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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  Ghibli SQ4 - 2014 Maserati Ghibli
  By pluther - November 29 - 7:08 pm

  Purchased the Ghibli SQ4 after being a BMW 5 series driver for over a decade. There are so many BMWs on the road now that they are just not that unique anymore. The Ghibli seemed like a very unique option and I am overall very pleased. I only have 500 miles on the car but it has been a lot of fun. The Ghibli is not a luxury car...its a true sports car that is built do drive. It has a firm ride (which I love) and its pretty noisy compared to BMW or Mercedes but thats what I wanted. Its handling and exhaust are second to none in this class...really awesome. The paddle shifters work terrific and shift instantly unlike many competitors. The car design is beautiful!

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  The car for real enthusiasts - 2005 Maserati Quattroporte
  By LAFORZAGOP - August 20 - 1:26 pm

  This car is sick. My dad bought his this July after driving the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S500, S55 AMG, BMW 745Li, and Jaguar XJR. Of these cars the Maserati is definately the most special. It looks like nothing on the road and people will constantly stare and give appeasing gestures. It drives like a dream. It corners absolutely ridiculouslt for a 5,000 lb. + four door sedan. In fact I think it handles better than my Dads heavily modded Porsche C4. After driving this car I just dont think its possible to go back to the mass produced German and British cars. It makes you feel special and you will find yourself just going outside just to look at it. This is by far the best designed sedan on market today.

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  Best performance vehicle for the dollar - 2002 Maserati Coupe
  By JSN - July 31 - 3:53 am

  I bought the Maserati Cambiocorsa because ist was within my budget, $60,000. I saw NOTHING that even came close. It has 390hp, dry sump oil, ferrari motor, dry clutch/paddle shifter, 18 inch wheels... it is all about speed, control and fun. This car is a blast. I drive it every day to and from work (10 miles each way), and sometimes even on errands like shopping. The trunk is adequate for most tasks. It seats four adults comfortably. Has hooks a for child seat. My four year old LOVES to ride in it. She calls it Daddys "race car" and urges me to go faster. So far it has been extremely reliable. It did have one major repair, the clutch. This was probably from pervious owner abuse, but dealer replaced entire clutch under warranty - which, by the way, is five years!

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  Blast to drive - 2005 Maserati Coupe
  By Chuck - July 6 - 10:06 pm

  Maserati Cambiocorsa has been a fun car to drive everyday. Its exterior styling is unique and exotic, the interior wraps you in full Italian leather, and the note of the engine is unsurpassed by any other car less than $100,000. The backseat is small but useful and holds two children. I find myself looking for places to drive in this car. Its 4 year, 48,000 mile warranty lessens the risk of this exotic costing you a fortune. I have not had any major repairs required yet. I have owned the car for six months and would purchase it again today if I needed another car.

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  Style, Class and Fun - 2004 Maserati Coupe
  By Juan Colombo - April 9 - 5:20 pm

  A car that does not drive itself, it requires an understanding of standard shifting. This car is hungry for speed, but once you get acquainted with it provides a fun driving experience even at low urban speeds. The engine is a Ferrari, so you are driving the best there is. It is surprisingly spacious for 4 passengers even as it looks definitely like a sport coupe. Quality design and finishes are noticeable throughout.

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  My 2005 - 2005 Maserati Spyder
  By mbutter104 - April 8 - 10:46 pm

  After several months I love this car. Do not let others talk you out of this great ride. Ride is very nice, performance is better than average, get the tube exhaust. I am going to replace the audio system as this is the only thing that is NOT GOOD.

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  Addictive car! - 2006 Maserati Gransport
  By CD-F1 - March 16 - 3:06 am

  I have owned this car since new for 2 years. Mine is the MC Victory edition. It is one of my favorite cars to drive if not the best. I have and had Ferrari F430, MB Amgs CLK 55, SL 55, Porsche Boxster S. You never get bored of this beauty. The sound is definitely addictive and the handling is great. I must add though that I installed aftermarket anti-roll bars as for track driving the suspension even in sport mode is more GT than Sport car biased (a little soft). I truly enjoy driving this bella machina daily to work and taking it to Lime Rock and put it through its paces! Cant get enough of it. Maserati should consider bringing a newer version of this car. (Not the Gran Turismo)

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  Love this car - 2005 Maserati Coupe
  By Mrdc - February 28 - 7:20 pm

  Purchased this car in march of this year. Love the handling and look of the car the only con is fuel economy.

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  If looks really were everything . . . - 2005 Maserati Quattroporte
  By Angry but Hopeful - February 7 - 10:23 am

  Gorgeous sedan over a sports car chassis. Ive owned it 20 days; its been in the shop 6 of those. Of 530 miles since delivery, 162 miles (31%) are repair-related (and that will increase because its at the dealer again). Im having horrible flashbacks to my gorgeous 92 Jaguar VandenPlas. Apparently the notion of competitive benchmarking isnt known in this company; it lacks some features that have been standard in other luxury cars for a decade. Im praying that the problems will cease because, when Ive been able to drive it, its a really fun car to drive--and I dont mind the head-turning effects, either! (Im old enough to know its the car, not me, causing the head- turning.)

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  Great car, when not in the shop - 2002 Maserati Coupe
  By carlcvw7 - November 13 - 5:40 am

  Ive had My Maserati Coupe Cambiocorsa for two years and drive it daily to work 30 miles each way. It is an absolute pleasure to drive. I love the sound of the exhaust and the acceleartion is breathtaking, just dont floor it on wet pavement. In automatic mode the shifts are very clunky and need to be smoothed out. The paddle shifting in sport mode is a blast and is extremely fast at high rpm. Maserati needs more dealerships. Mine is two hours away and Im in an urban area. I have had a major failure of the cambio gearbox twice, requiring towing from the freeway (scary), and two weeks in the shop each time. I think one more will qualify my car for the lemon law. I love the car, though Id really hesitate to get another one, given the gearbox failures.