2023 Maserati Ghibli

How does the Ghibli Trofeo drive? The Ghibli Trofeo might be less about hardcore performance and more about high-speed, high-performance grand touring, but it's definitely no slouch. That 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 bolts the Trofeo to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds and takes it through the quarter mile in 11.9 seconds at 118.6 mph. With those numbers, it's certainly slower than cars like the BMW M5 and Audi RS 7, but the Ghibli Trofeo boasts a class-leading and astonishing top speed of 203 mph.

Like its acceleration, braking performance isn't top of the class but it's solid. Our shortest stop from 60 mph was a scant 106 feet and the brakes provided smooth, predictable stopping power around town. Handling, too, follows a more relaxed approach and favors a fun but safe balance on the open road. With its somewhat narrow tires, the Ghibli Trofeo managed to pull 0.96 g on our skidpad, but we wish the steering transmitted more feel to the driver.

Where the Maserati really shines is in its everyday drivability. The transmission is well matched to the engine's power, and the Ghibli Trofeo is more than happy to burble around town, giving no hint to other motorists of its explosive power. We're also fans of the large column-mounted metal shift paddles for both their look and feel.

How comfortable is the Ghibli Trofeo? With the Ghibli Trofeo, Maserati has prioritized ride comfort over handling performance and we're not complaining. Even with its impressive performance envelope, the Ghibli offers a quiet interior with minimal road noise and a comfortable ride. We prefer the adaptive suspension in its Sport mode since it offers better body control than the standard setting, but even the racy Corsa mode is tolerable on a daily basis. Rear passengers will be pleasantly surprised by the well-sculpted and supportive seats.

The climate control system could stand to look a little more stylish, but its controls are clear and easy to use and the dual-zone system keeps the temperature steady throughout the cabin. Heated and ventilated seats are standard, but if you opt for the unique woven leather seats, you lose the ability to have them ventilated.

Our only real complaint is the relative lack of noise coming from that wonderful twin-turbo V8. While we applaud Maserati for not piping in fake sound, we wish the engine was a bit more vocal, especially in Corsa mode.

How’s the interior? The Ghibli Trofeo presents its occupants with an interior largely free of high-performance virtue signaling such as badges and red gauges. Its relatively high seating position makes the Ghibli Trofeo easy to get in and out of, especially since the seats lack aggressive bolstering you often find in sport sedans. Rear passengers will find a more snug space but still have enough room to sit behind a taller driver. Only headroom is at a premium. Thanks to the comprehensive control afforded by the infotainment system, the interior is largely free of button clutter. We do wish the steering wheel-mounted buttons were larger and better labeled.

Visibility is good out of the front but gets a bit worse as you move your way to the back. The larger-than-average outside mirrors help minimize blind spots, but the small rear window and large rear seat headrests limit rear visibility. A surround-view camera system proves helpful in tight spots, though the cameras could be higher-resolution, especially at this price.

How’s the tech? The Ghibli Trofeo sports a fast-acting 10.1-inch touchscreen. Graphics are crisp, and the system responds quickly to inputs no matter if you're using the native software or a wireless connection from a smartphone. Oddly, the touchscreen's slick appearance translated into a slippery surface, which made it hard to click the right icon from time to time. Our test car's optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system was strong, and we think it's worth the extra money.

Voice controls use fairly natural language and we had no issues finding a destination by its company name (like Target or Best Buy). While the adaptive cruise control worked seamlessly, the lane centering system, which allows for moments of hands-free driving, wasn't as refined. When we used it, the Ghibli often bounced back and forth off the lane lines instead of sticking to the middle.

How’s the storage? Being a midsize luxury sedan, the Ghibli Trofeo offers a respectable 17.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The Ghibli Trofeo has an easy liftover height, but due to the car's styling, most of the trunk opening faces straight back, which can make loading taller upright items a bit tricky. The folding split rear seats help increase capacity, but the front seats might have to be moved forward to make room for the rear seats when you fold them down.

Interior storage is better than average. There's a deep center console that is augmented by a smaller cubby just aft of the shifter as well as two fairly large cupholders. Rear passengers also have a relatively large bin under their center armrest, and all door pockets are fully lined with felt. As a small bonus, the wireless charger doesn't interfere with storage space.

Is the Ghibli Trofeo a good value? Value can be subjective, especially at this price. But beyond exclusivity, most buyers in this vehicle class will come to expect a certain level of fit and finish and attention to detail. The Ghibli Trofeo certainly offers exclusivity, along with some of the best leather work we've seen at any price. But some of the controls and interior design lack the specialness and attention to detail so prevalent in its rivals. The Maserati clocks in with a starting price of just over $110K and the as-tested price of our test vehicle was north of $126K, so it takes a strongly motivated buyer to not overlook the similarly priced, equally powerful and more refined competition.

The warranty is about average for the class, with four years/50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage. You also get four years/50,000 miles of roadside assistance, although rust coverage for the same period and mileage seems a bit stingy.

In a class filled with German attack sedans like the RS 7 and the BMW M5, the somewhat demure Ghibli Trofeo can seem like it's missing something. It packs a marvelous turbo V8, but you'd never know it to look at it. Instead, the Maserati is much more of a grand-touring sedan, capable of demolishing open highways with speed and comfort while attracting almost no attention outside of that Maserati badge.

That theme continues inside where an upright seating position and relatively unadorned interior give no hint of the Trofeo's capabilities. Many buyers might want for more flash and aggressive styling, but for those who want to really fly under the radar, the Ghibli Trofeo might be the ticket.