Maserati Quattroporte review
The new Maserati Quattroporte is better in almost every way than its predecessor, and is now a genuine rival to the Mercedes S-Class
The Maserati Quattroporte is a luxury performance car that offers Ferrari-developed engines and sports car handling. This all-new model arrived at the end of 2012 and promises to be larger, lighter and more efficient than the car it replaces. It’s technically a rival for the Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8 but only the fastest and most expensive variants, such as the S63 AMG and S8. The Quattroporte comes with either a 407bhp V6 or a 523bhp V8 engine, with the latter costing around £110,000.
Our choice: Quattroporte V8
Styling
The new Maserati Quattroporte, which was designed in-house, incorporates the brand’s new family face. The more aggressive front-end design is a little less elegant than the car it replaces but it seems to have won as many fans as it has detractors. The interior is a huge improvement on the old car, though, with the mess of buttons replaced by a single large touchscreen. It’s far simpler, far easier to use and a lot more elegant, too.
Driving
We’ve only had the chance to test the V8-powered model so far, which offers the kind of acceleration you’d normally associate with supercars rather than large limousines. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes just 4.7 seconds and there’s huge amounts of torque from under 2,000rpm all the way up to 7,500 rpm, meaning in-gear punch is always impressive. Plus, a deep growl from the exhausts means people will definitely hear you coming long before they see you. For a car that weighs almost two tonnes, the Quattroporte feels incredibly light to drive. Quick steering and fine-tuned suspension result in a car that grips incredibly hard and barely leans in corners.
Reliability
The new engines are untested but have been co-developed and co-built with Ferrari. These days that generally means you can expect reliability to be very impressive. The interior quality feels top-notch, so we’d be surprised if anything were to break, and the touchscreen feels quick and modern. The Quattroporte hasn't been crash tested by Euro NCAP but a generous amount of airbags and a high-tech construction should ensure it perform wells.
Practicality
The new Maserati Quattroporte is a much larger car than the model it replaces, both in terms of boot size and rear legroom. The space in the boot is now up to 530 litres – an 80-litre improvement – and the rear seats can even be folded down if you need to carry longer items. Passengers in the back seats are treated to an extra 107mm in the wheelbase, and a huge increase in legroom as a result. Six-footers can now stretch out and while a three-seat rear bench comes as standard, you can also opt for a more luxurious two-seat set up.
Running Costs
Fuel economy for the V8 engine is a huge improvement over the old car’s 15.7mpg figure. With a smaller capacity and a couple of turbos, the new 3.8-litre V8 manages 23.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 278g/km. However, the 80-litre fuel tank won’t last that long and you’ll be shelling out well over £100 per fill-up. As you would expect, insurance premiums are going to be sky high and servicing costs will be befitting of a car with a price-tag of more than £100,000.
