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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  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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  Zippy - 2007 Maserati Quattroporte
  By Stinkerbellorama - July 11 - 3:33 pm

  Yowza, this is a roaring machine for a suburban mom. Thinking I was under the radar in a sedan I get thumbs up from every male between 12-60 years old. Super cushy interior, roomy back seat for passengers, cool analog clock in the dash make this a sylish ride. Beating every souped up honda off the line with a light push of the gas pedal also has its perks. Trunk space seems limited, weird portholes on the side made my mom comment it looks like a Buick (thanks mom). Gas mileage in sport mode is a whopping 9 mpg, 12+ in regular mode, but its not as fun. Best things my kids like are the ability to control the passenger seat from the rear center console. Nicknamed the chauffer button.

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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!

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  Grown-up Performance ! ! ! - 2002 Maserati Coupe
  By zerotoninetyfast - April 15 - 10:00 am

  So far, this car has been quite impressive! The engine is smooth but wakes-up fast when you need it to. The suspension is also very smooth yet responsive when you really need to use it. I really enjoy is the classy, high- tech interior and the sleek exterior looks. Whenever I park somewhere, everyones always stopping me to ask "What kind of car is that?" -- Everyone appreciates it for its originality. It seems everyone owns a Porsche, Vette or Lexus -- this is different!

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  Loving my car - 2008 Maserati GranTurismo
  By Matzorati - March 13 - 8:50 am

  I love my Gran Turismo. I havent even driven my Rangerover since I bought it. I have put 20,000 miles on it in 17 months. I love everything EXCEPT that the 20 rims leave so little rubber that I get blow outs often. I purchased the insurance, but that doesnt get you where you are going. After my third blow out late at night in a not so wonderful location I purchased the inflatable spare kit from the dealer. It takes up about 1/t the trunk and cost over $2000. So my advice is no larger rims - otherwise the car is a complete and wonderful driving experience!

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  Italy at its Best - 2002 Maserati Coupe
  By Woodman - February 25 - 10:00 am

  This car has been fantastic, a real joy to drive and own. Devastatingly fast and quick. Tremendous torque as well as top end. The F1 shifters are a blast and quick to learn. The handling is great, very tight suspension when called upon, which pretty much sums up this car. Its as tame or as nasty as you want it to be, all in a very sophisticated, well turned out package. This has got to be one of the great cars in the world. The essence of the GT experience.

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  Better than my Ferrari 360 - 2007 Maserati Quattroporte
  By RussB - February 18 - 11:00 am

  I am sad that my lease is ending on the QP. The car is amazing. I have owned 2 Lambos, 2 Ferarri 360s, an S600, an Arnage, a 745Li, and the QP is the best all around car Ive ever owned. It is built along side the 612 Scaglietti and the minute you drive it you can feel Ferrari in its blood stream. The understated elegance and amazing drive train/suspension make this car my top choice in a crowded field of luxo/performance sedans. Mercedes and BMW simply dont have a clue compared to the Italians!

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  My second Spyder - 2004 Maserati Spyder
  By Francie - February 2 - 1:56 pm

  I got the very first Maserati Spyder delivered by Ferrari of Washington when the new model came out. I traded in my first, silver Maserati with a black interior, for a black Spyder with a tan interior. I have driven it on the road and on the racetrack, it is totally responsive to all commands in both situations. This car is tight, smooth, powerful, fast, and beautiful.