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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  The Maserati Ghibili Is That Car! - 2015 Maserati Ghibli
  By Michael Harper - May 10 - 10:21 pm

  I have owned a Mercedes for over 10 years, test driven few of the new models and spoken to the mechanics a the Mercedes dealer. Why? Because once you own a Mercedes it is very hard to change to a different sedan much like Corvette owners. After testing the Maserati Ghibili, inspecting as much as possible with an eye for detail and speaking to mechanics, I have a feeling that some of the reviews on this car are written by the competition. I do not know this for sure but I have to tell you I have decided to make the switch to the Maserati S Q4. Here are my reasons. The power is flat out amazing. The exterior and interior is very unique and absolutely stunning. The leather and comfort in the front two seats is fantastic. My kids are happy in the back seats. The gauges are very easy to read and the handling is better that most in its class however the ride is a bit stiffer vs many of the Mercedes models but not by much. The trunk has quite a bit more room that you would think. The stereo needs work but I will get that straightened out somehow. The gas mileage is not great but with gas prices so low, I am fine with that for now. I wish I could speak toward the reliability of the Q4 but I can not at this time. One of the main decisions that I considered was that every day while driving I see soooo many Mercedes-Benz vehicles on the road that they have become a bit boring to look at. Anyhow, good luck on whatever you decide :)

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  One of the best I have driven - 2015 Maserati Ghibli
  By will - April 17 - 4:39 am

  I really love the way this car drives. It is very comfortable. I have the sport suspension and it really is about perfect. The engine is really spectacular. I have read some reviews that mentioned that it did have to build boost, I can sometimes feel the hesitation when starting from a stop. It has incredible acceleration. The exhaust sounds fantastic. My main complaint in this car is the stereo. It just really does not sound that great. The infotainment system works really well. I have read where some critics have blasted using the same system from a Jeep Grand Cherokee, but I think it is one of the best I have seen. It is very easy to use. My last complain is the parking sensors. It would be nice to have a switch to toggle it on and off. The car really looks good and I get tons of compliments. I also think the interior is very nice. The seats look and feel great. If it werent for the stereo, I would say it was the best car I have owned.

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  Awesome value - 2006 Maserati Gransport
  By Andy - April 1 - 7:46 pm

  I have been driving this car every day to work since the end of summer. It has proven to be a totally reliable, strong performing GT which is much more fun and exciting to drive than anything German. It feels like a bargain Ferrari - which is exactly what it is. If you need four seats and a supercar you can use everyday, this is it. I own and have owned several BMWs, Ferraris and Maseratis, and the Gransport is one of the best balanced cars Ive ever had. It combines strong performance, great looks and solid build quality.

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  1 year of ownership - 2005 Maserati Spyder
  By scortgt - March 1 - 1:20 am

  I have owned my Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa for a year and really enjoy it. The engine is the highlight, 400 horsepower with a Tubi exhaust, sounds great and it is pretty fast. I like the looks quite a bit but that is personal taste. Interior is well done, but fit and finish is average at best. I understand buying a car like this will have some flaws and so far the car has been in twice for issues. I like this ride because you dont see many of them on the roads, like Mercedes SL 500s and Jaguar XK8, and Porsche 911s. This car is understated compared to pricier exotics.

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  Everyday Driver - 2008 Maserati GranTurismo
  By The Sexy Italian - February 11 - 12:50 am

  A bargain considering Pininfarina styling and Ferrari based technology with a 4yr/50,000 mile warranty. The 2+2 seating is larger than the BMW 6 series and the hand assembled interior is awesome. Of course, the engine sound is intoxicating and everyday driving is a pleasure. I enjoy this car more than my 911 and Lamborghini Gallardo.

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  Equal parts of fun and class - 2011 Maserati GranTurismo
  By the_owl - January 24 - 11:32 pm

  I normally research a new car to death before making a purchase. All it took with this car was starting the engine one time. The exhaust note negates the need for the high end stereo, the exterior lines are sensual, and the luxurious interior is comfortable with four adults. I have owned the car for two months and it is always parked front and center by parking valets, who I have seen scuffle for the chance to drive it. This car is elegant, perfect for anyone who wants the performance of an exotic without the ego of a Ferrari or Lambo. Fair warning, it will be photographed, people will mill around it, and pretty women will smile at you. Buyer beware!

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  2003 Maserati Coupe - 2003 Maserati Coupe
  By fbuyer - January 20 - 10:00 am

  Ive driven this car for over 1000 miles, and plan to sell it soon. In the first 300 miles the drivers side window stopped working! Mind you, this is a $100k car! Ive also had some problems with the shifter going about 45 mph. I would stick to a BMW M5 at this price range.

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  I love my maserati - 2011 Maserati GranTurismo
  By slimbob - December 21 - 7:09 pm

  I drive a red maserati s automatic and love it. I also have the cadillac CTS-V wagon, which is much faster, but the maserati blows it away in style, class and fun. No car in this class can match the purrrrr of the ferrari engine and the beautiful lines of this car. Only Italians can build a car like this!

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  Needs Design Help - 2006 Maserati Quattroporte
  By cucuza - December 13 - 1:46 pm

  The car is beautiful...probably the most beautiful sedan out there. However, the dealership we use is awful. They have no mechanics for the car. Once I had an appointment and they told me that their mechanics were at the races and could not take care of my car. It was the November 2006 at Homestead Speedway. All American cars...go figure. The mechanics were more important than someone who paid $130,000 for her car. The car has a tire error. If you u-turn tightly, the tire gets slashed by the body. The 2005 transmission take time to pickup. Hopefully they perfected it. The 6-CD changer rattles like crazy. The car is meant to be driven on long trips/highway, not the city. It is a gorgeous car though.

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  The Perfect Italian Saloon - 2006 Maserati Quattroporte
  By Briik - November 8 - 1:06 am

  Title says it all. This car makes me feel like the Godfather every time I drive it. The styling, inside and out, is a perfect creation by the masters at Pininfarina. The seats alone are like $10k Italian furniture pieces! The engine is wonderfully powerful, with a huge torque curve maxing-out at over 7000RPM. The SOUND from this car is totally out of this world and isnt comparable to the noise of any other 4-door on the planet. All of the seats are adjustable with massive leg and head room (Im 65" tall and 250lbs and I fit perfectly). Only complaint is that the head-rests on the seats dont raise up high enough for me. Service is great in general, price for the work is exotic tho.