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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  MAZ - 2004 Maserati Coupe
  By KLP - August 12 - 2:00 am

  excellent ride, great pick up, terrific cornering, and best of all great braking

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  Impressive Performance and Quality - 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
  By Ken - July 3 - 11:35 pm

  Although the purchase was recent, Im impressed with the performance, solid build, overall design and impressive interior.

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  Prop shaft defect - 2008 Maserati GranTurismo
  By Kevin Dorgan - May 2 - 4:30 am

  Stunning looking vehicle and quite rare to have 4 usable seats in this style of car. Gear box is excellent in manual sport mode, brakes only average, perhaps a little under powered, but no doubt S model will resolve these issues. It really is a joy to drive long and short distances. Engine has an enjoyable sound and in most areas it does what it was designed to do, and really quite well. However I have experienced unacceptable problems with the prop shaft. The vehicle is presently having its fifth shaft fitted. The rear tires are also wearing unevenly and at an unacceptable rate. Maserati has not been able so far to identify the cause or solution to the problem.

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  Ever see a lemon on wheels? - 2005 Maserati Coupe
  By e - April 17 - 1:36 am

  First a blowout then the sensors couldnt differentiate between a stop sign, red light and intentional turn off of the car. The result was the car spent more time in the shop and with AAA roadside assistance or Maz roadside assistance than on the road with me. The little gear shift is easily broken (esp by valets @ $1500 a pop ) and you can get service for an easy $500-800 anytime it is due. The 1st 2000 miles were awesome. The rest absolutely stunk and I felt extremely insecure. Maybe if I rotated the tires every 5k miles it would have handled better but this turkey is not recommended.

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  Race Car Performance / Luxurious 4 Door - 2005 Maserati Quattroporte
  By Paolo Cristoferro - April 14 - 4:23 pm

  This most recent iteration of the Maserati Quattroporte is in a class by itself. The 8 cyl 4.2l dry-sump Maserati engine makes 400 bhp with no turbo or supercharger, far surpassing anything from BMW or Mercedes-Benz. With the engine tucked low and behind the front axle, and the tranny on the rear axel, this 4200 lb luxury sedan handles like an F-16. Its big sticky Bridgestone runflats keep it glued to the road, encouraging you to accelate through ridiculously tight turns. The faster you go, the more stable the ride gets! The sensuous curves of the Pininfarina body put the Quattroporte in sharp contrast to the edgy, techno-bods on the German competitors. Everywhere I go, heads turn, thumbs go up, and tongues hang out. Outstanding car.

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  Amazizizing - 2008 Maserati Quattroporte
  By Mazeraty Finatico - January 14 - 11:13 am

  The Maserati Quattroporte is about the sexiest sedan youll ever see, and its Italian craftsmanship reflects passion. Its styling, by the legendary Pininfarina, shows them all how it should be done, without tricks. The lines are so shapely theyre striking. Its cabin is roomy for a car this low and stylish, but its really all about the quality of its materials, with nine shades of leather and six types of wood to choose from. The controls could and should be simpler, but thats true of all the top luxury cars today.

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  Man what a car!! - 2014 Maserati Ghibli
  By happy1147 - December 18 - 10:31 am

  I love my car. Fast and handles well on WV roads. Makes my Corvette look like family sedan. Great performance and an eye pleaser especially when my blonde wife drives it. Made a few Camaro and Mustang believers when the old man leaves them in the breeze. Go Trident!!

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  Very Impressed - 2007 Maserati Quattroporte
  By jb7227 - December 16 - 6:13 am

  My 2007 QP has been nothing short of spectacular since the day I picked it up. I am happy I went went w/the DuoSelect. It is one of the best features of this car, smooth and very easy to master. I have owned BMWs, MBs, Jags. Nothing attracts as much attention on the road. It may be one of the most beautiful cars ever built! The engine sounds terrific (it is difficult to keep the revs below 4-5000 rpms on the upshifts, the engine is so willing to sing) and the interior would put a Bentley to shame. Gas mileage has averaged about 14 mpg overall. No problems so far after 2 months and 2800 miles. I would highly recommend this car for anyone who wants a car with real personality.

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  Dream Car - 2002 Maserati Coupe
  By Rich - December 8 - 6:40 pm

  I have owned many cars and a few of them were sports cars but never have I owned such a true sports car with style and detail similar to an expensive Italian suit. This lines on the exterior and the design of the interior is a work of art.

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  After Two Years... - 2005 Maserati Gransport
  By Big John - December 4 - 4:10 pm

  this car still has it all! My neighbor has a New BMW M5 with the V10 505 HP engine, and although it is a bit quicker than the Gransport or my Quattroporte, it doesnt come close to the feel of driving an Italian piece of hand crafted artwork. Keep in mind my Maserati, even after two years, sees the mechanics only for routine service, whereas the M5...well, lets just say it is a very lonely automobile, constantly craving companionship at the dealer. The biggest bonus is the sound...nobody can duplicate the sound of a Ferrari engine (yes it is a Ferrari engine) purring...just waiting to pounce. Its like listening to a symphony at the Hollywood Bowl. This car is pure sex appeal on wheels!