Used 2021 Maserati Ghibli

The 2021 Maserati Ghibli premium midsize sedan is the most affordable new Maserati. Not that it’s keenly priced. It’s just that the rest of this celebrated Italian marque’s output is even more expensive. Then again, high style, fine materials, Ferrari-derived engines, and undeniable exclusivity all go a long way in justifying the outlay.

There are faster rivals, less expensive rivals, more tech-rich rivals, but none have the same combination of attributes that add up to a Ghibli. What does Ghibli mean? It’s a hot, dry desert wind — specifically in Arabic-speaking North Africa. Maserati has named a few of its cars after such phenomena. It’s all part of the marque’s mystique and romance. A lot of people have BMWs, Maserati drivers are a rarer breed.

Is a Maserati Ghibli expensive to run? Neither the V6 nor the new V8 engine could be considered frugal. There’s also the cost of parts to consider on an exotic Italian car. But Maserati buyers probably don’t care about such things — they’re more likely to be concentrating on their stock portfolio. One gripe, though, is that the Ghibli has been around since 2014.

Maserati has set up the 2021 Ghibli to have an ideal 50:50 weight distribution, perfect for a sport sedan. Every version also has a mechanical limited-slip rear differential, allowing the driver to power out of corners.

Although comfortable enough for the luxury class, there’s still a poise and precision to the Ghibli’s responses. And when the time comes to hit the anchors, every Maserati Ghibli has brakes made by Brembo — the renowned Italian company that supplies the likes of Ferrari and Porsche.

The 345-horsepower Ghibli variants can dash from standstill to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds. With 424 horsepower under that sculpted hood, it’s possible to make the sprint in 4.9 seconds, or 4.7 when the traction of all-wheel drive is in the picture.

The big news for this year, though, is the addition of the V8-powered Trofeo model, which needs just four seconds. Every Ghibli has selectable driving modes, but the Trofeo also has a Corsa (track) setting and launch control. But don’t be too impressed. The Mercedes-AMG E 63 S hits 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, and the BMW M5 is a tenth quicker than that.

A new high-resolution, 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen replaces last year’s 8.4-inch unit. It’s topped off with curved glass. And just above that is a small-yet-classy analog clock.

Elsewhere in the cabin, there’s leather upholstery. Or leather and silk in the GranLusso. Plus a choice of wood or carbon fiber trim. Space up front is plentiful, the seats are comfortable, and it’s easy to achieve the ideal driving position with standard 12-way power-adjustable seats.

In the back, though, legroom of 33.2 inches is stingy compared with the Ghibli’s German rivals. At least trunk space is generous, at 17.7 cubic feet.

Changes this year entail a revised grille where the GranLusso models have a chrome trident badge (the trident, inspired by the fountain of Neptune in Bologna, Italy, is as emblematic of Maserati as the prancing horse is of Ferrari), while the GranSport models have this badge finished in piano black. The taillights have also been updated.

These are mere details, though, on a car that looks unmistakably Italian even without the badges. And contemporary Italian at that. Car companies from other countries (well, Germany in particular) might describe their creations as conveying strength and stability, adding maybe a few creases for assertiveness. In Italy (and sorry to lapse into cliché here), there’s a passion for style because style is important.

From the concave grille to the alloy wheel designs to those three cool little trapezoidal vents on the front fenders, right back to the way the roof and rear fenders flow toward the tail, the Ghibli has its own character. And makes its own special mark.

SKYHOOK SUSPENSION
Standard in the GranSport models, this is a sport-tuned adaptive suspension. Yet it can still provide a comfortable ride quality, accessed through its selectable modes.

V8 ENGINE
The Ghibli gains a V8-powered variant this year. And what a V8. It’s twin-turbocharged, develops a mighty 580 horsepower, and the glorious-sounding exhaust system could make a Tesla owner sell up and head straight for a Maserati dealership.

Bereft of other names or initials, the base 2021 Ghibli still has quite a decent amount of standard equipment. This includes 19-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brakes, sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, heated/12-way power-adjustable front seats, front/rear parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring.

The infotainment system comes with a digital assistant, navigation, USB port, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, Amazon Alexa compatibility, Wi-Fi, and satellite radio.

Considering it’s about $76k for an entry-level 2021 Ghibli, it would have been better if Maserati had also included a set of driver assistance features (itemized in our Safety section), instead of charging $1,700 in this and the similarly equipped Ghibli S. But these systems are standard in the next level up.

As well as a choice of engines, which also brings the option of all-wheel drive, Maserati Ghibli buyers may like to go big on the luxury in the GranLusso versions (available with either V6 engine output) and enjoy a silk-and-leather interior created by the highly respected fashion designer Ermenegildo Zegna, along with a 10-speaker/900-watt Harman Kardon audio system.

Or perhaps the GranSport (also available with the regular or the gutsier V6 denoted by the initial S) is preferable, adding 20-inch alloy wheels, sport front seats, stainless steel pedals, and the Skyhook adaptive performance suspension.

For some people, only the top model will do. As well as a powerful V8 engine, the Trofeo has 21-inch alloy wheels and the finest Pieno Fiore (full grain) leather upholstery.

Except for the base and base S models, the 2021 Ghibli is also eligible for a 15-speaker/1,280-watt Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound system. Other options include heated rear seats, hands-free trunk lid operation, wireless charging, and a Nerissimo package adding many black-finished exterior elements.

The base model, just plain Ghibli, has a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 making 345 horsepower, which goes to the rear wheels (RWD) through an 8-speed automatic transmission that’s in every Ghibli variant.

The Ghibli S boosts that engine’s output to 424 horsepower. Again, rear-wheel drive is the default setup, but this engine is also offered with the Q4 all-wheel drive (AWD) system.

A twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 motivates the new-for-2021 Ghibli Trofeo with 580 horsepower driving just the rear wheels.

In all cases, premium gasoline is recommended.

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Ghibli)
345 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
369 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/25 mpg

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (S, S Q4)
424 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
428 lb-ft of torque @ 2,250-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/25 mpg (RWD), 16/24 mpg (AWD)

3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (Trofeo)
580 horsepower @ 6,750 rpm
538 lb-ft of torque @ 2,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/20 mpg