Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo Review: 550hp, 199mph and Nearly £200k – Is It Worth It?
The Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo has the looks, soundtrack and blistering performance to turn heads across London, but does its £191,820 price tag justify a cabin that doesn’t quite match the glamour?
There’s always something rather alluring about the Maserati line-up, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it’s that effortless Italian chic or perhaps the decades of rich motorsport heritage to fall back on. Either way, Maserati seems to make a car feel sexy without even trying.
But the company has been haunted by reliability issues, and the latest models share a parts bin with some not quite so high-end marques such as Fiat, for example. Yet, even with those drawbacks, I will still be first in line when the opportunity arises to get behind the wheel of one of these cars, especially if it looks as gorgeous as the GranTurismo Trofeo. You have to admit, even the name sounds seductive.
And should you want further proof just how tempting this car is, it has the beating heart of a 3.0-litre V6 engine beneath the bonnet and can reach 62mph quicker than you can say “sixty two miles per hour”.
Yes, it costs the same as a small bungalow in the suburbs, but it’s a vehicle that will give you catwalk status as you meander down High Street Ken, drawing envious glances from bystanders along the way.
So, let’s take a look at this Italian beauty in a little more depth and see if it still has the magic pull for buyers to part with almost £200k.
Is the Maserati GranTurismo really that much of a head-turner?
The latest GranTurismo sees a return of the performance icon that first debuted 75 years ago and was called the A6 1500. And just like a fine wine, this model has definitely matured with age.
The two-door, four-seater is just shy of five metres in length, but it is just 1.35 meters tall, and it’s those dimensions that give this vehicle its bullet-like streamlining. The long sculpted bonnet is flanked by muscular haunches, and narrow light clusters complete the dynamic front-end styling. Move to the side, and the silhouette is breathtakingly powerful and aided by tinted rear windows, 21-inch front wheels (20-inch at the rear), complimented by red brake calipers.
Move to the back, and there are four tailpipes for maximum vocal effect, and the car’s make and model take pride of place on the tailgate.
I’m a great believer that sports cars should all be bright red in order to make a statement, and our test car was finished in Fuoriserie – Rosso GranTurismo paint that added almost £15k to the price tag but certainly introduced the ultimate wow factor.
Does the interior live up to high expectations too?
It seems the Maserati designers spent all their time and funds sculpting and styling the exterior of the GranTurismo and then had to cobble together an interior on a bit of a shoestring. Yes, it looks stylish enough, but certainly not £200k enough. The black seats are crafted from full-grain leather, and they are 18-way power-adjustable, so finding the perfect driving position is simple enough. Additionally, along with the leather-wrapped steering wheel, they can be heated or ventilated.
It all looks and feels okay, but I wanted more. And it’s all very dark too, with black fixtures and fittings, although red contrast stitching on the seats, doors, dashboard and centre console helps lift the gloom a little.
There are also shared parts with other Stellantis models that are a fraction of the price. Now, if I’m spending that sort of money on a car, I want it to be unique, bespoke and that little bit special. Sadly, this GranTurismo’s interior is none of the above.
Can I listen to all my favourite tunes?
Without being unnecessarily flashy or over-complicated, the on-board technology is just fine, with most functions accessed via a 12.3-inch touchscreen. There is a smaller climate control panel just below this, but both screens are quite prone to mucky fingerprint smudges. It’s easy enough to connect a smartphone, though, using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and that means you can blare your favourite Spotify playlist through the pitch-perfect 19-speaker Sonus Faber sound system.
There is a sat nav set-up, Bluetooth, DAB radio, along with a 360-degree camera that’s really handy when tucking in close to a kerb so you don’t scratch those expensive alloys.
And if you’re venturing away from the city lights, all the important numbers, such as speed and speed limit, are clearly displayed on a screen behind the steering wheel as well as a head-up display, which was part of a Tech Assist Pack that cost £3,000 extra.
Everything is well positioned for ease of use, and we applaud the sensible number of physical controls and switches too. After all, who wants to scroll down endless touchscreen menus simply to adjust the temperature?
Is there enough room for my golf clubs?
While the interior looks compact, there are bundles of space up front, and another gold star should be awarded to the supportive seats that offer exceptional levels of comfort. Despite there being two individual rear seats that are ideal for youngsters, getting in or out with any sense of dignity certainly takes some doing. The back seat passengers do have ample room to plant their feet beneath the front seats and even taller occupants will have enough headroom, which is surprising considering the car’s tapering roofline.
The Maserati has a powered tailgate, and that opens into a deep boot area with a 310-litre capacity. That’s ample space for a couple of suitcases for weekends away, or a few sets of golf clubs. Fair to say, this vehicle will be the envy of the patrons when viewed from the 19th hole.
There are a number of handy storage compartments inside the car too, including a glovebox, narrow door pockets, front and rear cup holders, a tray, plus a central cubby with USB ports to keep devices charged and connected on the move.
Just a quick word of warning though with exceptionally wide opening doors, you need to watch out for cyclists whizzing past before exiting the car.
How much will this set me back?
Naturally, cars with the looks and handling potential do not come cheap. Our test car was £144,390, but you will notice I’ve mentioned £200k quite a lot in this report. That’s because the optional extras and additional packs saw the final price creep up to £191,820.
And don’t expect the day-to-day costs to be reasonable either, as this car has a combined fuel efficiency figure of 27.9-28.5mpg with carbon emissions of 225-228g/km. The first-year tax bill will be £4,850, and as it tops the £40k threshold for the government’s Expensive Car Supplement, owners will need to find an extra £440 on top of the tax from years two to six.
So, an expensive bit of kit and expensive to run, but rival models would also face the same issues, so Maserati is not alone.
Does the performance match the dynamic styling?
We’ve deliberately left the best part to last, so we could end on a high. And that, of course is the performance. Without getting too technical, the Maserati Gran Turismo in Trofeo flavour, is the most powerful of the petrol models. The entry-level GranTurismo Modena has the same engine, but less oomph and there is also a fully electrified version called the GranTurismo Folgore, which is Maserati’s first EV.
But my (I wish) GranTurismo Trofeo featured a 3.0 V6 engine with 550hp and 650Nm of torque. More importantly, those numbers translate into a 0- 62 mph sprint time of just 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 199mph. Sadly, it’s unlikely you’ll experience anything close to this vehicle’s potential without escaping the madness and congestion of the city.
It is a car that will eat up the motorway miles for breakfast, but it really comes alive when faced with twisting country roads – the more bends, the better.
There are drive modes that change the characteristics of the vehicle, and these are called Comfort, GT, Sport and Corsa. Comfort does exactly what you would expect, and GT is actually the car’s default mode and is also ideal for everyday use.
But, for added edge and breathtaking handling, Sport is the setting to go for. The automatic gearbox is sharper, the suspension set-up alters to enhance the dynamics, and the engine sound becomes lots more vocal, and I mean lots more. Finally Corsa is the go-to mode for track day experiences, although it’s unlikely many owners will risk their pride and joy in that particular arena.
The GranTurismo Trofeo is beautifully balanced, unless you hit a pothole, which sends a shudder through the cabin. And the grip through faster twists and turns is completely assured. Then, for added fun, the driver can take control of the eight-speed gearbox by using paddles to manually change gears. The acceleration, handling, noise and all-round driving experience is impressive, and the level of power at your disposal is seemingly endless. As I said, end on a high… almost
Verdict
There are plenty of high-end performance cars from the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Porsche that deliver similar, if not better, driving dynamics to the GranTurismo. But Maserati has that historical charm along with a certain uniqueness about it.
From the outside, you simply cannot fault the gorgeous lines and streamlined body, but sadly, the interior falls a long way short. I want an upmarket cabin that screams ‘premium’ at every turn, not something that looks like it’s been thrown together as an afterthought.
But, and it’s a big but, if my six numbers came up, I wouldn’t rule it out entirely.