2022 Maserati Quattroporte

Like many other cars that have come out of Italy, the Maserati Quattroporte is a large luxury sedan that trades some of the quality and technology of its German rivals for styling flair and an engaging driving experience. The question for the Quattroporte has always been whether it has enough substance to go with its undeniable desirability, and, eight years after its launch, we're afraid not. Mercedes-Benz leads the way in this segment with its brand-new W223 S-Class being a technological tour de force, cementing its position as the luxury-sedan champion. A heavily revised BMW 7 Series, along with the Audi A8, also offer more polish and quality than the Quattroporte. If you can look past the Maserati's cheaper cabin materials and a price/performance ratio that is outclassed, then you'll enjoy this luxury sedan for its crisp handling and its exotic looks. You'll just have to make peace with the fact that there are ultimately better luxury cars out there.

It's here that the Quattroporte leaves the competition with bloody noses. Searching for a bad angle on this car is a futile exercise - from the signature grille - subtly tweaked last year - to the Maserati side air ducts and large exhaust outlets, it looks as good as it did at launch. The base model gets 19-inch Poseidone alloy wheels, adaptive full LED headlamps, a power sunroof, and Chromeline exterior trim. The Modena gets new bumpers and more aggressive front and rear fascias with large front air intakes. Its fender badging and the Maserati trident on the C-pillar are black instead of the GT's chrome. Last year, all models received redesigned rear-light lenses with a 'boomerang' motive when lit, recalling the 3200 GT, which was the first car ever with LED rear lights.

Longer but lower than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the Quattroporte has a length of 207.2 inches, a width of 76.7 inches (82.7 inches including the side mirrors), and a height of 58.3 inches. The wheelbase measures 124.8 inches, just 0.2 inches longer than that of the S-Class. The Maserati's curb weight varies between 4,101 pounds for the base model to 4,233 lbs for the Modena Q4 with all-wheel-drive. By comparison, a base model Mercedes S 500 4Matic S-Class tips the scales at a far heftier 4,740 lbs.

On all models, you can choose from a selection of six colors, down from last year's nine. The only non-metallic is Bianco (white), with Nero (black) disappearing from the 2022 palette. The metallic shades comprise Nero Ribelle, Grigio Maratea, and Grigio (all $1,200 each), as well as Bianco Alpi and Blu Nobile (both $2,950). Sadly, last year's Blue Passione and Rosso Folgore - a decadent deep red - are no longer offered. Like us, you'll probably have a tough time deciding which color looks best, as this is one of the few cars that looks gorgeous even in plain white. Given the choice, we'd say that the darker metallic shades create the most memorable impression.

The GT and Modena Quattroportes are both motivated by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, but in the GT it develops 345 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. In the Modena, it is tuned up to 424 hp and 406 lb-ft. The engine features direct injection and can be paired with all-wheel drive on the Modena trim. The RWD GT will hit 60 mph in around 5.6 seconds and will reach 166 mph. The RWD Modena cuts the sprint down to five seconds on its way to a maximum speed of 179 mph. When equipped with AWD, the Modena's 0-60 mph time drops to 4.8 seconds. While the Quattroporte is by no means slow, it's outclassed by its German competition. The 523-hp BMW 750i xDrive, for instance, takes just 3.9 seconds to whizz from 0-60, yet costs only $4,600 more than the cheapest 345-hp RWD Quattroporte.

The 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine might be out-muscled by its competitors, but still sings a sweet tune. Whether it delivers 345 or 424 horsepower, it is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base V6 features RWD, but the Modena Q4 gets AWD. Developed by Maserati in collaboration with Ferrari, what the engine lacks in outright grunt (if only compared to the competition), it makes up for with its emotive soundtrack. Taking it to the red line is a joyous experience, especially when you realize you're doing it in a large, comfortable sedan. Throttle response is good and passing power is ample in the Modena and swift enough in the GT. The shifter lever provides quick access to the shift modes. In Manual Sport, you can chase the red line until you're ready to upshift, and in general, the gearbox responds smoothly and quickly depending on changing conditions - no surprise, really, considering ZF's transmission expertise.

The Quattroporte's taut suspension setup can initially come as a surprise to buyers used to the floaty sensation typical of large luxury sedans, but the reward for it is a truly dynamic sedan that belies its size when the road starts to twist. The steering is well-weighted and isn't shy to transmit feedback to the driver, an increasing rarity in this segment and in modern cars generally. The Q4 version's intelligent all-wheel-drive system provides even more traction, but only when needed: in normal driving, 100 percent of the available torque is sent to the rear wheels, but a 50:50 distribution between the front and rear wheels is possible if conditions demand it.

While not as silky smooth as an S-Class or BMW 7 Series, the Quattroporte still manages a comfortable ride quality and soaks up the worst bumps and imperfections. It's not perfect, though, as the Maserati's chassis sometimes wriggles when the Mercedes would be totally unruffled. That said, the firm set-up - together with the throaty engine tone - combine for a much sportier drive than both of these rivals, which gives it a spark that's often lacking in full-size luxury sedans. Whichever model you opt for, you also get the Skyhook adaptive performance suspension with electronic dampers, allowing for greater control of the car's behavior such as enhanced comfort on long trips.

The Quattroporte isn't the most fuel-efficient vehicle in this segment, with rivals like the BMW 7 Series capable of a combined 24 miles per gallon in a mix of city/highway driving. By comparison, the most efficient Quattroporte is the RWD 345-hp V6 GT with estimates of 16/25/19 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. These numbers stay unchanged for the rear-wheel-drive 424-hp Modena but drops ever so slightly to 16/24/19 for the AWD model. On a 21.1-gallon tankful of premium gasoline, the V6 with RWD will manage a combined cruising range in the region of 400 miles.

Like the exterior, the Quattroporte's cabin is attractively styled and is available in a range of flamboyant trims and shades of leather. The quality is a mixed bag, though, with premium leather and genuine wood trim undone by areas of hard plastic that are simply out of place in a car of this price. Some switchgear has clearly been poached from the Fiat/Chrysler parts bin. There will be few complaints about space, however, as both front and rear passengers will appreciate the amount of legroom on offer. There's also a user-friendly infotainment system, heated front seats with power adjustment, while additional driver aids like the Active Driving Assist suite and adaptive cruise control are thankfully included in the base price too. Some of the options include soft-close doors and a power rear sunblind - both part of packages.

Its long body has been put to good use here, with the Quattroporte's interior providing spacious room for five. The headroom and legroom are excellent for all but the middle rear-seat passenger, who will have to contend with a rather large hump on the floor. The driver's seat has plenty of adjustment in it to help find a suitable driving position. However, the high-set dashboard does create a feeling of needing to peer over it, especially for shorter drivers, and, as a result, the steering wheel doesn't drop down low enough for everyone's taste. There are no issues with visibility, and the front view is made clearer thanks to slim A-pillars. Likewise, ingress and egress are simple. Two individual rear seats can be ordered via the Executive Package and includes the model-specific leather upgrade, four-zone climate control, and a rear sunblind - but reduces seating capacity to four.

Both the Quattroporte GT and Modena feature extended leather upholstery in a choice of nine colors while the brand's Luxury Zegna silk and leather upholstery for a truly luxurious atmosphere in the cabin can be optioned in three two-tone color schemes, but requiring the selection of additional packages. The Modena gets extended leather in a choice of ten hues and offers the Zegna Pellessuta leather upgrade in three hues. Interior colors range from the more traditional Nero, Cuoio, and Sabbia, to leather with contrast stitching in shades like Rosso, or dark Nero with distinctive Rosso stitching. There are three available interior trim finishes on the GT: piano-black or Rovere wood in a high-gloss finish or open-pore Radica wood. On the Modena, the Rovere option is replaced by carbon fiber. An Alcantara headliner and pillars can also be ordered at extra cost in a choice of three shades. The Executive Package compels the upgraded leather option and adds more features - and replaces the rear bench with two sumptuous trimmed separate seats with a center console. Overall, there's plenty of choice on offer to create an interior that suits your taste.

Pop open the trunk lid and you'll find 18.7 cubic feet of cargo space back there. This is one of the more spacious trunks you'll find in a regular sedan and is right up there with the BMW 7 Series. Two large suitcases will fit with room to spare, and you can increase overall cargo capacity by folding down the 60/40-split rear seats.

Along with the regular glovebox (which is also electronically lockable), there are door pockets (although they're on the small side), a center storage compartment with twin cupholders, and more storage for the rear passengers within the fold-down central armrest for stashing smaller items.

A Mercedes S-Class may ultimately offer more gadgetry, but the Quattroporte gets most of the luxuries you'd expect in a premium large sedan. On the base model, features encompass 12-way power front seats with driver memory settings, a power sunroof, ambient night lighting, extended keyless entry (including the rear doors), dual-zone automatic climate control, and five driving modes: Auto Normal, Auto Sport, Manual Normal, Manual Sport, and Increased Control & Efficiency. For added convenience, there is a power trunk lid - a hands-free setup with a kick sensor is optional. There's plenty of safety gear with standard front/rear parking sensors, blind-spot detection, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera. Both trims offer feature upgrades like heated rear seats, soft-close doors, and power rear side sunblinds as part of packages and the Modena offers ventilated front seats as well.

The Maserati Intelligent Assistant (MIA) infotainment system now runs the Android Automotive operating system and while it isn't quite as glitzy as the latest Mercedes and BMW systems, it's easy enough to figure out and operate. The system makes use of a newly updated 10.1-inch HD touchscreen display, including the new voice-activated virtual assistant. It integrates features like navigation, Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary inputs, SiriusXM satellite radio with a one-year trial subscription, plus both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Incorporated in MIA is Maserati Connect, enabling the driver to stay in contact with their vehicle via the Maserati Connect smartphone app or via virtual assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assist. Maserati Connect can keep the driver updated on vehicle health and can assist in emergencies. The seven-inch multi-function display within the instrument cluster provides more driver information. The sound system is a ten-speaker, 900-watt Harman Kardon premium unit that offers rich sound reproduction. For an added cost, a 1,280-watt Bowers and Wilkins surround-sound system is available.

No issues were reported on the 2022 Quattroporte so far, mirroring the results from 2020 and 2019, but there were three recalls for 2021. These were for the sensor housing of a fuel line that may leak fuel and increase the risk of an engine stall and a fire, a malfunctioning seat-belt locking retractor, and a tire placard showing too low prescribed tire pressures when specifying the optional 21-inch wheels.

The Quattroporte is covered by a four-year/50,000-mile warranty which includes corrosion protection and a powertrain warranty, along with roadside assistance.

Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA has evaluated the Quattroporte for crashworthiness, as is the case with many other full-size luxury sedans. The smaller Maserati Ghibli did, however, perform well when tested by the IIHS and the Quattroporte should follow suit. It also helps that the Quattroporte has many standard driver safety aids.

The Quattroporte range is competitive on the safety front thanks to a good standard safety specification. From the base model up, you get Maserati's Stability Program, which includes acceleration slip regulation. Other features include rain-sensing windshield wipers, a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, tire pressure monitoring, and a full suite of airbags.

Driver-assistance features include pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, active blind-spot assist, forward-collision warning with advanced brake assist and autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot detection, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, and a surround-view camera system. Since 2021, all models feature Active Driving Assist, which improves on the previous Highway Assist by working on any well-maintained road up to 90 mph, not just highways. It adapts the preselected speed and keeps the car centered in its lane, all fully autonomously.

Although it has been around for some time, the Maserati Quattroporte still enamors with its exotic looks and charismatic driving experience. Inside and out, it looks and feels like something different from the mainstream and, for many, that exclusivity counts for a lot. The twin-turbo V6 engines provide strong performance and a stirring soundtrack, but there's more muscle on offer in a Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7 Series. Neither of those cars is quite as fun as the Quattroporte, but they do a better job of shielding occupants from noise and bumps. They also trump the Quattroporte for overall sophistication, available safety features, build integrity, bang for your buck, and for posh rear-seat comfort. Those are lots of wins in favor of the Germans, but the Maserati will continue to win over a small group of buyers who tend to shop with their hearts and not their heads.

The Quattroporte demands a premium over the German competition. The range starts off with the new entry-level Quattroporte GT at $98,400. Next is the Modena at $108,200, followed by the all-wheel-drive Modena Q4, which costs $112,700. These prices all exclude tax, licensing, registration, and a destination charge of $1,995.

The number of Maserati Quattroporte trims has been slashed from six last year to three this year; GT, Modena, and Modena Q4. All three trims share a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission, but the V6 in the GT develops 345 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, while the one in the Modena has 424 hp and 406 lb-ft. Drive is to the rear wheels on the GT and Modena and to all four in the Modena Q4.

The GT comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, a power sunroof, adaptive LED headlights, a power trunk lid, and LED tail lights. Inside, it has leather upholstery, 12-way electrically adjustable front seats, open-pore Radica wood trim, extended keyless entry, ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, and five driving modes. The MIA infotainment system has a 10.1-inch high-definition display and runs Android Automotive software. It includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, Bluetooth streaming, auxiliary and USB ports, navigation, a virtual assistant, and a 900-watt, ten-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Standard safety kit includes eight airbags, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera, blind-spot detection, Active Driving Assist, and rain-sensing wipers.

The Modena adds the more powerful 424-hp engine and a more sporty countenance with different bumpers and fascias, black bumper inserts, less chrome in general on the outside, and black model and C-pillar badging. Inside, it has piano-black wood trim, and access to additional options and packages not available on the GT. The Modena Q4 only adds an intelligent all-wheel-drive system with an active front differential and active torque control and is otherwise identical to the rear-wheel-drive Modena.

Maserati provides a fairly comprehensive range of optional extras. The GT gets access to the $3,990 GT Sport Package that adds GranSport front and rear fascias, 20-inch alloys, red brake callipers, gloss-black wood trim, and a heated steering wheel. The GT Sport Interior Package costs $2,000 and contains sport front seats with memory, sport pedals, aluminum paddle shifters, and Alcantara upper cabin trim. The Nerissimo GranSport Package costs $5,090 and includes the $1,100 Nerissimo Package with its dark exterior trim elements to the exterior such as dark LED headlamps and black window surrounds, while adding 20-inch alloys, GranSport exterior fascias, gloss-black wood trim, and red callipers. On the GT, you can also separately specify standalone options such as a heated steering wheel for $500.

The Modena gets access to several more packages, such as the $1,700 Interior Carbon Fiber Package that uses carbon fiber for the paddle shifters, door sills, and trim, and includes a heated sport steering wheel as well. The Sportivo Package includes sport pedals, Alcantara for the headliner and pillars, and sport front seats with memory for $1,500. The big-ticket Modena package is the Executive Package with its individual rear Executive seats; it also adds four-zone climate control, full premium leather upholstery, and a power rear sunblind for $9,000 - and turns the Modena into a four-seater.

The Comfort and Convenience Package is available for both trims and adds soft-close doors, a hands-free power trunk with kick sensor, heated rear seats, a rear sunblind, and power-adjustable foot pedals.

With the base engine not powerful enough to keep up with the competition, we'd need to choose the 424-hp Modena in RWD or AWD. If we're being honest, the Quattroporte isn't trying to be an S-Class. It feels like a sports car with two extra doors and a touch more luxury; the combination of that melodious V6 and the Modena's more sporty approach works for us. We'd also be tempted to go for the upgraded audio system, but otherwise, the GranSport is well-equipped straight out of the box. The AWD drivetrain also makes a lot of sense if you traverse slippery roads and it improves sprinting performance from rest - because you're going to indulge yourself if you own a Maserati.

The Ghibli is the smaller four-door luxury sedan in the Maserati range. Starting at around $30,000 less than the base Quattroporte, it offers you exactly the same trim lineup and engines as the Quattroporte with many of the same features. Overall performance will see a bit of an improvement relative to the heavier Quattroporte, but it's not too far ahead. You could also go for the range-topping Ghibli Trofeo with its stonking 580-hp V8 engine for exactly the same price as a Quattroporte Modena Q4 - a difficult choice. Both sedans are joyful driving companions and have gorgeous lines, but the larger Quattroporte will, of course, allow you to make more of an entrance, while the Ghibli offers a lot of extra performance for the same money. Both the Ghibli and Quattroporte lose out to their German rivals for quality but if your heart is set on one of these Italians, the Ghibli still feels special despite its more attainable price.

Both the Quattroporte and the Panamera are left-field alternatives in this segment: the Maserati simply because of its thoroughly unique design, and the Porsche because of its hatchback-like body style and the brand's positioning as a maker of involving sports cars. The broader Panamera range starts off below the Quattroporte price-wise, but most versions will leave the Quattroporte for dead in a drag race. Although the Maserati is fun to drive, Porsche has tuned the Panamera to be a near-perfect blend of comfort, refinement, and exceptional control. The high-tech Panamera's interior feels more modern than the Quattroporte's. If style matters to you, then the Quattroporte is likely to find favor as the Panamera still looks odd and bloated from certain angles. But, if you like the Panamera's overall look, it's the luxury car with the wider spread of talents.