Used 2019 Maserati Quattroporte

The 2019 Maserati Quattroporte is a large luxury sedan with a sporty edge. It competes in a class that contains some truly amazing cars, like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche Panamera, BMW 7 Series, and the new-for-2019 Audi A8. These are technological masterpieces and at least two of them (the Panamera and 7 Series) are surprisingly engaging. The Quattroporte stakes out its territory with V6 and V8 engines built by Ferrari, and a design by Lorenzo Ramaciotti. Signore Ramaciotti isn’t as famous as, say, Pininfarina or Giugiaro, but his other work includes the Alfa Romeo 4C sports car and several modern-era Ferraris. While the German contingent dominates this scene, the Maserati Quattroporte offers a more (dare we say) charismatic alternative.

Speed, sound, sharpness. Even with the V6, the Maserati Quattroporte can be fast and precise, feeling smaller than it really is. And while the exhaust note is somewhat subdued (this is a luxury sedan), it’s still stirring. The rear-drive Quattroporte S runs from standstill to 60 mph in five seconds, the all-wheel-drive S Q4 gets power down a little more efficiently to shave 0.2 seconds from that time, while the V8-powered GTS accomplishes the same feat in 4.6 seconds. Not blisteringly fast, but definitely entertaining. This is accompanied by a certain grace to the ride quality and responses from the adaptive suspension. Even the electrically assisted steering has a satisfying amount of feel. This form of assistance is essential for the optional partly autonomous driving features, like active lane keeping.

It’s not a “welcome to the future” kind of cabin that an Audi might have. The 2019 Quattroporte’s interior is luxurious in a more traditional way. It features plenty of soft leather, nice wood (or optional carbon fiber) accents, and comfortable seats. We would prefer bespoke switchgear instead of several buttons that appear to have come from the Chrysler 300, but the overall effect is pleasing, nonetheless. Maserati offers a pair of larger rear seats instead of the usual bench. And the optional power-adjustable pedals bring even more parameters to find that ideal driving position. Trunk space measures a massive 18.7 cubic feet.

“Quattroporte” is Italian for “four doors.” At just over 17 feet, this is also one of the longest luxury sedans. Yet the exterior styling manages to disguise these elements well. It does so with elegant lines, shapes and proportions, along with wonderful eye-catching details. Like the convex grille with the famous Maserati trident emblem, taken from the Fountain of Neptune in Bologna, the marque’s home city. And those three side vents, a Maserati tradition.

FERRARI ENGINES
Ferrari. The most famous car marque in the world. From a country known for being nuts about cars. The Maserati Quattroporte employs either a V6 or a V8 built by this iconic operation. And they sound so good — growling, barking or howling.

LORENZO’S LINES
Italian cars are special, with multifarious appeal. Part of that mystique is design, and Lorenzo Ramaciotti has made significant aesthetic contributions. While working at Pininfarina studios, he was responsible for at least five Ferrari creations. The Maserati Quattroporte has a similar visual impact.

The 2019 Maserati Quattroporte starts in S trim, coming with the Ferrari-built V6, adaptive suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry/ignition, remote start, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, parking sensors front and rear, 360-degree camera system, forward-collision mitigation, 8.4-inch infotainment touch screen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, navigation, Wi-Fi, and a 10-speaker/900-watt Harman Kardon audio system. The S Q4 model adds all-wheel drive, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, paddle shifters, and a power trunk lid. The GTS trim brings the V8 engine and a choice of GranSport or GranLusso (luxury) equipment themes.

About these GranSport and GranLusso packages — both are optional with the V6 models and add 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot monitoring. The former has 20-inch wheels, sport front seats, paddle shifters, and some cosmetic differences. The latter includes heated/ventilated front seats, wood/leather steering wheel, and upholstery that’s part-leather, part Ermenegildo Zegna silk. These V6 versions may also be ordered with an individual driver-assistance package. Other options include quad-zone climate control, 21-inch wheels (which will affect ride quality), executive rear-seat package with heating and ventilation, folding rear tables, soft-close doors, and a 1,280-watt Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound system. The Nerissimo packages add dark cosmetics.

The 2019 Quattroporte’s V6 is a turbocharged 3.0-liter unit generating a punchy 424 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque. The 3.8-liter V8 in the Quattroporte GTS is also turbocharged, and produces 523 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive (referred to as Q4) is available with the V6, with no apparent fuel-consumption penalty, but V8 cars are rear-drive only. The sole transmission is an 8-speed automatic. Top speeds are 177 mph (S), 176 mph (S Q4) and 190 mph (GTS). Ferrari performed a great job making these engines for driving thrills, but doesn’t seem to have worried too much about fuel efficiency. The V6 only averages around 18 mpg, the V8 is worse by one mile per gallon.

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6
424 horsepower @ 5,750 rpm
428 lb-ft of torque @ 2,250-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/23 mpg

3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8
523 horsepower @ 6,500-6,800 rpm
479 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000-6,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/22 mpg