Maserati Quattroporte (2013 – 2023) Review

The current Quattroporte has a pedigree few can rival and it’s backed up by sleek looks and a cabin with plenty of space and lots of style. Even so, Maserati still has to play it sensible in a sector where cost remains a consideration, so the V8 motor has been dropped. However, you can still enjoy 0-62mph in 5.0 seconds with the twin-turbo 3.0 V6 petrol motor. The Quattroporte is also surprisingly keenly priced for something so exclusive.

Maserati’s Quattroporte name doesn’t sound as exotic when translated into English, simply meaning 'four door'. Yet, this is one high performance luxury saloon that has all the Italian charisma and style you'd expect from the famous brand. Maserati has made some big changes for this generation of its luxury saloon, with a better quality interior, more space and, for the first time, a diesel engine.

The 3.0-litre V6 diesel is shared with the smaller Ghibli but has its roots as a Chrysler unit from the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Despite these more modest beginnings, this engine makes the most sense for long distance drivers thanks to its claimed economy of 35.8mpg. It also means that many people can consider the Quattroporte alongside the likes of the Jaguar XJ and Porsche Panamera.

While the Quattroporte diesel has strong pace, for outright performance you need to look to the petrol-powered models for the full-on Maserati experience. The Ferrari-built V8 has been dropped from the line-up in the UK and Europe as it’s simply too thirsty, dirty and expensive, but it does continue to be offered in the USA.

What you can pick from, instead, is a pair of 3.0-litre V6 turbo petrol motors. They offer 350PS in the standard car or 430PS with the Quattroporte S.

That’s a boost of 20PS from what this engine started with when the car was launched back in 2013 and it’s enough to see this two-tonne luxury motor from rest to 62mph in 5.0 seconds flat. It will also carry it on to a top speed of 179mph, so you’re hardly going to feel short-changed at not having a V8 motor to choose.

Thanks to adaptive dampers, the Quattroporte rides well, absorbing rough roads and speed bumps with ease. It's also very quiet on the move, even at higher speeds, helped by an acoustic windscreen and the same at the back.

With sumptuous seats and ample legroom in the back thanks to a wheelbase that’s even lengthier than a Jaguar XJ long wheelbase model, the Quattroporte is a serious contender in the luxury saloon market for those that like being chauffeured.

The reason the Quattroporte can become rather fidgety is down to the size of the alloy wheels, which are 19-inch items on the standard model and rise to 20-inches on the GranLusso and a whopping 21-inches on the GranSport.

This still doesn’t excuse the way the Quattroporte often picks up on minor imperfections in the road’s surface all too often where an S-Class would glide over them. As the pace increases, the Maserati’s ride smoothest out and it comes into its own as a high-speed grand tourer thanks to the excellent body control though long, sweeping bends and also in tighter corners.

Maserati supplies all Quattroporte models with its Skyhook suspension, which allows the driver to choose between two settings. We’d stick with the softer mode. Even so, it doesn’t improve the inconsistent feel of the steering that lets the driving side down.

While some might mourn the passing of the sonorous V8 engine, the 350PS V6 Quattroporte dashes off 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds and will whisk you to 168mph, so you can hardly accuse it of being a slouch. It’s coupled to an eight-speed automatic gearbox that works very smoothly.

The more potent 430PS 3.0-litre petrol V6 in the S model shares the same traits as the 350PS unit, but with 0-62mph in 5.0 seconds.

Despite this, the 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 is the best-seller as it still covers 0-62mph in a brisk 6.4 seconds and maxes out at 157mph. There is also plenty in reserve for passing slower vehicles, while the engine keeps its quiet and smooth.

Every Maserati Quattroporte has twin front, side and curtain airbags, but no autonomous emergency braking as standard. You need to pay extra to have this and fork out more money for adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and blind spot assistance.

Other advanced safety systems that are common on many cars in this class, such as cross-traffic alert and driver fatigue warning, are not even options for the Quattroporte.

Yet more money is needed for the package that includes traffic sign recognition, Highway Assist, and the Surround View Camera. However, all Quattroportes come with front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

Where some rivals in the luxury sector try to convince their driver of comfort with broad but thinly padded seats, the Maserati takes a more old-school approach with thickly padded seats. It works, too, as the Quattroporte’s driver’s seat is a very comfortable place to spend longer journeys yet it also provides the right kind of support when you are making the most of the car’s handling ability.

The rear doors offer a generous opening to the Quattroporte’s rear bench. Once installed, rear occupants will find the Quattroporte provides more than ample leg space, as well as plenty of room for heads and elbows for two. The boot offers up to 530-litres of luggage capacity, though there are several interruptions in the floor.

If there's one area that lets the Maserati down, it's the cabin. There's nothing fundamentally wrong with the interior, but given the price tag of the Quattroporte, you'd expect better attention to detail. And considering the Quattroporte is up against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Jaguar XJ, the shortcomings are even more noticeable.

The problem is that for all the flair and Italian style of the exterior, the interior of the Quattroporte seems a bit ordinary. There are areas where the quality is under par and some of the switches feel flimsy, such as the instrument cluster brightness control.

Maserati has upped its game with the Quattroporte’s infotainment since the car was revised in mid-2016. Gone was the clunky old version and in came the Touch Control Plus system with its 8.4-inch touchscreen and much clearer graphics.

This system has fewer onscreen buttons than the older version, so it’s easier to recognise what function you need and to select it while driving. You can also use the rotary controller in the centre consoles, which is similar in action to the BMW iDrive, and you can also make use of voice commands for a fully hands-free operation.

Business and private drivers are catered for with Maserati’s own in-house finance options. You have a choice between personal contract plans, hire purchase and a Maserati Lease deal.

As an example of what you can expect with a finance deal direct from Maserati, the company is prepared to offer a £5000 contribution towards the upfront deposit. With some offers, the dealer may well chip in a further £2000, leaving the customer to find the final £8500 for the deposit. This then means monthly payments of £1300 or so, plus an optional final payment of £23,500 approximately to own the car outright. You’ll need to check the APR rate at the time of doing the deal as this can vary.

A diesel at one-year of age and with 5000 miles comes in at around £52,000, which saves you about a third of the cost of a brand new model. 

A five-year old diesel-powered Maserati Quattroporte can be yours from £20,000. This will have around 30,000 miles under its wheels and have a full service history. A GranSport or GranLusso version will add £10,000 to that asking price.

Petrol-powered Quattroportes start from £25,000 for one at five-years old and with 30,000 miles. Or, a year-old version could be yours from £55,000 with 5000 miles in standard or S trim.

A diesel at one-year of age and with 5000 miles comes in at around £52,000, which saves you about a third of the cost of a brand new model. 

Choose the petrol engines and the 350PS unit offers an official combined best of 25.0mpg, while the 430PS S model manages the same despite its increased performance and power.

All Quattroportes sit in the highest group 50 insurance banding. It may be cold comfort, that’s the same as for the BMW 7 Series and most Mercedes S-Class models, so you’re not being unfairly penalised for choosing the Maserati in this respect.

You are staring down the barrel of a big first-year Vehicle Excise Duty bill whichever Quattroporte you choose from the Maserati dealer. The diesel will come with a £1305 bill if it’s on the smaller alloy wheels, but bigger rims tip it over the 191g/km carbon dioxide emissions threshold into paying the higher £1850 rate.

With the petrols, you will be paying £1850 for those on the smaller wheels and a hefty £2175 for anything on bigger wheels.

Subsequent years will cost you £475 due to the Quattroporte range all comfortably exceeding the £40,000 limit for the £150 per annum rate, leaving you liable for the £375 excess payment.

The standard Maserati Quattroporte rides on 19-inch alloy wheels and has a Sport mode to sharpen the gearbox, exhaust and steering response, while metallic paint is an option. On the inside, you get electrically adjusted front seats and steering column, leather upholstery, wood trim, and the 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen. Also included is climate control, powered rear sun blinds, heated front seats, and automatic windscreen wipers.

The GranLusso model adds 20-inch wheels and black-painted brake calipers, chrome details in the front bumper, and soft-close doors.

You also get heated outer rear seats, upgraded leather seats with silk inserts, four-zone climate control, and full keyless entry.

The GranSport sits on 21-inch wheels and has front sports seats. It also has piano black interior trim, and sport steering wheel with paddle shifters. Maserati also offers a number of packs, such as the Convenience Package with powered boot opening, while the Comfort Package brings heated rear seats and steering wheel to Quattroportes that don’t have these luxuries.