seats and lower cabin can be had in Cuoio (brown), plain black, or Rosso, too. In all cases, the upper dashboard and steering wheel are trimmed in Nero leather, with the same color applied to the headliner and carpets.

High-gloss carbon-fiber trim is standard, but high-gloss piano black is optional. An alloy left-foot rest and pedals add more sporty flair to the interior. For $1,100, the Interior Carbon Fiber package applies this material to the paddle shifters, door sills, and steering wheel as well.

Features and Infotainment

Along with the base trims, the Trofeo comes as standard with features such as a power sunroof, push-button start, leather on the seats, dashboard, and (heated) steering wheel, heated and ventilated front sports seats with 12-way power adjustment, dual-zone climate control, and a wireless charging pad.

The infotainment system has a 10.1-inch center touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a ten-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. A 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio upgrade is optional for $2,500.

Performance

The Trofeo is still quick and handles very well, but its rivals have now overtaken it in overall performance.

The engine of the Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo is a Ferrari-sourced twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 sending the power to an eight-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard; the six-cylinder Modena's optional AWD drivetrain is not available here. Last year, the engine developed 580 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque, but it has been slightly downrated for the 2023 model year to 572 hp and 524 lb-ft. This has not had a noticeable effect on performance, and the same 4.2 seconds applies to the Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo's 0-60-mph sprint for 2023, and an identical 203-mph top speed is listed. While the engine sounds fantastic, and performance is certainly riveting, it's no longer the quickest in its class, with the Audi S8 and Porsche Panamera GTS getting to 60 mph in 3.8 and 3.7 seconds, respectively, partly thanks to the superior launch grip provided by their standard all-wheel drive - and they cost significantly less. Sports sedans like these aren't made for trailering duty, and the Trofeo doesn't even come with a tow rating or optional tow hitch, so you'll have to go for the Levante Trofeo SUV if you want speed and towing capacity.

The Trofeo still feels athletic for its size and weight and offers a rewarding driving experience, thanks to a powerful engine, quick steering, and an engaging chassis. It's no longer out in front but puts on a brave fight and still provides plenty of enjoyment, even at its advanced age. The Skyhook adaptive suspension firms up appreciably, especially in Corsa mode, without becoming punishing. In this mode, the stability control is also dialed back, and you can do rather fun oversteers with the underpinnings firmed up and the V8 sending maximum motive force to the rear wheels. Yet, when you just want to cruise, the Trofeo is quiet, and the suspension relaxes just enough to filter out the worst bumps, even if it isn't as soft as some rivals. It suits its character, and it's still a very good performance sedan.

Fuel Efficiency

In another pointer to its age, the Quattroporte Trofeo's mpg figures are now the worst of all its natural rivals, with EPA estimates of 13/20/16 mpg for the city/highway/combined cycles. Other sporty sedans are anything from 1-5 mpg thriftier on the combined cycle, with the BMW 760i xDrive clocking in with an impressive 21 mpg combined. With a 21.1-gallon fuel capacity, expect a range of around 338 miles on a full tank.

Safety

The Trofeo has seven airbags and a full suite of driver assists that includes adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera.

Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has conducted a safety review of the Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo and likely never will, as is usually the case with expensive luxury cars. It should be noted that it has a modern design and all the expected safety features expected at this level, such as seven airbags and all the federally mandated safety kit, which includes ABS, stability control, a backup camera, and tire-pressure monitoring.

Added to this is a suite of driver assists that include forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop & go, a surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and traffic-jam assist.

Reliability

There doesn't seem to be noteworthy reliability issues for the Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo, and although a low-volume $150k sedan such as this won't have a J.D. Power rating due to the low number of cars sold, its recall record is reassuring. There have been no recalls for 2022 or 2023 Quattroportes, with the last recalls registered for the 2021 model for a leaky fuel-line sensor, incorrect tire pressures, and an automatic locking retractor malfunction.

The limited and powertrain warranty cover for the 2023 Maserati Quatroporte Trofeo is valid for four years/50,000 miles, with 24-hour roadside assistance for the duration of this period.

Warranty

Design

The exterior of the Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo doesn't look ten years old, and it still cuts a very stylish figure in the large sedan class - certainly more so than its rather sober German competition. And large it is, with an expansive 207.2-inch length and 124.8-inch wheelbase The big piano-black concave grille has prominent vertical strakes and houses a big chromed Maserati trident, with LED headlights on either side of it.

The rear haunches are muscular and hint at the car's performance potential, and the three trademark front fender vents and C-pillar trident badges are accented in red. Big 21-inch alloys barely manage to hide the sizeable red calipers of the performance braking system behind them, and quad tailpipes peek from underneath the rear bumper. You can have these in black or yellow, and even opt for 20-inch gloss black wheels to fill the arches.

Verdict: Is The 2023 Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo A Good Car?

All of the Quattroporte's rivals have seen brand-new generations being launched in the time the Italian has been on the market in the USA, and its wrinkles are now showing. It still looks smart and peforms well, but the interior quality has fallen behind the curve, and all its rivals are now quicker and more economical. It doesn't help that it's quite a lot more expensive than most of them, with especially the brilliant Porsche Panamera GTS showing what a superb sports sedan you can get for $20k less. But spec it in striking paintwork, deck out the interior in Rosso leather, wind all the windows down, and let the V8 engine's baritone song bounce against the cliffs down a mountain pass, and you'll get what makes this Maserati a special car. But in the cold light of day in 2023, it's one that you buy with your heart, not your head.