Skip advert
Advertisement

Maserati GranTurismo S

Italian stunner scores on style and exclusivity

Badges don’t come any more evocative than the Maserati trident, and the GranTurismo S is the hottest version of the Italian firm’s beautiful coupé.

It features a race-inspired automated manual gearbox, but its 433bhp 4.7-litre V8 engine is outgunned by the 503bhp Jaguar. It also costs £88,000, which is £15,600 more than the XKR. Does it live up to that price tag?

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Maserati looks a million dollars from the outside. Using the gorgeous Pininfarina-styled GranTurismo as a starting point, designers have added a revised front bumper, lower sills, aggressive black headlight surrounds and a set of intricate 20-inch alloy wheels. So while the regular model’s beautiful proportions remain, the S is far more purposeful and easily wins the battle for kerb appeal.

Sit behind the wheel and it doesn’t feel like an £88,000 car, though. We’ve no complaints about the smart Alcantara upholstery, supportive sports seats and chrome-rimmed switches. You even get room for four adults inside. But the stereo looks cheap compared to the Jaguar’s fully integrated set-up, and trim quality isn’t
a match for the Brit, either. Plus, while the XKR features a theatrical pulsing red starter button, the Maserati uses a traditional ignition key.

There’s nothing ordinary about its engine. The high-revving 4.7-litre V8 barks into life, and is controlled by the latest version of Maserati’s automated manual box. There is no shifter on the centre console – just a pair of buttons for switching between reverse and city modes.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Instead, you change gear with the large steering column-mounted paddles: pull the left one to shift down, the right one to go up and both to select neutral. The plastic levers are a disappointment, but they have a positive spring-loaded action. And every downchange is accompanied by a perfectly judged blip of the throttle.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The six-speed box can also work as a full auto, although it isn’t as smooth as the Jaguar’s, and its all-or-nothing clutch can make for jerky low-speed manoeuvres. Use it as a manual and the speed of upshifts is impressive, but you need to lift off the accelerator forreally smooth changes.

On the road the Maserati thrives on revs, and the harder you work its charismatic V8, the better it sounds. Peak torque doesn’t arrive until 4,750rpm, and below this it isn’t as responsive as the Jaguar engine. But the Italian car generates more grip, and its linear power delivery made it more predictable on our test track’s greasy surface.

The Maserati’s firmer suspension provides excellent body control, and the 1,880kg coupé feels surprisingly agile. The steering is also weightier, delivers quicker reactions and inspires more confidence.

But the trade-off is that the GranTurismo S doesn’t tackle poor surfaces with as much composure as the supple XKR. The Maserati is more at home on B-roads than town routes or motorways. But the novel gearbox and glorious exhaust note mean it always feels special to drive. Does that tip the balance in its favour?

Details

WHY: Italian firms dominate the sports coupé class – and the GranTurismo S even has a race-inspired manual gearbox.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,505Avg. savings £4,317 off RRP*Used from £19,564
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,075Avg. savings £1,664 off RRP*Used from £14,990
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £37,870Avg. savings £2,955 off RRP*
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £1,676 off RRP*
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

BMW X3 vs Lexus NX: which premium mid-size SUV takes top honours?
BMW X3 and Lexus NX - front tracking

BMW X3 vs Lexus NX: which premium mid-size SUV takes top honours?

BMW’s much-lauded new X3 is one of the best luxury compact SUVs on the market – but is it good enough to topple the cheaper hybrid-powered Lexus NX 35…
Car group tests
8 Feb 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Bag one of the last Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs for under £400 a month
Jaguar I-Pace - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: Bag one of the last Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs for under £400 a month

The I-Pace shows how good an electric Jag can be. It’s our Deal of the Day for 7 February
News
7 Feb 2025
Car Deal of the Day: handsome, sporty Mazda CX-5 dips under £250 per month
Mazda CX-5

Car Deal of the Day: handsome, sporty Mazda CX-5 dips under £250 per month

The Mazda CX-5 is fun to drive, features a driver-focused, premium interior and is our Deal of the Day for 9 February
News
9 Feb 2025