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This car represents so many weird choices that were made inside the FCA group. The weirdest at least to me was that they still invested a lot of money to develop a hybrid powertrain for the Ghibli so late into it's production, but for example the giorgio platform of the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio was more or less abandoned (no hybrid for you, EVER!) and it received very few meaningfull updates in terms of powertrain options during its (still ongoing) production cycle. Mind boggling that they just poured money into this thing while other brands could have benefited them much more.
Can't agree more. Too bad they are so messed up. They are usually better looking that lets say competitors from BMW and Mercedes but you can't polish a turd as they say.
I drove a low mileage 2017 Ghibli SQ4 for about a year. Mine had the two tone black and tan interior with dark walnut trim and a sunroof. The interior and the trunk space is what sold me on the car. It was entirely trouble-free and the only reason I traded it off for a GTI was that it was simply too bulky to drive and park in a small college town. I never regretted my short period of Maserati ownership.
There’s no doubt that they are a beautiful looking car, I’d love to see how the SQ4 compares to the 2 wheel drive and my current C7 RS6, this is the one I think is more special than the rest.
Bro exactly I don’t know why people always talk shit about these cars. I have owned mine for about five years and it has been one of the greatest vehicles compared to other Mercedes s classes that I’ve also owned.
@@freespirit2520 I've had mine for five years and it has been a joy. Zero problems; minor maintenance. I have no idea why these video 'critics' crap on these cars.
I got the diesel for all the reasons you mentioned, servicing can be done by any local mechanic and I still think wow every time I walk up to it to get in. It also does 50mpg!
I also have the diesel. 4 years of ownership and it has only cost me for tyres, servicing and brakes. It's a great car and always gets admiring looks and comments. As for the sound of the diesel, put it in sport and it sounds fantastic to me. It's no V8 sound but it certainly sounds better than it's German competitors. Yes they are better cars overall but this is far far more special. Let's face it how many times do you pull into a supermarket car park and think wow look at that 5 series. Well I never notice them but you can't miss the Maserati if you like cars, especially a white one like mine with red calipers. It's beautiful in my opinion.
I drive a Ghibli and in its 150.000km so far, the only thing that ever broke was a small tear in an induction hose at +/- 100K. Apart from that, it has been flawless. Brilliant car and still so beautiful (especially with the 21" wheels). Also noteworthy: the car in the video has the cheaper interior. The full leather interior (dash, tops of door carts, etc.) and alcantara headliner transform the interior. I had the cheaper interior in a few loaners when mine was in for services and it makes it look extremely cheap on the inside IMHO.
I drive a ‘14 Ghibli diesel (yes haters, a diesel!) for my fifth year now, and it has been nothing else but flawless (over 200k km’s now…). You are spot on about the tires; the best upgrade I gave it was switching from the P-zero’s to the Michelin Pilot Sport 4s: last 2x as long, and the drive is much better. That all pré-17 models broke is not something I read on the (international) forums I am an member of, and we share all our experiences there, good and bad. The best part of your review is the negative undertone. It allows ordinary people like yours truly to drive this delicious car for a bargain. If I think back to the big diesels I drove from Audi (camshaft problems (and yes, those went all!), timing chain tensioners, tiptronics…) and BMW (transfer box issues (Audi Quattro system is so much better) and timing chain issues) I am so glad I don’t get those garage bills anymore. So keep up the good work! Oh, and by the way, it doesn’t weigh 2 tons, it ís the only 4 door saloon with a proper handling (Maserati created 51/49 weight) and indeed a has a bullit proof gearbox (ZF 8HP) and the engine is built by MV-Motori (yes, it is Italian…), and is not the same as in the Jeep etc (Maserati uses the A630HP-version) but has strong similarities: it delivers 600Nm at 2.000 rpm, but can be upgraded to 720Nm (and Nm*Rpm/9550=Kw….). It sounds pretty decent in sport, but nothing beats the sound of the petrols! So thanks again 🙏!!
Was driving near a late model Ghibli on the freeway only a few days ago, and they have definitely gotten quite large - even as a terminal car nerd, I had to get quite close to it to realize it was in fact a Ghibli and not a Quattroporte. Either way, it's a good day when you spot anything "exotic", out here on the roads, in rural Australia. Cheers!
I've owned one of these for the last two years. Touch wood, it's been faultlessly reliable. I think you nailed the main points in your review. The switchgear and infotainment being robbed from various Jeep products does cheapen the interior a little, but overall I find it a nice and relaxing place to be. I looked at buying a 6-series Grand Coupe instead of the Ghibli, and dynamically, performance wise etc it would probably have been a much better car, but the Ghibli handles beautifully when you really press on, other than at least in the spec I have, it is very undersprung. I bought with my eyes open, expecting it to need frequent attention from a specialist (main dealers are laughably expensive - I think they assume that Ghibli owners have pockets as deep as someone buying an MC20!), but it has been fine. Finally, it's a Maserati, so you always get people asking interested questions about it, asking to have a look inside etc - you don't get that with a BMW!
Hello, I have had a 2018 Gran Lusso SQ4 for 2 years. Champagne coloured bodywork and sand coloured wood and leather interior. I have had a lot of fun with this car. The engine is smooth, you can drive comfortably but when you get into the revs it is raging, almost like a race engine. Always a smile at the wheel. The boot is also very good. Just the dimensions are bigger than you think when you see it, because the bodywork is very well sculpted. Not always easy to park it in a small parking space. But you feel so special driving it. You feel the whole Maserati history, the GT comfort with a race car DNA.
There are cars you buy with your brain, and there are cars you buy with your heart. Maseratis belong definitely in the second category. Especially the older ones. As a pretty well-situated software engineer with a not-that-shabby income, I was never crazy enough to buy one, although I absolutely loved the Shamal and the 80s QP. I was silly enough, though, to gift myself an Alfa Montreal for the fun times and marry a Lancia Gamma Coupé, my eternal love (besides other escapades that came and left). I drove the Gamma for over 16 years, regularly and as my first car. I made over 260k km. With the original motor and transmission (!). Probably World record. And, surprise, surprise, it cost me a fortune. And quite a few adventurous moments. And meltdowns. Every. Single. Year. But when I finally let her go, my heart literally broke. There are cars you buy with your heart. Who cares about the brain.
@richardharrold9736 We have to differentiate the realities of the time periods. I'm 58 and had my fast-and-furious time in the mid/late 80s to the 90s. Back then you had no YT and IG, and Italian exotics were toys for the rich. Living in Switzerland, even with my 70 to 100k yearly income, Ferraris and Lambos were out of my league, but Maseratis could've been affordable if you were fortunate and all went smoothly. The 82 QP was my dream but I knew it would end in financial suicide, even the 82 Gamma Coupé was a nightmare to maintain (let alone the Montreal, which I drove way less, tho, so it cost me less). Didn't like the Biturbo but the Khamsin was a delight for the eye, I absolutely agree. I like the (most) modern Maseratis in regard to their look, more than any model of the competition (BMW & Co). IMO they lack in quality, though, for the price they're sold. And in my eyes, it was a mistake to add a "cheap" entry-level (Ghibli), it washed out the brand. I personally would've seen Maserati in the mid-luxury sedan/coupé/SUV segment, complementing Ferrari covering the sports/super/hypercar niche. With adequate performance and quality, of course. And Alfa covering the middle class (great job here, I must say).
There is a third category. Cars that your penis buys, that your head and heart later scream, too late, "WTAF!" (many Maseratis fit within this category)
@@Mike7O7O You're addressing more the classic BMW driver ;-) I must say, though, that these modern days with all these YT/IG influencers as well as the whole gangsta/dealer/yo-man subjects have destroyed the reputation even of reputable brands. There is a reason, Ferrari is extremely harsh and picky with (some sort of) its customers.
@richardharrold9736 Agree. IMO, with the Ghibli they repeated the same mistakes they made with the Biturbo - this one was the model that destroyed the brand's reputation, underperforming, unreliable, and of pitiful quality. Besides this, we also need to address one more [status/representance] problem that impacts the sales: while an exotic Maserati may be suited for private use by wealthy gentlemen or perhaps as a company car for entrepreneurs, it isn't the best choice for businesses to use in their management carpools, where a discreet appearance is more appropriate. In these cases, Mercedes, BMW, and Audi are way more suited.
@richardharrold9736 Perhaps I'm a bit overly pessimistic, you may be right. We shall not forget that FCA did almost a miracle with Maserati. never would I've thought they could revive the brand. I like the MC20, btw. My heart belongs to the MC12, though, an absolute eye candy, IMO. In regard to the Germans: they aren't anymore what they were in the old days in terms of reliability, quality, and durability. When my adoptive son turned 18 and wanted to buy the typical suicidal turbo hatchback, I gifted him a 2nd-hand 88 BMW 325 Convertible, in an attempt to spare myself sleepless nights and give him something nice, reliable, and "safe". Best 10k spent ever. The car was a gem, an eyecatcher, reliable, and lasted years without any relevant trouble, and (most important) the kid became a responsible driver. And every now and then, I had also some open-air fun ;-)
I used to have a blue Ghibli, but mine was a 1969 4.7 and looked like a really special car, not a sedan. A very visceral car, heavy clutch, heavy steering, loud, beautiful.
Those are very special. Always liked them. Those can actually be found in car museums. I have doubts the same will be said about the current iteration.
@@heiner71 Mine, AM115870, wasn't perfect, but was an event to drive. A grey market import to the US, Euro spec, 4.7l. A big, heavy beast, it rumbled and roared.
I've got a '69 Alfa 1750 GTV. These cars are Italian mistresses. Lovely to ride, give 'em a good fierce drive. They'll throw temper tantrums without warning. Embarrass you in public. Let you down and leave you stranded. Empty your bank account. Lovely, magnificent, beautiful, cruel and an experience we'll never forget.
Great Video, I own a diesel Ghibli and also own a garage, Servicing isn't an issue for me, reliability hasn't been an issue either. I drive it every day to work, cover 1000 miles PM and enjoy every minute of driving it. I watch a million videos before I bought, and despite the criticism in every video I still bought one. I mapped mine straight away, went from 275BHP - 600NM to 305BHP and 660NM, this transformed the car to what a Maserati should be and feel like. I understand the tyre wear, I had Pirelli MGT's which lasted 3000 miles on the rear as a commuter car - not happy. If you'd like to try it out let me know. Mel
Thank you for your comment it gave me a sense of relief. I test drove a 2015 diesel with 80k miles and loved it. Put down my deposit as it has to get a service, mot and a 2 wheel refurb. I pick it on Friday but was becoming concerned as every review I’ve seen was negative but now I’m happy thanks to your comment 👍 cheers mate.
I drive a ‘14 Ghibli diesel for my 5th year now. It just turned over the 200k km’s, and it has been flawless. The only thing that ‘broke’ was the soundbooster system (yep, they have one..). Sooner or later those all go (also with Audi…). Further I still enjoy it every day! It is still a great drive! The best ‘update’ I gave it a few years ago was loosing the P-zero’s, and switch to Michelin Pilot Sport 4s.
My Maserati GranTurismo was 100% reliable, sounded great, looked good and I wasn’t ripped off at a main dealer for servicing. I drove it for 3 years before selling it to some chap in Dublin Beat that!
Had my 2015 Ghibli petrol for 3 years as a daily driver and it hasn't put a foot wrong. JayEmm, I think you nailed the review. For me I wanted something that would stand out in a sea of Mercs, Audi's and Beemers and put a smile on my face. The Ghibli definitely does that.
I had a Ghibli diesel from new. I owned it for nearly 5 yrs and did 85,000 miles in it. Never had a thing go wrong and I wish I’d kept it longer. It was a fantastic car that also looked fantastic; it was different from the norm and not only did it make you feel special, it made me smile! I now have a diesel Levante that I’ve owned for 4yrs, done 64,000miles and again, not a thing gone wrong. I’m now looking to change this for the Grecale. I guess I just like cars that are a bit different and have a little Italian flare about them!1
My local garage owner has a diesel one. It looks incredible and actually sounds really good. He likes it because of the amount of Chrysler parts available at a fraction of Maserati parts.
Spot on review. I've got a 2020 Lavante V6 petrol, chopped in a range rover (I'll get over that bad new car experience in a couple of years) for the Maserati in 2022. Now Maserati's are heavy/solid/premium/well built/reliable.....but as I said I did own a Range Rover before. so Maserati v JLR....no contest the Maserati wins in every category!
Good unbiased review. Interesting comment about the Levante, my Wife has a 22 plate GT Hybrid, with the Nerissimo pack which really improves the looks and gives it bigger brakes, wheels and tyres. After years of RR Sports and a Velar (don’t) she really loves it. Ride on the road is good, handling whilst better than a RRS isn’t as good as my SQ8 or a Cayenne, but not bad. Despite being a hybrid fuel economy isn’t great but performance is ok and somehow it still sounds ok, though not as nice as that Ghibli. New Masers today come with a 3 year warranty and service package as standard, a bit like the Ferrari 7 year one, so nothing to pay for service and parts for the three years she’ll probably keep it for - not bad. Level of kit is good, and I like the Tom Tom Nav with Average speed camera countdown. Service is by Graypaul in Nottingham so it’s Ferrari, and so far for routine stuff they’re very good. What clinched it for her was a recent trip to the Savoy Theatre, running late and the doorman offered to valet park her car and it stayed right outside next to the Bentley’s, Astons etc 😁
I love my Ghibli - S and no issues. I do not care what anyone else thinks of them, after all they are not paying for it. And the looks you get when people spot the Trident and the noise.....save to say, I have had mass compliments and not one person complaining to my face.
I LOVE my Maz, bought it second hand in May 2024, its a 2017 Ghibli S with 45k kms. Love it! Looks great, sounds ridiculously sexy! Drove it back from Adelaide South Australia to the Gold Coast. A read review after review, and still bought it! for the money I could have bought a Ford Ranger; yeah right... NO WAY, the MAZ is just beautiful in every sense.
My dad had a Diesel (🤫) version, the engine wasn’t bad at all, as diesels go. It did have some niggles, I recall the AC having a problem that took longer to repair than it should, but nothing major went wrong. The worse part was the radio, which was completely useless and wouldn’t retune the BBC stations as you moved around so you had to keep manually changing it. When my dad mentioned this conversationally to the service manager at Maserati, he said “if it’s any comfort it’s just as bad in a Ferrari” which didn’t comfort 😂 I also think the rear is ugly and it’s hasn’t got better with age yet. The earlier generation of Quattroporte is still best looking Maserati 4 door. I really sage your comments on the infotainment system. I was in a Dodge Ram that had the *exact* same interface, which just shouldn’t happen. 😅 It was also a bit of a barge, parking it in car parks, you have to have your wits because it filled most spaces, how it would ever fit in an Italian road I don’t know. I think it was designed for the American market mostly because the best part I found about it was it was one the of the best long distance cruisers for the money. The seats were comfortable and supportive and you could drive for 5 hours and get out and not have any aches or pains and pair that here to a diesel and your time between fill ups was minimal. Also people came up and made positive comments, the name Maserati just holds some much more provenance than 90% of marques out there. My dad secretly misses it and it whilst it did have some of that ’Mazza Magic’ it was compromised too much elsewhere.
We've had a 2016 Ghibli S for just over 1 year and 19000 miles. It's had an on/off brake judder problem which is finally getting sorted by the dealer. Apart from the brake problem it is a wonderful car. When the dealer has sorted the brake judder we will offer you a test drive. Tyres, the Pirelli's are awful so we put 4 M PS4s which are wonderful. Sports Italia service ours, £700 or so. Fuel, 30 mpg on a run, 18 around town. Interior, ours has the super soft leather with red stitching (which is amazing). Sun roof is a waste of time. 410bhp is plenty. Turbo lag can be annoying.
I cannot complain about James’ passionate nature reflects in his videos, but how he remains relatively unbiased. Great work as per usual! My friend has me looking at the Renault Wind as a first car and I have to say I quite like it. Opinions?
@@samthemadman5000 The reliability record is surprisingly positive. I’ve been looking at the 1.2s as they seem more common, but I wouldn’t be opposed to a 1.6
@@samthemadman5000 £2650. Pretty good value I think. Cheaper insurance than a lot of options I was looking at, although slightly higher initial purchase price. Having driven my parent's around for a year (or what will be a year when my current policy is up) I plan to look after it for a long while, so it's probably a better spend of my money
@Kieran Martin yeah they go from 2k to 4k usually, maybe 5k for the higher spec... I always thought it was quite a unique car and they've kept decent value if you own one obviously... I have a couple of cars but I'm thinking of getting rid of my Clio for something more unique, but has to stay French lol
Honestly i think the interior is quiet nice. High quality leather everywhere and beautiful carbon fiber trim (not that one in the video). And personally i prefer this tipe of climate comands to the touch screens that everybody mounts nowadays
A car design anime would be amazing, maybe Studio Ghibli could make it. "Like the Wind Rises" is a great film which follows a Japanese aircraft designer. This is a fitting car for the studio, since it shares the name, it's meant to be.
That special 'feeling' is one of knowing you're driving around a car that isn't the logical choice - not as good, not as reliable and much more importantly - more expensive...because you can afford it! The pride of paying overs and chuckling because you don't care.
James, you asked "do you know anyone with a Levante?" Er, yes - we have a Levante V6S GL and are really happy with it. It's been reliable, feels really solidly built and rides and handles well. Bit of a giggle when screaming in sport mode, too. The Diesel is very laggy and probably wasn't the greatest way to introduce the model. I think this may be the nub of the matter - the Levante is really specification sensitive. The exterior looks great in darker colors, lardy in white. Needs the 21 or 22" wheels too. Very different proportions to other SUVs with its long bonnet/set back cabin. Interior can be boring in black and look very Italian in the contrast colors, especially with the Zegna silk option we have. The HMI is familiar from our old Grand Cherokee (and very easy to use), as are the window controls. Engine-wise, the Diesel is reputed to be very laggy and probably wasn't the greatest way to introduce the model. The base V6 is not that quick, but the 430hp S can really go when given the beans and sounds great doing it. The ZF box is great. Not tried a Trofeo. Fuel economy, meh. Dealers are at least an hour away. We bought used at a couple of years old - an absolutely full spec car with optional and expensive paint color - beautiful paint quality btw. New it was 109,000 and we picked it up for half that with warranty, etc. Against a Cayenne of the same vintage it was good value and is much more "special" to own, if not as perfect. I have been lucky enough to have had many Porsches and respect the Cayenne, but they are everywhere. It's like you said - a bit of a left field choice, but one that we are still happy with. Hope this gives you an owner's perspective on the Levante. You are welcome to try ours and make your own mind up...
I had a 2015 diesel V6 and I loved it. It was very reliable and a pleasure to drive. I’ve had an F-Type and 520i since then but I miss my Maserati. I’m now on the lookout for a petrol V6 - can’t wait!
I always loved the shape of it and would love to own a Maserati one day, but in my view, if you're going to ignore sensible advice, why not go all the way and get a Quattroporte of the previous shape and with the ZF auto box instead? Certainly you'd get the impression of driving something more exclusive when you're inside the car and those things matter when choosing a Maserati, don't they?
Yeah and now on the low end a very clean full service records all available example with 90k miles can be bad for £10k. That is the road less traveled for sure but think of the fun you’ll have the admiring looks you’ll get from the lady’s. And most importantly the nods from fellow drivers !
never ceases to amaze me, the chavs who think having a load exhaust sounds the same as proper v6+ engine. One is an annoying racket of noise, the other is a thrum that makes you think "ooooh"
Thanks J, Maserati content always good! Shame this seems to be another 'almost' car, like a lot of Alfas. We all just keep hoping that the next one will be the 'one', if the company survives! 🙏🙏
Fantastic balanced and fair review. The likes of Doug de Muro helped kill the model. Driven a few but never pulled the trigger - mainly because IMO, the Ghibli should have had the Alfa Giulia V6. Terrific noise though and a great buy used.
I like your quattroporte… well all 2008-2013 better than the newer models. Just feels more like an Italian car than the new ones. Anyways, great job as usual!
I feel this is why we all watch your reviews; you are brutally honest,(to a fault!😁) and, “you are far more curious in a car that is interesting, rather than competent”. Competent cars are a dime a dozen, (hello Toyota and Hyundai/Kia); show me something with character, and then tell me all the flaws so I can decide if I can live with them.😁 Keep it up, mate. Brilliant.
back to back comparison drives with it and Lexus GSF 1.5 yrs ago resulted in GSF. Oh, that V8 and rear torque vectoring diff (gears not bs brakes) just made the gorgeous Maserati not enough. GREAT SOUND Jay in this video.
Nice vid and Maser! I rarely listen to journalists, many of them are biased and/or sponsored 😂 Always preferred to test drive cars myself before passing judgement
I had a Ghibli Diesel for seven years, I bought it new and ordered it to a high spec. Great car and very reliable, although you do need to spec it with the fully upgraded interior -full Protana frau leather, then it feels like the luxury car it is!
@@Mike7O7O actually no, it was pretty quiet once marked up, and there was an, albeit electronically enhanced to sound like a Ferrari V8 in sports mode.
I did some car flipping from 2020-2022 when the market went a bit bonkers, having traded in my 2017 Corvette Stingray I had for over 3 years for an Afla Romeo Giulia Ti Sport Q4. I loved the way it handled, but the turbo 4 cylinder just didn't quite do it for me even with performance modifications. 6 months into ownership of the Alfa, I came across a low milage one owner Ghibli S Q4 and traded in the Alfa. I enjoyed the Ghibli for about 7 months, never once having any issues aside from the leather on the dash being replaced to the tune of $10k covered by warranty. The service costs, even performing the work yourself were a bit exorbitant though. The tech was also a low spot in the interior, which I excused in exchange for that glorious exhaust note. In the end, it just didn't have the feel I wanted out of my daily driven car and I went back to a coupe, albeit a more practical one than the Vette, with a BMW M235i xDrive. Much more nimble than the Ghibli, but not quite as much as the Alfa, and had plenty of power with the tune and supporting mods. It's not quite the head turner that the previous cars were, but it strikes a good balance between power, handling, and practicality.
James you are bloody brilliant! I love everything you do. I can only imagine how amazing your content would be if you had the financial might of the BBC behind you! Good lord.! Well done mate.
You can't compare those two cars. Think about the driving dynamics of both. A Ghibli is for driving to the golf club and then driving to a museum. An M3 is a proper drivers car.
@@GryphLane Yes, if you drive fast cars at 20mph under the speed limit, of course they will be dull. Fast cars were not built to be driven like a milk float.
Thanks JayEmm, for this video, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Although way out of my league financially, I have always been fascinated by this car. Mainly, it's eye and ear appeal and as a former Lancia owner, I have a soft spot for Italian cars. I think your video summed up the enigma which is this car, succinctly.
What a shame: my comment was auto deleted as I included a link to the Ferrari V8 bi-turbo Maserati MC Editions from 03.02.2022 Levante; Quattroporte and Ghibli with triple layer Blu Vittoria (matte) or Giallo Corse (yellow):
Always was wondering, if I should pull the Trigger for one of these. But the image of expensive and often broken put me off. Can you maybe also Test the Quattroporte of this Generartion? As far as I know you "only" tested your private one. Thanks anyways for all these cool Videos! Keep rocking!
The Ghibli has fantastic road presence and it seems most of it's foibles are generally forgivable. A shame Maserati failed to imbue the Ghibli's interior with the bespoke flare an Italian marque is expected to deliver in this class. Particularly a marque which on some level must share shelving space with Alfa Romeo.
The interior layout is very similar at it’s hard points to the chrysler 300 as are the over all dimensions. Makes me wonder if it’s not a clever reskin.
I once drove a Quattroporte, the previous generation. It still has a special place in my memory. It felt like a small hot hatch, nimble and fast in a way you wouldn't deem possible for car of that size. I drove Panamera few days after that and it felt like a whale on the beach. Unresponsive, dull, boring, uninspired, unimaginative, heavy lump of crap.
Seriously considered this when they came out. Laughably over-priced in NA where there were almost no dealers, little market presence and the cloud of awful Italian reliability of years past. Bought a 300C Hemi AWD instead - far less $$ and put 380k Kms on it. Marchione made such a mess of FCA…
In the US: A great number of Maserati Ghibli vehicles were leased by customers. The Ghibli, a Maserati model that was re introduced to the market in 2014 was to compete with the Mercedes E Class and BMW 5 Series. Maserati's goal was to be a prominent player in the under $100K luxury sport sedan category, in order to sell more cars. Without the sufficient marketing horsepower to support the brand and model, however, it could not compete. Customers in the US viewed the car as a lower priced, temperamental Ferrari that would be expensive to maintain. For that reason, they didn't have the same trust in the vehicle as they did for the BMW and Mercedes. The best Maserati could do was to get creative with lease programs, which was the kiss of death. Customers who leased the vehicle did not maintain it like someone serious about the car's performance would. Many drove it hard, but did not follow the scheduled maintenance recommendations, and so, the car got a reputation for unreliability.. Customers who purchased a used Ghibli off a lease were often the recipients of a poorly maintained car with engine issues. More bad press. While general maintenance of the Ghibli is straightforward and not very complex, the majority of independent auto maintenance shops in the US will not touch them. Another reason why the Ghibli got a bad reputation. Not enough Maserati dealerships to be accessible, and those that do exist charge a very high premium for basic maintenance and repair.
Very very vet popular lease vehicle here in the States. This is beautiful exotic sedan yet I prefer and recommend Alfa Romeo over the Maserati. The Maseratis cool but I think a bit large for me although a three warranty would on a preowned example might tempt me like your friend Albert.
Hey JM! This is one of your best reviews. You seem to easily find the perfect words to describe how cars relate to people especially their owners. My sincere admiration
The 60 degree V6 is an aluminum block from Chrysler group - shipped to Italy to have Ferrari internals installed. TBH - I don't mind - I want one knowing full well what I may be getting myself into.
I’ve loved Masers since I was a kid in the 70’s and this is still a very pretty car, that I’ve looked at a few times, but it just isn’t special enough for me to have gone for one. Especially now that I know the average consumption is similar to my RS6! Scary!
I still wait for your review of the Vantage V600 (up until 2000). Visually my favourite car of all time. Come on people. Someone must have a V600 for James to review.
A real shame about the Levante. I had a go in one recently and it’s really quite a nice place to be interior design wise compared to the earlier Ghiblis. While I’d never have an SUV again, I was pleasantly surprised that on a back to back test the Levante felt nicer to drive than the Cayenne. Not as dynamic as the Macan, but noticeably better than the bigger brother. Another bonus: it’s also quite good looking, although I may have been slightly affected that my first sight of it was it parked next to an eyesearingly hideous Bentayga.
Very apt! We bought a Levante V6s and it is great. Very solidly built, rides really well and goes nicely when given the beans. Nice looking with the right color/spec/wheels. Has that "special" quality that makes it great to have. I have had many new Porsches and know the Cayenne very well - they are great, but are all over the place...
@@bmwman1981 you have to wonder what the design approval process was - this is the company that designed the gorgeous Continental, and even now with the new design with its weird headlights it's still a bit of a looker, as is the Flying Spur. And then you have the Bentayga. Not so much designed as congealed.
@@hughrobinson9978 Congrats, and great to hear that you're enjoying it! I liked the solid feeling of the inside, and that it didn't feel as big as it is when punting it around the city compared to the 2019 Cayenne. A lot more precise and less wallowy to drive too.
The interior has an Audi texture'n colour quality to it.....I had flashbacks of my 2011 A4 when watching shots of the interior.....the leather/plastic, the grey........
I test drove the v6 petrol Ghibli, and whilst there was no doubt it was a stunning car, it felt huge, somehow difficult to place on smaller B roads. The engine was also somewhat of a letdown for me too, it seemed a bit slow to rouse, making the car feel sluggish. I test drove a Giulia Veloce immediately after; that was a revelation! Similar dimensions and layout, yet it felt far more driver-focussed, nimble and agile. I also felt the Alfa's interior was more robust and better put together. I puchased the Alfa.
Everyone tries to autoconvince themselves about their decisions... The Giulia is in no way simmilar size wise nor it has a more "robust" or "better put together" interior. The QA of the Ghibli likely takes 10 times more effort than on your run of the mill mass manufactured Alfa sedan.
@@an-dr6euas a four door saloon, 29cm difference in length, 8cm difference in width is close enough as makes no odds. 100,000th Ghibli rolled off the production line in 2021- hardly low-volume. I can only say what I experienced myself first hand; there was nothing special about the Ghibli's interior plastics, the vents were fragile and the leather was poorly finished.
The Alfa is far better than the maserati. Namely due to the 2 billion euro investment in the new giorgio platform architecture. Chassis stiffness, weight distribution, suspension geometry is all superior in the alfa. Maserati has done cosmetic refreshes and look sharp, but are ultimately old outdated cars.
@@anthonyknox1493 The giulia has a very weak engine, poor interior and poor reliability. The Ghibli is a far better car 100k in 8 years is low volume; the leather is the best i've seen in a luxury car.
Glad i went for an XJ over this. Went for a test drive in 1 and my god, the fiat/chrysler switches just reek through. Interior creaks, the all "pretty seats" which are not that comfortable at all, a joke of an entertainment system, and that steering wheel is HUGE with rubbish feedback. Back seat space is a joke for a car of that size. The petrol may sound great but cant be forgiven of how the rest of the car is.
I didn't think you could get the SQ4 in right hand drive. Something to do with the steering column gets in the way of a drive shaft or something similar.
I've been waiting on this review! I've been debating upgrading my car for quite some time now and looking at a budget of the £25,000 range to which the pre-facelift ghibili falls into; however with competition such as the likes of the Audi S4, Kia stinger 3.3, v60 polestar and even the BMW M4 I've never known which route to go down.
Do you actually consider yourself a "car guy"? And make your own decisions on the cars you buy? If you're considering cars like Audis and Volvos, you are at least honest about not knowing... Do you seriously think that the Maserati and those front-drive-based things are in the same category? People are strange.
@@pistonburner6448 cheers for the pointless comment 👍. Whilst some are rear biast and others are front biased they are just cars, they do the same job and ultimately I'm just looking for a daily driver; some people don't have the opportunity to try every single car out there so have to try and gauge best what car suits needs by review channels such as this... I mean if people could try any car at any point in time review channels like this simply would exist... So I really don't understand your comment
@@f-u-nkyf-u-ntime The XJ is a gorgeous car, they're absolutely huge though! However they do the same engine in the XF which would probably be more up my alley. Definitely another one to consider, glad you're happy with it :)
@@benwilliams2933 Yes, that's what I meant: you're not really a car guy and you don't really care about what those cars are actually like. You don't care at all "what kind of job they do ultimately" even though they do in fact do their jobs VERY differently and are COMPLETELY different in their structure, their philosophy, and their dynamics. Those cars are extremely different, but you just don't know about cars enough to make those distinctions. Those are two very different things: not knowing, and denying the differences. And if you take that as an insult then that's you're ego's problem, it's not meant as an insult, and if you are unable to discuss the realities of the subject matter of cars then you can just say that you don't want to discuss. But it's not right to try to turn it into something that's not allowed to be discussed just because you're not interested and ignorant. You correctly said that you don't know which route to go down, which is good and honest. But what's also missing is that if you really don't care about driving and don't want to do more than scratch the surface of the subject matter or your own motoring, then it would be fair to acknowledge that. It doesn't make much sense for computer scientists to discuss computers with someone who doesn't even want to own or use a computer at all, only wants to read the news on a tablet once a week.
The Grand Sport line of Maserati to me just screams banker doing well for himself that never quite gave up on his childhood dream of racing F1 but wants to blend in with the shareholders' Mercedes and Jags. Kind of a niche that's hard to hit but incredibly wild, one of a kind cars.
It might be different overseas but from my understanding there is no turbo V6 in the Chrysler 300C in the U.S., the only V6 option is a 3.6 L naturally aspirated V6.
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This car represents so many weird choices that were made inside the FCA group. The weirdest at least to me was that they still invested a lot of money to develop a hybrid powertrain for the Ghibli so late into it's production, but for example the giorgio platform of the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio was more or less abandoned (no hybrid for you, EVER!) and it received very few meaningfull updates in terms of powertrain options during its (still ongoing) production cycle. Mind boggling that they just poured money into this thing while other brands could have benefited them much more.
Well the new STLA platform is based on the Gorgio platform, it's just been changed slightly for electric cars.
The Giorgio platform is at least used for the Jeep Grand Cherokee
@@Tyrewhisperer only STLA Large is Giorgio based
@@oliverstemp9132 exactly.
Can't agree more. Too bad they are so messed up. They are usually better looking that lets say competitors from BMW and Mercedes but you can't polish a turd as they say.
I drove a low mileage 2017 Ghibli SQ4 for about a year. Mine had the two tone black and tan interior with dark walnut trim and a sunroof. The interior and the trunk space is what sold me on the car. It was entirely trouble-free and the only reason I traded it off for a GTI was that it was simply too bulky to drive and park in a small college town. I never regretted my short period of Maserati ownership.
There’s no doubt that they are a beautiful looking car, I’d love to see how the SQ4 compares to the 2 wheel drive and my current C7 RS6, this is the one I think is more special than the rest.
@@simonelliott5956 They're excellent to drive and be driven into too...
Bro exactly I don’t know why people always talk shit about these cars. I have owned mine for about five years and it has been one of the greatest vehicles compared to other Mercedes s classes that I’ve also owned.
@@freespirit2520 They talk shit out of pure jealousy.
@@freespirit2520 I've had mine for five years and it has been a joy. Zero problems; minor maintenance. I have no idea why these video 'critics' crap on these cars.
That cut to Joe was absolutely brilliant 😂 I instantly thought of him when you mentioned "people buying an M3 every year" 🤷🏼♂️
I personally wonder why anyone would compare this to an M3 in the first place. Completely different direction of buyers.
@@Corvolet5 And also, why is it implied that he buys an M3 every year. I don't get it.
I got the diesel for all the reasons you mentioned, servicing can be done by any local mechanic and I still think wow every time I walk up to it to get in. It also does 50mpg!
Does your heart not die a little bit every time you turn the key and instead of a banshee wail, you're underwhelmed by an agricultural clatter?
The issue with the diesel is like buying a Bugatti then replacing the engine with a electric motor absolutely pointless exercise
@@bmwman1981
In your opinion. His money, his choice and certainly better looking and feeling than a 3/4 series.
I also have the diesel. 4 years of ownership and it has only cost me for tyres, servicing and brakes. It's a great car and always gets admiring looks and comments. As for the sound of the diesel, put it in sport and it sounds fantastic to me. It's no V8 sound but it certainly sounds better than it's German competitors. Yes they are better cars overall but this is far far more special. Let's face it how many times do you pull into a supermarket car park and think wow look at that 5 series. Well I never notice them but you can't miss the Maserati if you like cars, especially a white one like mine with red calipers. It's beautiful in my opinion.
@@amateurgolfreviewer3943 fellow white Ghibli owner 👍, why have a boring German diesel when you can enjoy life 🙏
I drive a Ghibli and in its 150.000km so far, the only thing that ever broke was a small tear in an induction hose at +/- 100K.
Apart from that, it has been flawless. Brilliant car and still so beautiful (especially with the 21" wheels).
Also noteworthy: the car in the video has the cheaper interior. The full leather interior (dash, tops of door carts, etc.) and alcantara headliner transform the interior.
I had the cheaper interior in a few loaners when mine was in for services and it makes it look extremely cheap on the inside IMHO.
I drive a ‘14 Ghibli diesel (yes haters, a diesel!) for my fifth year now, and it has been nothing else but flawless (over 200k km’s now…). You are spot on about the tires; the best upgrade I gave it was switching from the P-zero’s to the Michelin Pilot Sport 4s: last 2x as long, and the drive is much better. That all pré-17 models broke is not something I read on the (international) forums I am an member of, and we share all our experiences there, good and bad. The best part of your review is the negative undertone. It allows ordinary people like yours truly to drive this delicious car for a bargain. If I think back to the big diesels I drove from Audi (camshaft problems (and yes, those went all!), timing chain tensioners, tiptronics…) and BMW (transfer box issues (Audi Quattro system is so much better) and timing chain issues) I am so glad I don’t get those garage bills anymore. So keep up the good work! Oh, and by the way, it doesn’t weigh 2 tons, it ís the only 4 door saloon with a proper handling (Maserati created 51/49 weight) and indeed a has a bullit proof gearbox (ZF 8HP) and the engine is built by MV-Motori (yes, it is Italian…), and is not the same as in the Jeep etc (Maserati uses the A630HP-version) but has strong similarities: it delivers 600Nm at 2.000 rpm, but can be upgraded to 720Nm (and Nm*Rpm/9550=Kw….). It sounds pretty decent in sport, but nothing beats the sound of the petrols! So thanks again 🙏!!
My neighbour had an Mc stradale,quite possibly the best sounding "normal" car I've ever heard..the noise from that thing was simply sublime..
Even the mid 2000s QP sound incredible. I remember one passing me as I was walking and I could feel the sublime V8 rumble moving my internal organs 😂
This is exactly what attracted me to Maserati's! That era sound incredible...
Was driving near a late model Ghibli on the freeway only a few days ago, and they have definitely gotten quite large - even as a terminal car nerd, I had to get quite close to it to realize it was in fact a Ghibli and not a Quattroporte. Either way, it's a good day when you spot anything "exotic", out here on the roads, in rural Australia. Cheers!
Have they grown? News to me.
I've owned one of these for the last two years. Touch wood, it's been faultlessly reliable. I think you nailed the main points in your review. The switchgear and infotainment being robbed from various Jeep products does cheapen the interior a little, but overall I find it a nice and relaxing place to be. I looked at buying a 6-series Grand Coupe instead of the Ghibli, and dynamically, performance wise etc it would probably have been a much better car, but the Ghibli handles beautifully when you really press on, other than at least in the spec I have, it is very undersprung. I bought with my eyes open, expecting it to need frequent attention from a specialist (main dealers are laughably expensive - I think they assume that Ghibli owners have pockets as deep as someone buying an MC20!), but it has been fine. Finally, it's a Maserati, so you always get people asking interested questions about it, asking to have a look inside etc - you don't get that with a BMW!
12:55 That sound is intoxicating 🔱
Hello, I have had a 2018 Gran Lusso SQ4 for 2 years. Champagne coloured bodywork and sand coloured wood and leather interior. I have had a lot of fun with this car. The engine is smooth, you can drive comfortably but when you get into the revs it is raging, almost like a race engine. Always a smile at the wheel. The boot is also very good. Just the dimensions are bigger than you think when you see it, because the bodywork is very well sculpted. Not always easy to park it in a small parking space. But you feel so special driving it. You feel the whole Maserati history, the GT comfort with a race car DNA.
There are cars you buy with your brain, and there are cars you buy with your heart. Maseratis belong definitely in the second category. Especially the older ones. As a pretty well-situated software engineer with a not-that-shabby income, I was never crazy enough to buy one, although I absolutely loved the Shamal and the 80s QP. I was silly enough, though, to gift myself an Alfa Montreal for the fun times and marry a Lancia Gamma Coupé, my eternal love (besides other escapades that came and left). I drove the Gamma for over 16 years, regularly and as my first car. I made over 260k km. With the original motor and transmission (!). Probably World record. And, surprise, surprise, it cost me a fortune. And quite a few adventurous moments. And meltdowns. Every. Single. Year. But when I finally let her go, my heart literally broke. There are cars you buy with your heart. Who cares about the brain.
@richardharrold9736 We have to differentiate the realities of the time periods. I'm 58 and had my fast-and-furious time in the mid/late 80s to the 90s. Back then you had no YT and IG, and Italian exotics were toys for the rich. Living in Switzerland, even with my 70 to 100k yearly income, Ferraris and Lambos were out of my league, but Maseratis could've been affordable if you were fortunate and all went smoothly. The 82 QP was my dream but I knew it would end in financial suicide, even the 82 Gamma Coupé was a nightmare to maintain (let alone the Montreal, which I drove way less, tho, so it cost me less). Didn't like the Biturbo but the Khamsin was a delight for the eye, I absolutely agree.
I like the (most) modern Maseratis in regard to their look, more than any model of the competition (BMW & Co). IMO they lack in quality, though, for the price they're sold. And in my eyes, it was a mistake to add a "cheap" entry-level (Ghibli), it washed out the brand. I personally would've seen Maserati in the mid-luxury sedan/coupé/SUV segment, complementing Ferrari covering the sports/super/hypercar niche. With adequate performance and quality, of course. And Alfa covering the middle class (great job here, I must say).
There is a third category. Cars that your penis buys, that your head and heart later scream, too late, "WTAF!" (many Maseratis fit within this category)
@@Mike7O7O You're addressing more the classic BMW driver ;-) I must say, though, that these modern days with all these YT/IG influencers as well as the whole gangsta/dealer/yo-man subjects have destroyed the reputation even of reputable brands. There is a reason, Ferrari is extremely harsh and picky with (some sort of) its customers.
@richardharrold9736 Agree. IMO, with the Ghibli they repeated the same mistakes they made with the Biturbo - this one was the model that destroyed the brand's reputation, underperforming, unreliable, and of pitiful quality.
Besides this, we also need to address one more [status/representance] problem that impacts the sales: while an exotic Maserati may be suited for private use by wealthy gentlemen or perhaps as a company car for entrepreneurs, it isn't the best choice for businesses to use in their management carpools, where a discreet appearance is more appropriate. In these cases, Mercedes, BMW, and Audi are way more suited.
@richardharrold9736 Perhaps I'm a bit overly pessimistic, you may be right. We shall not forget that FCA did almost a miracle with Maserati. never would I've thought they could revive the brand. I like the MC20, btw. My heart belongs to the MC12, though, an absolute eye candy, IMO.
In regard to the Germans: they aren't anymore what they were in the old days in terms of reliability, quality, and durability. When my adoptive son turned 18 and wanted to buy the typical suicidal turbo hatchback, I gifted him a 2nd-hand 88 BMW 325 Convertible, in an attempt to spare myself sleepless nights and give him something nice, reliable, and "safe". Best 10k spent ever. The car was a gem, an eyecatcher, reliable, and lasted years without any relevant trouble, and (most important) the kid became a responsible driver. And every now and then, I had also some open-air fun ;-)
I used to have a blue Ghibli, but mine was a 1969 4.7 and looked like a really special car, not a sedan. A very visceral car, heavy clutch, heavy steering, loud, beautiful.
Those are very special. Always liked them. Those can actually be found in car museums. I have doubts the same will be said about the current iteration.
@@heiner71 Mine, AM115870, wasn't perfect, but was an event to drive. A grey market import to the US, Euro spec, 4.7l. A big, heavy beast, it rumbled and roared.
A real Maserati, I just think the brand has lost its way now.
I've got a '69 Alfa 1750 GTV. These cars are Italian mistresses. Lovely to ride, give 'em a good fierce drive. They'll throw temper tantrums without warning. Embarrass you in public. Let you down and leave you stranded. Empty your bank account. Lovely, magnificent, beautiful, cruel and an experience we'll never forget.
@@raypurchase801 My Alfas were quite reliable, I was never left stranded by one and I had many. The GTV is a beautiful car!
Great Video, I own a diesel Ghibli and also own a garage, Servicing isn't an issue for me, reliability hasn't been an issue either. I drive it every day to work, cover 1000 miles PM and enjoy every minute of driving it. I watch a million videos before I bought, and despite the criticism in every video I still bought one. I mapped mine straight away, went from 275BHP - 600NM to 305BHP and 660NM, this transformed the car to what a Maserati should be and feel like. I understand the tyre wear, I had Pirelli MGT's which lasted 3000 miles on the rear as a commuter car - not happy. If you'd like to try it out let me know. Mel
Diesel Masarati: ~grim.
@@alech8336 You can always pay us to drive a gasoline one if youre so offended by this. I dont know about him but I wont complain.
Thank you for your comment it gave me a sense of relief. I test drove a 2015 diesel with 80k miles and loved it. Put down my deposit as it has to get a service, mot and a 2 wheel refurb. I pick it on Friday but was becoming concerned as every review I’ve seen was negative but now I’m happy thanks to your comment 👍 cheers mate.
I drive a ‘14 Ghibli diesel for my 5th year now. It just turned over the 200k km’s, and it has been flawless. The only thing that ‘broke’ was the soundbooster system (yep, they have one..). Sooner or later those all go (also with Audi…). Further I still enjoy it every day! It is still a great drive! The best ‘update’ I gave it a few years ago was loosing the P-zero’s, and switch to Michelin Pilot Sport 4s.
My Maserati GranTurismo was 100% reliable, sounded great, looked good and I wasn’t ripped off at a main dealer for servicing. I drove it for 3 years before selling it to some chap in Dublin Beat that!
Had my 2015 Ghibli petrol for 3 years as a daily driver and it hasn't put a foot wrong. JayEmm, I think you nailed the review. For me I wanted something that would stand out in a sea of Mercs, Audi's and Beemers and put a smile on my face. The Ghibli definitely does that.
I bought my 2013 Jaguar XF (X250, LCI) four years ago for the same reason ... but kept my 6 Series coupé (E63, LCI).
I had a Ghibli diesel from new. I owned it for nearly 5 yrs and did 85,000 miles in it. Never had a thing go wrong and I wish I’d kept it longer. It was a fantastic car that also looked fantastic; it was different from the norm and not only did it make you feel special, it made me smile! I now have a diesel Levante that I’ve owned for 4yrs, done 64,000miles and again, not a thing gone wrong. I’m now looking to change this for the Grecale. I guess I just like cars that are a bit different and have a little Italian flare about them!1
My local garage owner has a diesel one. It looks incredible and actually sounds really good.
He likes it because of the amount of Chrysler parts available at a fraction of Maserati parts.
“I’m more curious about a car that is interesting rather than competent” will be etched on my gravestone.
Spot on review. I've got a 2020 Lavante V6 petrol, chopped in a range rover (I'll get over that bad new car experience in a couple of years) for the Maserati in 2022. Now Maserati's are heavy/solid/premium/well built/reliable.....but as I said I did own a Range Rover before. so Maserati v JLR....no contest the Maserati wins in every category!
Good unbiased review. Interesting comment about the Levante, my Wife has a 22 plate GT Hybrid, with the Nerissimo pack which really improves the looks and gives it bigger brakes, wheels and tyres. After years of RR Sports and a Velar (don’t) she really loves it. Ride on the road is good, handling whilst better than a RRS isn’t as good as my SQ8 or a Cayenne, but not bad. Despite being a hybrid fuel economy isn’t great but performance is ok and somehow it still sounds ok, though not as nice as that Ghibli. New Masers today come with a 3 year warranty and service package as standard, a bit like the Ferrari 7 year one, so nothing to pay for service and parts for the three years she’ll probably keep it for - not bad. Level of kit is good, and I like the Tom Tom Nav with Average speed camera countdown. Service is by Graypaul in Nottingham so it’s Ferrari, and so far for routine stuff they’re very good. What clinched it for her was a recent trip to the Savoy Theatre, running late and the doorman offered to valet park her car and it stayed right outside next to the Bentley’s, Astons etc 😁
I love my Ghibli - S and no issues. I do not care what anyone else thinks of them, after all they are not paying for it. And the looks you get when people spot the Trident and the noise.....save to say, I have had mass compliments and not one person complaining to my face.
I LOVE my Maz, bought it second hand in May 2024, its a 2017 Ghibli S with 45k kms. Love it! Looks great, sounds ridiculously sexy! Drove it back from Adelaide South Australia to the Gold Coast. A read review after review, and still bought it! for the money I could have bought a Ford Ranger; yeah right... NO WAY, the MAZ is just beautiful in every sense.
Everyone I’ve ever known to actually own a Ghibli, or actually ANY Maserati, has loved the car on the rare occasions it worked properly.
My dad had a Diesel (🤫) version, the engine wasn’t bad at all, as diesels go. It did have some niggles, I recall the AC having a problem that took longer to repair than it should, but nothing major went wrong.
The worse part was the radio, which was completely useless and wouldn’t retune the BBC stations as you moved around so you had to keep manually changing it. When my dad mentioned this conversationally to the service manager at Maserati, he said “if it’s any comfort it’s just as bad in a Ferrari” which didn’t comfort 😂
I also think the rear is ugly and it’s hasn’t got better with age yet. The earlier generation of Quattroporte is still best looking Maserati 4 door.
I really sage your comments on the infotainment system. I was in a Dodge Ram that had the *exact* same interface, which just shouldn’t happen. 😅
It was also a bit of a barge, parking it in car parks, you have to have your wits because it filled most spaces, how it would ever fit in an Italian road I don’t know. I think it was designed for the American market mostly because the best part I found about it was it was one the of the best long distance cruisers for the money. The seats were comfortable and supportive and you could drive for 5 hours and get out and not have any aches or pains and pair that here to a diesel and your time between fill ups was minimal.
Also people came up and made positive comments, the name Maserati just holds some much more provenance than 90% of marques out there. My dad secretly misses it and it whilst it did have some of that ’Mazza Magic’ it was compromised too much elsewhere.
We've had a 2016 Ghibli S for just over 1 year and 19000 miles. It's had an on/off brake judder problem which is finally getting sorted by the dealer. Apart from the brake problem it is a wonderful car. When the dealer has sorted the brake judder we will offer you a test drive. Tyres, the Pirelli's are awful so we put 4 M PS4s which are wonderful. Sports Italia service ours, £700 or so. Fuel, 30 mpg on a run, 18 around town. Interior, ours has the super soft leather with red stitching (which is amazing). Sun roof is a waste of time. 410bhp is plenty. Turbo lag can be annoying.
Do you know what was causing the brake judder? Also I’m surprised to hear it suffered with lag.
I cannot complain about James’ passionate nature reflects in his videos, but how he remains relatively unbiased. Great work as per usual!
My friend has me looking at the Renault Wind as a first car and I have to say I quite like it. Opinions?
1.2 or 1.6? Nice from the back and sides but not so much from the front... very reliable too... decent hp for a first car
@@samthemadman5000 The reliability record is surprisingly positive. I’ve been looking at the 1.2s as they seem more common, but I wouldn’t be opposed to a 1.6
@@Kay_Emm_ how much is it up for sale for?
@@samthemadman5000 £2650. Pretty good value I think. Cheaper insurance than a lot of options I was looking at, although slightly higher initial purchase price. Having driven my parent's around for a year (or what will be a year when my current policy is up) I plan to look after it for a long while, so it's probably a better spend of my money
@Kieran Martin yeah they go from 2k to 4k usually, maybe 5k for the higher spec... I always thought it was quite a unique car and they've kept decent value if you own one obviously... I have a couple of cars but I'm thinking of getting rid of my Clio for something more unique, but has to stay French lol
Honestly i think the interior is quiet nice. High quality leather everywhere and beautiful carbon fiber trim (not that one in the video). And personally i prefer this tipe of climate comands to the touch screens that everybody mounts nowadays
A surprisingly positive review. As always, informative and fun to watch! 👍
Trofeo version of this is masterful, way more interesting than anything German.
A car design anime would be amazing, maybe Studio Ghibli could make it. "Like the Wind Rises" is a great film which follows a Japanese aircraft designer. This is a fitting car for the studio, since it shares the name, it's meant to be.
I prefer the design of the Quattroporte.
That special 'feeling' is one of knowing you're driving around a car that isn't the logical choice - not as good, not as reliable and much more importantly - more expensive...because you can afford it! The pride of paying overs and chuckling because you don't care.
A mate had one, electrical issues galour... It would cut out and go into limp mode when pulling away from junctions. He got rid and bought a panamera.
James, you asked "do you know anyone with a Levante?"
Er, yes - we have a Levante V6S GL and are really happy with it. It's been reliable, feels really solidly built and rides and handles well. Bit of a giggle when screaming in sport mode, too. The Diesel is very laggy and probably wasn't the greatest way to introduce the model. I think this may be the nub of the matter - the Levante is really specification sensitive. The exterior looks great in darker colors, lardy in white. Needs the 21 or 22" wheels too. Very different proportions to other SUVs with its long bonnet/set back cabin. Interior can be boring in black and look very Italian in the contrast colors, especially with the Zegna silk option we have. The HMI is familiar from our old Grand Cherokee (and very easy to use), as are the window controls.
Engine-wise, the Diesel is reputed to be very laggy and probably wasn't the greatest way to introduce the model. The base V6 is not that quick, but the 430hp S can really go when given the beans and sounds great doing it. The ZF box is great. Not tried a Trofeo. Fuel economy, meh. Dealers are at least an hour away.
We bought used at a couple of years old - an absolutely full spec car with optional and expensive paint color - beautiful paint quality btw. New it was 109,000 and we picked it up for half that with warranty, etc. Against a Cayenne of the same vintage it was good value and is much more "special" to own, if not as perfect. I have been lucky enough to have had many Porsches and respect the Cayenne, but they are everywhere. It's like you said - a bit of a left field choice, but one that we are still happy with.
Hope this gives you an owner's perspective on the Levante.
You are welcome to try ours and make your own mind up...
Glad to hear you're happy with your Maser. The Levante strikes me as the most spirited of it's sports-luxo SUV bracket.
I have a 2018 Ghibli Gran Sport. Beautiful trouble free car. Pure class.
1:42 this is so true! They’ve always seemed like quite an attractive weekend car for me but you read the reviews and quickly move onto anything else 😅
I had a 2015 diesel V6 and I loved it. It was very reliable and a pleasure to drive. I’ve had an F-Type and 520i since then but I miss my Maserati. I’m now on the lookout for a petrol V6 - can’t wait!
How was the fuel consumption with the Diesel?
@@TheMusicFan1297 I used to get 50mpg on the motorway. I now have a two litre hybrid - love it!
You should try my fathers 1971 Indy! was his daily driver back in the 80's
I always loved the shape of it and would love to own a Maserati one day, but in my view, if you're going to ignore sensible advice, why not go all the way and get a Quattroporte of the previous shape and with the ZF auto box instead? Certainly you'd get the impression of driving something more exclusive when you're inside the car and those things matter when choosing a Maserati, don't they?
The double glazing shot is fabulous James 👏👏
Yeah and now on the low end a very clean full service records all available example with 90k miles can be bad for £10k. That is the road less traveled for sure but think of the fun you’ll have the admiring looks you’ll get from the lady’s. And most importantly the nods from fellow drivers !
I'd love to see a review on the trofero - haven't seen any content on that car!
I asked, but Maserati UK don't really like to respond
Mrs Car Wizard has a Levante. Both she and CW love it.
never ceases to amaze me, the chavs who think having a load exhaust sounds the same as proper v6+ engine. One is an annoying racket of noise, the other is a thrum that makes you think "ooooh"
Thanks J, Maserati content always good! Shame this seems to be another 'almost' car, like a lot of Alfas. We all just keep hoping that the next one will be the 'one', if the company survives! 🙏🙏
Fantastic balanced and fair review. The likes of Doug de Muro helped kill the model. Driven a few but never pulled the trigger - mainly because IMO, the Ghibli should have had the Alfa Giulia V6. Terrific noise though and a great buy used.
Internet douchebags don't kill cars. 90% of potential owners don't care for or even know reviews from social media "experts".
Maserati has been ruining their own reputation since before Doug was born.
Doug has become a caricature of himself these days - he is just painful to listen too and watch
I think the opposite. The Giulia should have included this V6 as an option, between the L4 and the QV.
I like your quattroporte… well all 2008-2013 better than the newer models. Just feels more like an Italian car than the new ones. Anyways, great job as usual!
I came for the sound at 12:50
Thank you!
I feel this is why we all watch your reviews; you are brutally honest,(to a fault!😁) and,
“you are far more curious in a car that is interesting, rather than competent”.
Competent cars are a dime a dozen, (hello Toyota and Hyundai/Kia); show me something with character, and then tell me all the flaws so I can decide if I can live with them.😁
Keep it up, mate. Brilliant.
I recently found that FCA now Stellantis build the Ghibli Q S4 and Dodge Challenger AWD off a related platform - thus, the exterior largess.
I'd love to see you cover a Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst. We never got them here in the States, although a non-boosted version did. (Pontiac G8 IIRC)
LOL! I loved that surprise appearance by Joe Achilles. That was very clever!
back to back comparison drives with it and Lexus GSF 1.5 yrs ago resulted in GSF. Oh, that V8 and rear torque vectoring diff (gears not bs brakes) just made the gorgeous Maserati not enough. GREAT SOUND Jay in this video.
Lovely car.
I'd be terrified to own one.
Nice vid and Maser! I rarely listen to journalists, many of them are biased and/or sponsored 😂 Always preferred to test drive cars myself before passing judgement
I had a Ghibli Diesel for seven years, I bought it new and ordered it to a high spec. Great car and very reliable, although you do need to spec it with the fully upgraded interior -full Protana frau leather, then it feels like the luxury car it is!
with a Massey Ferguson soundtrack?
@@Mike7O7O actually no, it was pretty quiet once marked up, and there was an, albeit electronically enhanced to sound like a Ferrari V8 in sports mode.
I did some car flipping from 2020-2022 when the market went a bit bonkers, having traded in my 2017 Corvette Stingray I had for over 3 years for an Afla Romeo Giulia Ti Sport Q4. I loved the way it handled, but the turbo 4 cylinder just didn't quite do it for me even with performance modifications. 6 months into ownership of the Alfa, I came across a low milage one owner Ghibli S Q4 and traded in the Alfa. I enjoyed the Ghibli for about 7 months, never once having any issues aside from the leather on the dash being replaced to the tune of $10k covered by warranty. The service costs, even performing the work yourself were a bit exorbitant though. The tech was also a low spot in the interior, which I excused in exchange for that glorious exhaust note. In the end, it just didn't have the feel I wanted out of my daily driven car and I went back to a coupe, albeit a more practical one than the Vette, with a BMW M235i xDrive. Much more nimble than the Ghibli, but not quite as much as the Alfa, and had plenty of power with the tune and supporting mods. It's not quite the head turner that the previous cars were, but it strikes a good balance between power, handling, and practicality.
James you are bloody brilliant! I love everything you do. I can only imagine how amazing your content would be if you had the financial might of the BBC behind you! Good lord.! Well done mate.
I’m not a fan of this car but appreciate the balanced and objective journalism.
Absolutely agreed. There is nothing interesting in an M3. But there is about the Ghibli.
You can't compare those two cars. Think about the driving dynamics of both. A Ghibli is for driving to the golf club and then driving to a museum. An M3 is a proper drivers car.
Surely an E46 is interesting if the sub frame might fall off at any moment?
@@johnmitchell2269But it's dull. As are the people that drive them...
@@GryphLane Yes, if you drive fast cars at 20mph under the speed limit, of course they will be dull. Fast cars were not built to be driven like a milk float.
@@GryphLane You drive a Ford Mondeo but you got so much to say about other people getting excited. Maybe concentrate on getting a better car first.
Thanks JayEmm, for this video, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Although way out of my league financially, I have always been fascinated by this car. Mainly, it's eye and ear appeal and as a former Lancia owner, I have a soft spot for Italian cars.
I think your video summed up the enigma which is this car, succinctly.
Thanks David
What a shame: my comment was auto deleted as I included a link to the Ferrari V8 bi-turbo Maserati MC Editions from 03.02.2022 Levante; Quattroporte and Ghibli with triple layer Blu Vittoria (matte) or Giallo Corse (yellow):
@@andrewholt3849 YT does not like links in comments
Always a great review
Great review I was considering one of these but have decided it's not for me after all. 😅
A big diesel salloon just as diesels went out of fashion. If this was released in 2004 it would of been a game changer
Always was wondering, if I should pull the Trigger for one of these. But the image of expensive and often broken put me off. Can you maybe also Test the Quattroporte of this Generartion? As far as I know you "only" tested your private one. Thanks anyways for all these cool Videos! Keep rocking!
The Ghibli has fantastic road presence and it seems most of it's foibles are generally forgivable. A shame Maserati failed to imbue the Ghibli's interior with the bespoke flare an Italian marque is expected to deliver in this class. Particularly a marque which on some level must share shelving space with Alfa Romeo.
The interior layout is very similar at it’s hard points to the chrysler 300 as are the over all dimensions. Makes me wonder if it’s not a clever reskin.
3:00 - I suppose the appeal of a Maserati is the badge and the noise. Doesn't need to be 9 or 10/10
At least people don't cringe when they see the front end unlike the current BMW front!
I once drove a Quattroporte, the previous generation. It still has a special place in my memory. It felt like a small hot hatch, nimble and fast in a way you wouldn't deem possible for car of that size. I drove Panamera few days after that and it felt like a whale on the beach. Unresponsive, dull, boring, uninspired, unimaginative, heavy lump of crap.
Seriously considered this when they came out.
Laughably over-priced in NA where there were almost no dealers, little market presence and the cloud of awful Italian reliability of years past.
Bought a 300C Hemi AWD instead - far less $$ and put 380k Kms on it.
Marchione made such a mess of FCA…
Mine is flawless, nothing ever broke, not even a fuse. A glorious machine. Much more reliable than all the BMWs I have owned for 30 years.
The Joe Achilles cameo was brilliant
The only wow factor it has WOW ! It’s working
Oh Jay. Awesome video! (but that shirt)
In the US: A great number of Maserati Ghibli vehicles were leased by customers. The Ghibli, a Maserati model that was re introduced to the market in 2014 was to compete with the Mercedes E Class and BMW 5 Series. Maserati's goal was to be a prominent player in the under $100K luxury sport sedan category, in order to sell more cars. Without the sufficient marketing horsepower to support the brand and model, however, it could not compete. Customers in the US viewed the car as a lower priced, temperamental Ferrari that would be expensive to maintain. For that reason, they didn't have the same trust in the vehicle as they did for the BMW and Mercedes. The best Maserati could do was to get creative with lease programs, which was the kiss of death. Customers who leased the vehicle did not maintain it like someone serious about the car's performance would. Many drove it hard, but did not follow the scheduled maintenance recommendations, and so, the car got a reputation for unreliability.. Customers who purchased a used Ghibli off a lease were often the recipients of a poorly maintained car with engine issues. More bad press. While general maintenance of the Ghibli is straightforward and not very complex, the majority of independent auto maintenance shops in the US will not touch them. Another reason why the Ghibli got a bad reputation. Not enough Maserati dealerships to be accessible, and those that do exist charge a very high premium for basic maintenance and repair.
Very very vet popular lease vehicle here in the States. This is beautiful exotic sedan yet I prefer and recommend Alfa Romeo over the Maserati. The Maseratis cool but I think a bit large for me although a three warranty would on a preowned example might tempt me like your friend Albert.
Hey JM! This is one of your best reviews. You seem to easily find the perfect words to describe how cars relate to people especially their owners. My sincere admiration
The 60 degree V6 is an aluminum block from Chrysler group - shipped to Italy to have Ferrari internals installed. TBH - I don't mind - I want one knowing full well what I may be getting myself into.
Hello James: whats with the chicken wing flapping with your arms when you are driving? It looks hilarious !!!!!
I’ve loved Masers since I was a kid in the 70’s and this is still a very pretty car, that I’ve looked at a few times, but it just isn’t special enough for me to have gone for one. Especially now that I know the average consumption is similar to my RS6! Scary!
I still wait for your review of the Vantage V600 (up until 2000). Visually my favourite car of all time. Come on people. Someone must have a V600 for James to review.
Loved the Joe cameo!
You’ve just confirmed my suspicions,sadly as a Maser has nylon my bucket list for some time.
Brilliant appraisal
Makes the LC500 look liek fantastic value for money.
Don't need a Maserati to do that. LC500 is among the most underappreciated current models by far.
That interior is soo not when your sat in it with that shirt James.Its fabulous by the way..
I am seriously considering the 6th gen quattroporte. I would love for you to have a look voice your opinion on it James :)
A real shame about the Levante. I had a go in one recently and it’s really quite a nice place to be interior design wise compared to the earlier Ghiblis.
While I’d never have an SUV again, I was pleasantly surprised that on a back to back test the Levante felt nicer to drive than the Cayenne. Not as dynamic as the Macan, but noticeably better than the bigger brother.
Another bonus: it’s also quite good looking, although I may have been slightly affected that my first sight of it was it parked next to an eyesearingly hideous Bentayga.
Now the bentagya is a properly hideous car
Very apt! We bought a Levante V6s and it is great. Very solidly built, rides really well and goes nicely when given the beans. Nice looking with the right color/spec/wheels. Has that "special" quality that makes it great to have. I have had many new Porsches and know the Cayenne very well - they are great, but are all over the place...
@@bmwman1981 you have to wonder what the design approval process was - this is the company that designed the gorgeous Continental, and even now with the new design with its weird headlights it's still a bit of a looker, as is the Flying Spur.
And then you have the Bentayga. Not so much designed as congealed.
@@hughrobinson9978 Congrats, and great to hear that you're enjoying it! I liked the solid feeling of the inside, and that it didn't feel as big as it is when punting it around the city compared to the 2019 Cayenne. A lot more precise and less wallowy to drive too.
I can’t tell You how much I wanted the Ghibli to be Wonderful and How Disappointed I Was When It Wasn’t!!!!
The interior has an Audi texture'n colour quality to it.....I had flashbacks of my 2011 A4 when watching shots of the interior.....the leather/plastic, the grey........
Very Illuminating!!!!
I test drove the v6 petrol Ghibli, and whilst there was no doubt it was a stunning car, it felt huge, somehow difficult to place on smaller B roads. The engine was also somewhat of a letdown for me too, it seemed a bit slow to rouse, making the car feel sluggish.
I test drove a Giulia Veloce immediately after; that was a revelation! Similar dimensions and layout, yet it felt far more driver-focussed, nimble and agile. I also felt the Alfa's interior was more robust and better put together. I puchased the Alfa.
Everyone tries to autoconvince themselves about their decisions... The Giulia is in no way simmilar size wise nor it has a more "robust" or "better put together" interior. The QA of the Ghibli likely takes 10 times more effort than on your run of the mill mass manufactured Alfa sedan.
@@an-dr6euas a four door saloon, 29cm difference in length, 8cm difference in width is close enough as makes no odds. 100,000th Ghibli rolled off the production line in 2021- hardly low-volume. I can only say what I experienced myself first hand; there was nothing special about the Ghibli's interior plastics, the vents were fragile and the leather was poorly finished.
The Alfa is far better than the maserati. Namely due to the 2 billion euro investment in the new giorgio platform architecture. Chassis stiffness, weight distribution, suspension geometry is all superior in the alfa. Maserati has done cosmetic refreshes and look sharp, but are ultimately old outdated cars.
@@anthonyknox1493 The giulia has a very weak engine, poor interior and poor reliability. The Ghibli is a far better car 100k in 8 years is low volume; the leather is the best i've seen in a luxury car.
Glad i went for an XJ over this. Went for a test drive in 1 and my god, the fiat/chrysler switches just reek through.
Interior creaks, the all "pretty seats" which are not that comfortable at all, a joke of an entertainment system, and that steering wheel is HUGE with rubbish feedback. Back seat space is a joke for a car of that size. The petrol may sound great but cant be forgiven of how the rest of the car is.
You see much more Levantes in the states. Funny cause out of the lineup its the one that’s actually a good all rounder.
I didn't think you could get the SQ4 in right hand drive. Something to do with the steering column gets in the way of a drive shaft or something similar.
I've been waiting on this review! I've been debating upgrading my car for quite some time now and looking at a budget of the £25,000 range to which the pre-facelift ghibili falls into; however with competition such as the likes of the Audi S4, Kia stinger 3.3, v60 polestar and even the BMW M4 I've never known which route to go down.
Do you actually consider yourself a "car guy"? And make your own decisions on the cars you buy? If you're considering cars like Audis and Volvos, you are at least honest about not knowing...
Do you seriously think that the Maserati and those front-drive-based things are in the same category? People are strange.
@@pistonburner6448 cheers for the pointless comment 👍. Whilst some are rear biast and others are front biased they are just cars, they do the same job and ultimately I'm just looking for a daily driver; some people don't have the opportunity to try every single car out there so have to try and gauge best what car suits needs by review channels such as this... I mean if people could try any car at any point in time review channels like this simply would exist... So I really don't understand your comment
I upgraded to the 3.0ltr supercharged XJ portfolio. I could not be happier.
@@f-u-nkyf-u-ntime The XJ is a gorgeous car, they're absolutely huge though! However they do the same engine in the XF which would probably be more up my alley. Definitely another one to consider, glad you're happy with it :)
@@benwilliams2933 Yes, that's what I meant: you're not really a car guy and you don't really care about what those cars are actually like. You don't care at all "what kind of job they do ultimately" even though they do in fact do their jobs VERY differently and are COMPLETELY different in their structure, their philosophy, and their dynamics.
Those cars are extremely different, but you just don't know about cars enough to make those distinctions. Those are two very different things: not knowing, and denying the differences. And if you take that as an insult then that's you're ego's problem, it's not meant as an insult, and if you are unable to discuss the realities of the subject matter of cars then you can just say that you don't want to discuss. But it's not right to try to turn it into something that's not allowed to be discussed just because you're not interested and ignorant. You correctly said that you don't know which route to go down, which is good and honest. But what's also missing is that if you really don't care about driving and don't want to do more than scratch the surface of the subject matter or your own motoring, then it would be fair to acknowledge that.
It doesn't make much sense for computer scientists to discuss computers with someone who doesn't even want to own or use a computer at all, only wants to read the news on a tablet once a week.
The Grand Sport line of Maserati to me just screams banker doing well for himself that never quite gave up on his childhood dream of racing F1 but wants to blend in with the shareholders' Mercedes and Jags.
Kind of a niche that's hard to hit but incredibly wild, one of a kind cars.
It might be different overseas but from my understanding there is no turbo V6 in the Chrysler 300C in the U.S., the only V6 option is a 3.6 L naturally aspirated V6.