Maserati Quattroporte Review 2024

Given the Maserati Quattroporte will be very much outside of most luxury car buyers’ usual vision of choices, you need to make a conscious decision to pick this Italian saloon over the likes of the Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7 Series. Make that leap, though, and you enter a world of luxury driving that is a good deal more exclusive and, perhaps, more satisfying.

The way the Quattroporte drives is very much at the heart of its appeal. Sure, it irons out wrinkly roads as well as a Jaguar XJ, but it also handles and drives with an enthusiasm that only a Porsche Panamera really rivals. It is very much a limo where the owner will spend as much time behind the wheel as sat in the back seats.

Given its comfort, driving enjoyment and opulent cabin, the Quattroporte is surprisingly good value when stacked up against the likes of the Panamera and quicker AMG versions of the Mercedes S-Class. In fact, there’s a good chance the Quattroporte is the right luxury saloon for a lot more people than they realise.

While the Maserati Quattroporte makes all the right moves in its styling and drive, Maserati is also savvy enough to know owners still need it to make fiscal sense. The petrol motors are huge fun, but there is also a diesel with plenty of oomph that makes a passable stab at economy and efficiency.

This twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 diesel comes with 275PS and 600Nm of low- and mid-rev shove. To put that in perspective, this is the same sort of urge that a BMW 730d provides and nobody ever complained about its performance. Nor will Quattroporte drivers as the diesel sees off 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds and tops out at 157mph while also being capable of up to a claimed 35.8mpg combined economy.

Of course, some buyers will want the petrol-powered experience and the entry-point here is the 350PS twin-turbo V6. It revs with glee and sounds crisp and keen, yet it will also cruise quietly and works through the eight-speed automatic gearbox used in all Quattroportes with polished ease. Give this engine its head and it will clear its way to 62mph from rest in 5.5 seconds and top out at 168mph.

Or you could go all in with the S model and its 430PS version of the same motor. It cracks 62mph from a standstill in 5.0 seconds on the nail and will travel on to 179mph on an autobahn. More importantly, it's also smooth and hushed in more everyday driving situations.

The Audi A8, BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class that take up most of the bandwidth in the luxury class don’t really stack up as rivals to the Maserati Quattroporte. Its buyers are more likely to also consider a Porsche Panamera or Jaguar XJ.

The Porsche is offered with a variety of engines and trims, so you can hone it to your taste, but they all come with significant price tags. However, there is also the option of all-wheel drive and an estate version of the Panamera.

The Jaguar XJ’s looks are an acquired taste, its rear seat is short on headroom and the ride can be fidgety. So, the Jag is feeling its age more than the Maserati.

If there's one area that lets the Maserati down, it's the cabin. There's nothing fundamentally wrong with the interior, but given the price tag of the Maserati Quattroporte, you'd expect better attention to detail. And considering the Quattroporte is up against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Jaguar XJ, the shortcomings are even more noticeable.

The problem is that for all the flair and Italian style of the exterior, the interior of the Quattroporte seems a bit ordinary. There are areas where the quality is under par and some of the switches feel flimsy, such as the instrument cluster brightness control. Also, the single column stalk is distinctly dated and will be familiar to anyone who's driven a big Chrysler or a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

As for the fit and finish, Maserati has made dramatic steps forward in this area and the Quattroporte is now screwed together in a way that warrants comparison with most rivals. You won’t hear any creaks or rattles, and nor will items such as the centre console cubby’s lid work loose over time as it could in the earlier generation.

Maserati has upped its game with the Maserati Quattroporte’s infotainment since the car was revised in mid-2016. Gone was the clunky old version and in came the Touch Control Plus system with its 8.4-inch touchscreen and much clearer graphics.

This system has fewer onscreen buttons than the older version, so it’s easier to recognise what function you need and to select it while driving. You can also use the rotary controller in the centre consoles, which is similar in action to the BMW iDrive, and you can also make use of voice commands for a fully hands-free operation.

Every Quattroporte comes with sat-nav as part of this infotainment package, as well as Bluetooth, DAB digital radio and easy connection to your smartphone with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Also included with all models of the Quattroporte is a 7-inch screen in the main dash binnacle to show journey information, radio settings and sat-nav directions as well as other options using a variety of screens.

The Maserati Quattroporte has a wheelbase that betters even a Jaguar XJ Long Wheelbase, so the overall footprint is 5262mm long, 2128mm wide and 1481mm tall. Much of this space is devoted to those in the back of the Quattroporte, so you are guaranteed a huge amount of legroom.

Before that, getting into the back of the Maserati Quattroporte is easy thanks to rear doors that are long and swing open through a wide arc. It offers a generous opening to step through and the Quattroporte’s rear bench is not as low-slung as the car’s styling might suggest. It makes entry and exit from the Maserati very easy and just as you would hope for in a luxury saloon, which is more than you can say for a Porsche Panamera.

Once installed, rear occupants will find the Maserati Quattroporte provides more than ample leg space, as well as plenty of room for heads and elbows for two. A third passenger can be accommodated in the middle pew and is provided with a three-point belt for safety. However, nobody in their right mind would want to perch here in the extremely raised central cushion and thin seat back.

It’s far better to snuggle into the sculpted chairs on either side and enjoy the way the Maserati seems to envelope its passengers to make them feel comfortable. However, it’s also worth pointing out that only the GranLusso trim comes with full four-zone climate control as standard, so you’ll have to stump up extra for this in the standard and GranSport models.

When it comes to fitting luggage into the Maserati Quattroporte, it has a boot that's as big as most in this sector with a capacity of 530-litres. However, this is squandered to some extent because of the shape of the cargo space with too many lumps, bumps, nooks and crannies. Still, you can slot in a set of golf clubs across the back of the load space.

The rear seats of the Quattroporte split and tip forwards to give greater room for items like skis, but the boot opening is quite narrow, so you won’t be stashing anything too bulky in here.

While some might mourn the passing of the sonorous V8 engine from the Maserati Quattroporte’s line-up, there is still a great deal to be enjoyed and indulged in with the V6 motors. The twin-turbo petrol pair come in 350 and 430PS versions, depending on whether you choose the standard or S models respectively.

Starting with the 350PS entry-point Quattroporte, it dashes off 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds and will whisk you to 168mph, so you can hardly accuse it of being a slouch in the luxury sector. It comes with a pleasing bark when asked to sing for its supper, yet it will also settle into a background burr when cruising along.

Like all Quattroporte models, this engine is coupled to an eight-speed automatic gearbox that works very smoothly when left to its own devices. There are paddle shifters behind the steering wheel for the driver to have more say in gear selection, but most will let the transmission do all the work.

The more potent 430PS 3.0-litre petrol V6 in the S model shares the same traits as the 350PS unit, but with added purpose when you press on the accelerator. It deals with 0-62mph in 5.0 seconds and has some extra wallop in the mid-range for even more authoritative overtaking.

Despite this, the 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 is the best-seller in the Quattroporte line-up and it’s easy to see why thanks to markedly better fuel economy and lower carbon dioxide emissions. These are not the only reasons to choose this motor, though, as it still covers 0-62mph in a brisk 6.4 seconds and maxes out at 157mph. There is also plenty in reserve for passing slower vehicles, while the engine keeps its quiet and smooth.

Anyone worried that a diesel engine in a Maserati Quattroporte might not deliver the sort of svelte calm and refinement you’d hope for can rest easy. It’s a very smooth, quiet and capable engine, and it also has an aurally tuneful note when pushed hard. Okay, it’s not as pleasing to the ear as the petrol V6s, but it’s no grumbly, coarse diesel.

The petrol engines are both as you’d hope and expect in a Maserati in that they come with a suitably sporting edge when worked hard but keep schtum when you are wafting through town or along the motorway. Like the diesel, they work well with the slick eight-speed automatic gearbox, which is the same as the one used in the BMW 7 Series.

There is some road noise to be heard inside the Quattroporte and it rises in direct proportion to the size of the wheels fitted depending on which trim you choose. Stick to the standard model’s 19-inch items and its acceptable but the GranSport’s 21-inch rims stir up too much noise for our liking.

On the other hand, the Maserati Quattroporte does a superb job of sealing out wind noise from the cabin, which is just as well for a car with such far-flung top speed ability.

Every Maserati Quattroporte is equipped with twin front, side and curtain airbags. There are also three-point belts for all five occupants, but there are no ISOFIX mounts for child seats in the rear.

Euro NCAP has not crash tested the Quattroporte and this luxury limo does not come with autonomous emergency braking as standard. That counts against the Italian as most of its major rivals now have this collision-avoiding technology as part of their standard kit list. As a result, you need to pay extra to have this in the Quattroporte and you also need to fork out more money to have adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning or blind spot assistance.

Other advanced safety systems that are common on many cars in this class, such as cross-traffic alert and driver fatigue warning, are not even options for the Quattroporte.

Yet more money is needed for the package that includes traffic sign recognition, Highway Assist, and the Surround View Camera. However, all Quattroportes come with front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

You also get automatic headlights and wipers, cruise control, hill holder, and a tyre sealant kit in place of a space-saver or full-size spare wheel.

Whilst Maserati didn't feature on the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, it's part of the Fiat Group. Disappointingly though, Fiat placed 30th out of 30 manufacturers with a score of 82.3% satisfaction, trailing far behind the likes of BMW and Audi that both scored 86.9%. As Maserati isn't a big seller like the German brands there's fewer reports of reliability concerns. 

Luxury saloons rarely come with bargain insurance rates and the Maserati Quattroporte is no different from its competitors in this respect. Whether you choose the diesel engine or either of the petrol motors, you’ll be facing a hefty premium as all Quattroportes sit in the highest group 50 banding. 

It may be cold comfort, that’s the same as for the BMW 7 Series and most Mercedes S-Class models, so you’re not being unfairly penalised for choosing the Maserati in this respect.

You are staring down the barrel of a big first-year Vehicle Excise Duty bill whichever Maserati Quattroporte you choose from the Maserati dealer. The diesel will come with a £1305 bill if it’s on the smaller alloy wheels, but bigger rims tip it over the 191g/km carbon dioxide emissions threshold into paying the higher £1850 rate.

With the petrols, you will be paying £1850 for those on the smaller wheels and a hefty £2175 for anything on bigger wheels.

Subsequent years will cost you £475 due to the Quattroporte range all comfortably exceeding the £40,000 limit for the £150 per annum rate, leaving you liable for the £375 excess payment.

The standard Maserati Quattroporte rides on 19-inch alloy wheels and has a Sport mode to sharpen the gearbox, exhaust and steering response, while metallic paint is an option. On the inside, you get electrically adjusted front seats and steering column, leather upholstery, wood trim, and the 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen. Also included is climate control, powered rear sun blinds, heated front seats, and automatic windscreen wipers.

The Maserati Quattroporte GranLusso model adds 20-inch wheels and black-painted brake calipers, chrome details in the front bumper, and soft-close doors. You also get heated outer rear seats, upgraded leather seats with silk inserts, four-zone climate control, and full keyless entry.

The Maserati Quattroporte GranSport sits on 21-inch wheels and has front sports seats. It also has piano black interior trim, and sport steering wheel with paddle shifters.

Maserati also offers a number of packs, such as the Convenience Package with powered boot opening, while the Comfort Package brings heated rear seats and steering wheel to Quattroportes that don’t have these luxuries.