2021 Maserati Ghibli

Pros: Exotic car style; sporty exhaust note; performance

Cons: Expensive; some interior elements are disappointing for the price

CG Says: The 2021 Maserati Ghibli has revised styling and a new high-performance Trofeo model with a 580-horsepower V8. There is also a new infotainment control screen. Maserati is a celebrated Italian make with a long history that includes race cars, exotic sports cars, and luxury sport sedans. Today, Maserati is owned Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) and in the Stellantis hierarchy, it slots between premium brands Alfa Romeo and Ferrari. The Maserati Ghibli is a premium midsize sedan powered by two Ferrari-built engines: a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 or a 580-hp twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8. Both are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Ghibli is offered in four variations: base, S, S Q4, and Trofeo. The rear-wheel-drive base model has 345 horsepower and according to Maserati is capable of accelerating 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds with a top speed of 166 mph. The S and S Q4 models’ engine is rated at 424 hp. Maserati says the rear-drive S accelerates 0-60 in 4.9 seconds and has a top speed of 178 mph. The S Q4 adds all-wheel drive and lowers the 0-60 time to 4.7 seconds. Maserati says the rear-drive Trofeo can accelerate 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds and has a top speed of 203 mph. The Ghibli’s available safety features include autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind-spot alert, surround-view camera, and a Highway Assist System that keeps the vehicle centered in a lane at preselected speed. Performance and other objective criteria are matched or exceeded by other cars costing less, but for buyers who avoid the mainstream, Ghibli has an illustrious heritage and delivers Italian style with an appropriately sporting soundtrack from its engines.