2024 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo | UK Review
These looks, the MC20 V6, 4WD and 2+2 practicality - the new GT must be a winner, right?
If not the main money maker now that the Maserati SUVs have arrived, the GranTurismo still feels like a very important car for its maker. Even with the hugely impressive MC20 reminding us there’s another Modenese maker that can build supercars, it’s a large, grand 2+2 that still comes to mind when Maser is mentioned. Cars like the 3200, 4200, Gransport and previous, long-running GranTurismo were never perfect, though they were undoubtedly memorable, exciting Italian GTs. And if Maserati can’t make those anymore, the world really will be in trouble.
Having impressed in its homeland, the opportunity to try a right-hand drive, 550hp Trofeo in the UK couldn’t come soon enough. The initial reality will do nothing to diminish the excitement, either, because this is a fabulous-looking grand tourer. Perhaps the front end suffers for its association with the Grecale, but otherwise it almost perfectly demonstrates how a long, large car can be sleek, elegant and stylish - yet also boast some presence. The proportions are nice, the details are good, the stance just so… the paint is absolutely glorious. Which sounds odd, but only adds to the impression of prestige and plushness. People stop and are curious; they want to know what it is in a way that they don’t with more overt, attention-grabbing designs. The GranTurismo is right up there with the Aston Martin DB12 (and ahead of the Bentley or Ferrari, to these eyes) as one of the best-looking cars in a very handsome segment. That counts for a lot.
Any interior would struggle to match the exterior, however, and this latest cabin just isn’t good enough for a car that will likely leave a showroom costing £180,000. The layout is familiar from the Grecale, and feels too ordinary for a car of this calibre; there’s little surprise or delight beyond the configurable clock and admittedly gorgeous gearchange paddles. Neither touchscreen is responsive enough, and that’s frustrating. Perhaps some lighter colours would help the dour ambience. A good driving position shouldn’t be ignored, of course, and nor should proper four-seater space. This is a more commodious GT in the rear than the outgoing Bentley Continental. It just doesn’t make you feel anywhere near as fabulous.
As in the MC20, the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 is joyous in the GranTurismo. There’s ample torque, a real willingness to rev, and a raspy, energetic sound once beyond the diesel-like timbre lower down. It works in near-perfect conjunction with the eight-speed auto, which is seamless and obliging when required and really responsive to the paddles when cracking on a bit. There are very few complaints about this powertrain; any concerns that the engine would prove too highly strung given its supercar roots are confounded pretty quickly. It feels fast in all situations without being demanding. Crucially, moreover, this is a distinctive engine and gearbox combination, one with its own character and appeal discrete from the rest. There’s never a desire for more than the Trofeo’s 550hp, though neither does the prospect of the Modena’s 490hp appeal - this feels like just the right amount.
The V6 is a long way back behind the front wheels, and the wheelbase is evidently quite long, so the GranTurismo always exhibits a great balance; while you’d never say it feels light, it’s well in control of that mass. There’s the stability and composure you'd expect from a car of this ilk, albeit not at the expense of agility; the steering is nicely weighted and the front end really direct. Though a dead brake pedal spoils the party a tad, there’s a lot to be initially impressed by when you consider how Maserati has straddled the requirements of the genre. It feels like just the right amount of sporty and sumptuous.
Indeed it’s very easy to find yourself enjoying the GranTurismo Trofeo a great deal, with four-wheel drive that brings traction benefits seemingly without penalty, rousing performance from a characterful engine and that sense of occasion that comes from driving something truly a bit different. And that’s before you catch its reflection in a shop window. It even seems just about wieldy enough, despite its size. Previously a GranTurismo might have been excused this quirk or that foible because it was a Maserati that made you feel a million bucks; here that feeling is maintained, with far fewer excuses required.
It isn’t perfect, mind. For whatever reason, the ride never felt quite right during our time with the GranTurismo. Or at any rate, it was a mixed bag. Occasionally ridges would unexpectedly crash through at a cruise, disturbing a very hushed cabin - and then on twistier tarmac, even with the firmer damper mode engaged, it could never quite hunker down like the best modern GTs tend to be so good at doing. Or if it did, it seemed to be on roads that were arguably a little too small for such a hulking Maserati.
Additionally, where the Bentley mode in a Conti GT or Sport in a DB12 function as a good catch-all setting for pretty much every circumstance, the driver is too often fiddling in the Maserati - from Sport up to Corsa, with the dampers firm or not - to find a truly satisfying ride-handling compromise. Perhaps more frustrating than that is getting glimpses of a well-struck middle way in certain scenarios, only for it to evaporate through inconsistency. Or, to put it another way, when the GranTurismo is good, when all four corners are being worked equally and the going is smooth, it feels fantastic; when it’s not so good, when it floats or flounders, the Trofeo is much less appealing.
Unsurprisingly, this does not make for a straightforward verdict. There are undoubtedly plenty of reasons to like the new GranTurismo, from the way it looks and sounds, to the way it goes and comfortably seats four. Its drawbacks are less significant than they ever were last time around; it’s an eminently likeable GT despite its problems, not because of them. That means this is one Maserati that can be recommended in good conscience without ever having to mention ‘passion’ or ‘soul’ or ‘charisma’ - it’s just good for its own sake. But it exists in an incredibly healthy super-GT segment, and quibbles about the ride and the interior ultimately do it no favours. A DB12 more keenly rewards those behind the wheel, a Bentley remains far more luxurious, and the AMG GT better satisfies tech bros. The Maserati, for now, offers a retort to each, but can't corral its talents into something wholly persuasive across the board. It's the best GranTurismo yet made, no question. But it isn't the best gran turismo currently on sale.
SPECIFICATION | MASERATI GRANTURISMO TROFEO
Engine: 2992cc, V6 twin-turbocharged
Transmission: 8-speed auto, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 550@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 479@3,000rpm
0-62mph: 3.5 secs
Top speed: 198mph
Weight: 1795kg
MPG: TBC
CO2: TBC
Price: from £163,595
But it’s more about the car market today, that gets me all proud. Knowing that there are people who have enough disposable in the world to buy this, new, in 2024, makes me very happy.
I am just hoping there are enough people for whom this is loose change, and who can handle what will be serious depreciation.
My money would also be on a DB12, but I grew up as a teenager in an era where Jaguar, Aston, Maserati, Ferrari, and even Rover (!) were making good looking coupes, and that coupes were the ultimate in luxury and visual statement.
Now, as we all know, the most desirable car to a lot of new buyers with this money, is a G Class, or an SV Range Rover, a DBX, a Urus, or a Bentayga.
I just want to see new coupes thrive - visually and aurally they ARE what cars are about for me.
And this Maser needs a V8. I had an MC Grancabrio for less than a third the cost of this new car and it was quite literally musical - an overused term for engines and exhausts but it genuinely was fantastic noise-wise.
There also seems to be a disconnect between what Maserati thinks their cars are worth and what everyone else does. MC20 is hardly flying off the shelves ( they've even had to give one to Autocar as a long termer to try and drum up interest ) and suspect it will be the same story here. Somewhere in there there's a great brand and marque waiting to emerge but suspect the current management aren't the ones to bring it out. Stellantis don't really have a great track record here....
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