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:

• 

  Italian Luxury - 2004 Maserati Coupe
  By Masarati fan - December 21 - 2:00 am

  Understated yet classical looks, that just imply the tremendeous performance and power lurking inside. Attention to detail in the handcrafted interior exudes luxury, while the F1 transmission gives the driver the most of the 390 horses under the hood. A blast to drive, but not for everyone (specially if you want something flashy), but will still maintain an aura of exclusivity (you will not see one of these on every corner in town, even if you town happens to be Beverly Hills).

• 

  Its a Blast - 2005 Maserati Spyder
  By GC - December 14 - 3:50 pm

  I have been an exotic car dealer in the past and have driven a number of expensive cars. This new

• 

  Disappointed - 2008 Maserati Quattroporte
  By Robert Schaffuan - November 15 - 3:26 pm

  I am disappointed with this car. I am very glad I set up a lease instead of purchasing it. At first, the car looked stunning in the dealer. I took a test drive, and it drove well on the streets. I wanted to experiment with Maserati. I thought this car was great, until I saw the Mercedes Benz CLS 63 AMG. My lease was nearing an end, and I already had complaints with the car. The rear seat comfort was not acceptable. I didnt realize this, since I am normally the one driving. Also, the Navigation malfunctioned. The power is lacking compared to my former Mercedes Benz E55 AMG. Overall, I think it was a good experience to try the Maserati, because now I now to stick with Mercedes AMG.

• 

  Wow! - 2005 Maserati Quattroporte
  By Sobrrr - July 17 - 2:06 pm

  I purchased my "Limited Edition Neiman Marcus Quattroporte" from the newly opened Penski Wynn dealership in the new 2.7 billion dollar Wynn Hotel Casino and no less than 500 of the people in the crowd to see the new hotel left the crowd they had been waiting in for hours to come over and check out this fine car. One gentleman had his wife take his picture next to it instead of the hotel! This car is a masterpiece of craftmanship. The interior is laid out very well, the leather is incredible, the guages set up in the right places and easy to read. The available features make for a very luxurious car. The handling is of course superb!

• 

  mamma mia, now thats Italian - 2003 Maserati Coupe
  By Teo - July 16 - 10:00 am

  Great looks, head turner, very fast... true sports car. A combination of beauty and muscle. It does have some problems that require repair: radio, CD, oil leak, gear box noise, vacum noise and more.

• 

  True Sports GT - 2006 Maserati Gransport
  By Italian Rosso - July 9 - 9:40 pm

  The vehicle while not a Ferrari, is a very liveable sports car. In Normal mode it drives refined, much smoother than expected. In sport mode it gets going in a hurry, with shifting up like a madman (I am not sure if the new automatic transmission is as fast) and the roar of a jet. It has no trouble handling BMW 6 Series Ms or most Mercedes Benz AMGs through the mountains. While its 400 horsepower seems light compared to the V10s or massive V8s of MB those cars are also have several hundred pounds heavier than the Maser. While not a Ferrari, it is infinitely liveable, and has the hp/weight ratio comparable to the best in its class.

• 

  Fast & Fun - 2004 Maserati Spyder
  By West8 - June 2 - 1:43 am

  After owning several comparable cars in the past the Maserati Spyder holds its own with preformance and style. Its great to drive a car that is unique and not typically seen on the road. Now my Porche spends much more time in the garage. The only problem I have found is in the design of the soft top. When the lid is up there is an over the shoulder blind spot that creates a problem. But who cares...when is the lid up anyway? Other than that, this car is well worth the price tag.

• 

  Heads will turn... - 2002 Maserati Coupe
  By masserman7 - May 31 - 12:00 pm

  I have nothing but praise for my Maserati Coupe Cambiocorsa. It is a solid machine with style and performance to match. It has linear acceleration that roars and gets (sometimes unwanted) attention. Yee who fear the rumble of a throaty V8, beware. Prepare to set off car alarms in parking garages and scare small children and animals. Things most likely seen in rear view mirror inslude Audi S4s, BMW M3s, Chevrolet Corvettes. Even the new 2005 Astin Martin V8 Vantage is a 1/10th second slower 0-60 and has 10 fewer horse power (not to mention the fact that it is twice the price).

• 

  A Beast - 2014 Maserati Quattroporte
  By edgebot - May 14 - 5:33 pm

  Lets face it, this car is a beast! Very fast, very responsive, with an exhaust note akin to a deep low growl. A head turner too. So all in all, the Maserati nameplate is valid. But, my Jaguar XJL, at half the price, is more comfortable, spacious, tech forward, and stylish. And this one is really a head turner. So for style, comfort, pizzazz, its the XJL. For pure driving fun, exhilaration, and bragging rights, pick the QP GTS.

• 

  masearti ownership - 2005 Maserati Spyder
  By maserati owner - May 13 - 3:50 pm

  The Maserati Spyder is terrific to drive, it feels like it has unlimited torque. You can floor it at any speed and are nailed to your seat. It is a beautiful, comfortable, elegant car. I wish the exhaust was louder though.