Maserati Ghibli 2014 road test pictures

The Ghibli is Maserati's attempt at cracking the executive saloon market, sitting under the Quattroporte in its range.

The Ghibli is intended to compete with the likes of the BMW 5-Series, Audi A6 and Mercedes E-Class.

The Ghibli's interior sadly isn't up to scratch - the switches look cheap and feel nasty to use.

For the first time ever in a Maserati a diesel engine is available making the Ghibli a realistic company car choice.

The rear seats are comfortable but head and legroom are tight.

The Maserati Ghibli's boot is a good size with a nice wide opening and a low loading lip.

The Ghibli feels great on a twisting back road with fast steering and even weight distribution.

The eight-speed ZF box has been seen in many cars before and shifts smoothly.

The middle rear seat is more of a perch, so the Ghibli is an occasional five-seater at best.

The diesel engine feels a little rattly, and sub-50mpg economy isn't great.

The Maserati Ghibli's infotainmen system is confusing to use at times.

The Ghibli is very expensive to service and emitting 158g/km of CO2 means it's expensive to tax too.