Overview & Reviews

Italian sports-car excitement doesn't have to come at super-steep prices. Maserati has made a name for itself as a maker of lust-worthy exotics that, though costly, are bargains relative to their stratospherically priced competition. Maserati cars currently come in a number of configurations that range from an open sports car to a spacious luxury sport sedan.

The company was founded in 1914 by six Maserati brothers: Carlo, Bindo, Alfieri, Mario, Ettore and Ernesto. Based in Bologna, Italy, the brothers were racing enthusiasts and planned to craft racecars for private use. Mario, an artist, was believed to have based the company's trident emblem on a statue of the mythological god Neptune found in a Bologna square.

Throughout the '20s and '30s, the Maserati brothers scored many wins around the globe in their custom-built racecars. In 1937, the surviving brothers sold their stake in the company to the Orsi family, who moved the company's headquarters to Modena. A couple of years later, one of the automaker's cars won the prestigious Indianapolis 500.

Postwar, Maserati continued to rack up impressive racing victories with cars like the famous Tipo 60 and 61 "Birdcage" models. The company didn't start building road cars until the A6 coupe, which was made from 1947-'57. With only 138 cars produced in that long span, most of Maserati's money came from its other products: spark plugs and car batteries. The Maserati 3500 GT, fitted with a double-overhead-cam inline six, debuted in the mid-1950s.

By the 1960s, the automaker had shifted its focus from racecars to road cars. The company rolled out sexy models like the Mistral Coupe and the Sebring. But it wasn't until 1966, with the introduction of the sleek Giugiaro-styled Ghibli, that Maserati fielded a truly powerful (330-horsepower V8) and sexy Italian sports car. In 1968, the marque was purchased by Citroën.

Throughout the 1970s, Maserati made the most of its partnership with Citroën, using some of that company's suspension and steering components in Maserati cars such as the V8 Bora and V6 Merak models. The decade's fuel crisis took its toll, though, wreaking havoc and killing demand for the sort of gas-guzzling sports cars that were Maserati's specialty. Citroën was driven into bankruptcy and Maserati was placed in liquidation. In 1975, the company was purchased by Alejandro de Tomaso, an Argentinean who had a previous life as a successful racecar driver. He quickly rolled out a new model, the Quattroporte III, a four-door luxury sedan.

The 1980s were an especially dark time for Maserati. Its main model for the U.S. market, the Biturbo, was bland and notoriously unreliable. In 1991, the company stopped importing cars into the U.S. Fiat bought Maserati in 1993 and variants of the Biturbo continued to be produced until the factory closed in 1997 for a total refurbishing. During this time, Ferrari bought 50 percent of Maserati and went on to acquire full control of the marque.

After the factory's rebirth, Maserati started production of a pair of world-class cars, the two-seat Spyder roadster and the four-seat Coupe. With powerful V8 engines, the availability of an F1-style gearbox, styling by Giugiaro and vastly improved build quality, the new Maserati cars were introduced to the U.S. market for 2002 and restored prestige to the Italian sports car company.

In 2005, Maserati was split from Ferrari but remained within the Fiat fold. That year also saw the reintroduction of the Quattroporte luxury sport sedan, which was followed a few years later by the voluptuous GranTurismo coupe and convertible. Today's Maseratis may lack the ultimate brand recognition of the marque's main rivals, but they hold the advantage of being considerably more affordable while still offering sexy Italian styling and impressive performance.

User Reviews:

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  Maserati Ghibili S Q4; Its That Car You Will Love - 2015 Maserati Ghibli
  By Danny Forge - December 14 - 12:08 am

  The new Maserati Ghibili S Q4 will have you taking rides that you normally would not take. It is Q4 quick, handling is fantastic and the interior is plain but elegant. Many will notice this is not the typical everyday Mercedes that are all too common. Many will notice this the Ghibili is packing some power simply at start-up. Many will also like to go for a ride. I really like the trunk space! The lines are unequivocally unmatched with a simply beautiful paint job that was meant to last. The wheels are sweet and the stagger is perfect. Now, for the just ok. The stereo needs aftermarket help and the gas mileage is not that great. Anyhow, go drive one and get to know it! The Maserati Ghibili and I think you will find that it really is a car that you will love.

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  Amazing - 2002 Maserati Spyder
  By Eric F - November 14 - 10:00 am

  A great piece of automotive engineering.

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  My Favorite Car Ever - 2014 Maserati Ghibli
  By lordselkirk - October 20 - 7:04 pm

  Weve had our Ghibli for over seven months now and absolutely love it! It is everything we expected and more. There has not been a single second weve regretted the purchase. This car is just what we wanted - very sexy inside & out, very fast (easy to hit 100 without knowing it!), and very comfortable. The shape excites my eye, the leather smell excites my nose, and the sound excites my ears. It is a joy to walk out to this car each day.

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  Class with Flash - 2005 Maserati Quattroporte
  By Pennston - October 12 - 4:56 am

  This car gives you the feel of the powerful muscle car going thru the gears, but has the luxury features never imagined available with this type automobile. I have yet to take the car out and not get a double take or the typical shout "What kind of car is that" The performance and features of the car live up to the impact of the look.

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  Terrific GT Car - 2005 Maserati Coupe
  By GEORGE - September 9 - 6:36 am

  I have never owned a car which has attracted so much favorable attention. People assume it is an Italian exotic in the same price range as Ferrari. It is more fun to drive than any car I have ever driven. Plenty fast with the great Ferrari built engine and beautifully balanced handling.

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  Gransport Coupe LE - 2006 Maserati Gransport
  By joemarzo - August 21 - 1:10 am

  The car is truly exhilarating to drive and is a great value considering its exclusivity and heritage. I have had the car for one month so far and the exhaust remains intoxicating. The hi-fi sound system is superb and the steering/handling characteristics are exceptional. Lastly, this F-1 manual transmission has won me over traditional clutch shifting.

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  coupe cambiocorsa - 2004 Maserati Coupe
  By clicitagain - August 18 - 10:00 am

  An outstanding performance vehicle with classic elegane. It handles excellently, and the paddleshifter is excellent with practice and updated software. The car is quite fun to drive and is very comfortable. It attracts alot of positive attention from passersby.

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  Awesome! - 2004 Maserati Coupe
  By Boss0707 - June 30 - 10:00 am

  This car is unreal. The sound of the engine, comfort, appeal.... Benzos SL500 cant compare. I take the long way just to drive it more.

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  The affordable F430 - 2005 Maserati Spyder
  By Kevin Calvert - June 26 - 5:30 pm

  This car is simply amazing, amazingly fun to drive, very powerful, and very comfortable. Its the best all-around car Ive ever owned.

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  Owned multiple Maseratis - 2006 Maserati Gransport
  By Lively - May 28 - 9:36 pm

  We have owned, and driven heavily, a few Maseratis from the 2002 spyders to the 2006 GranSport MCV. All the cars are stunningly beautiful, ferocious driving machines, and comfortable GT cruisers. The problems with transmission that were evident on the 3200 (pre GranSport) have been fully resolved to the point where Ferraris now use Maseratis Cambiocorsa F1 transmission. The ride is smooth unless you utilize Sport mode, which also acts as a volume and power control for the exhaust system. Responce is superb, shifting is fast, acceleration is amazing for a 4.2 liter v8. Compare the GS to the v8s of other makers, and you will wonder why non-Italian builders bother trying!