Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Maserati Quattroporte review - Engines, performance and drive

The Quattroporte’s chassis is less than perfect for UK roads, but there’s plenty of power

Engines, performance and drive rating

2.4

How we review cars
Find your Maserati Quattroporte
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

With 50:50 weight distribution, a long wheelbase and a rear-wheel-drive chassis, the Maserati Quattroporte promises much. However, on a twisty road it just isn’t as good as its rivals.

The steering gives you little sense of what the front wheels are doing, and with artificial and inconsistent weighting as you go from lock-to-lock, you find yourself making small corrections and counter adjustments. You can’t be precise at turn-in and you don’t have confidence through a corner.

The limit of grip arrives suddenly, which combined with the lifeless steering, means the Maserati doesn’t feel as composed as its rivals. On poor surfaces, the chassis wriggles, feeling unsettled over roads that its competitors soak up with ease.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Even with the Skyhook dampers in Normal mode, the ride is unresolved. Initial damping is okay, but the 19-inch wheels thump into imperfections. Sport mode stiffens the suspension without improving control. It sharpens the throttle response, speeds up gearshifts and opens the exhaust valves, but Maserati’s Active Sound system generates a mechanical grinding rather than an attractive exhaust note.

Engines

The V8-powered Quattroporte 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 7,500rpm, meaning in-gear punch is always impressive. The claimed top speed is 190mph, and a deep growl from the exhausts means people will definitely hear you coming long before they see you.

The turbocharged V6 model doesn't sound quite as good as the V8 but still feels very fast – the official 0-62mph time is 5.1 seconds while top speed is 177mph.

The diesel-engined Quattroporte is a bit too clattery at idle, but becomes more refined once you get up to speed. It has a top speed of 155mph and will do 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds, so it’s still pretty quick for such a big car.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,568 off RRP*Used from £12,606
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,879 off RRP*Used from £15,720
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £4,640 off RRP*Used from £14,895
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,600
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New baby Nissan Juke EV on the way to challenge the Dacia Spring
Baby Nissan Juke exclusive image - rear

New baby Nissan Juke EV on the way to challenge the Dacia Spring

Nissan to fast-track development of new battery-powered city car to take on forthcoming Volkswagen ID.1, and our exclusive images preview how it could…
News
18 Apr 2025
Best SUVs to buy 2025
Best SUVs - header image

Best SUVs to buy 2025

There are plenty of great SUVs to choose from, so we’ve picked out the very best
Best cars & vans
17 Apr 2025
You can run an electric car with nowhere at home to charge it, honest
Opinion - ease of EV ownership

You can run an electric car with nowhere at home to charge it, honest

Chris Rosamond explains why ultra-fast charging could convince you to make the switch to driving an EV
Opinion
17 Apr 2025