Used 2017 Maserati Ghibli

Maserati’s Ghibli sports sedan for 2017 comes in three flavors — Ghibli, Ghibli S and Ghibli S Q4, all powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 making 345 horsepower in the base and S trims, and 404 in the all-wheel-drive Q4. You can find faster and better-handling sedans from BMW, Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz, but nothing else that looks like a Maserati.

Not known for building boring cars, Maserati doesn’t disappoint with the 2017 Ghibli luxury-performance sedan. The Ghibli and Ghibli S are equipped with a muscular 345-horsepower twin-turbo V6, while the AWD Q4 gets an even more powerful version of the same engine good for a whopping 404 horsepower. Stomp the accelerator pedal to the floor and the Ghibli won’t hesitate to get up and go, turning out a zero-to-60-mph run in a scant 4.7 seconds. A Sport mode brings faster throttle response and quicker shifts from the 8-speed, paddle-shifted automatic. However, at speeds between zero and full throttle, the Ghibli’s performance isn’t always smooth or agreeable. The firm suspension is more than capable of dealing with the harshest S-curves, although the steering can feel a bit vague on center, then a bit too firm into the turn, almost as if it was resisting input from the driver.

The interior of the 2017 Maserati Ghibli features leather, nicely designed and nicely detailed. And this is no coupe masquerading as a sedan; the four doors open to allow decent seating for real adults. Front-seat occupants are provided with 8-way-power seats, and dual-zone climate control keeps things comfy. Taken as a whole, from the curving and swooping instrument panel to the artfully crafted seats, this is a fine spot to sit and take a ride.

It’s not just the sculpted exterior that sets the 2017 Ghibli apart from the rest of the parking lot; it can be personalized in a multitude of ways. There are about a dozen color selections, color choices for the brake calipers, and numerous wheel and tire options. All that only embellishes the Ghibli’s nearly living, breathing shape. Up front is a familiar Maserati grille, with the trident displayed prominently; bearing close family resemblance to the larger Quattroporte, the theme somehow seems more fitting on the Ghibli’s smaller structure. From Fiats to Ferraris, the Italians have seldom done un-handsome cars.

ALUMINUM STRUCTURE
Thanks to an extensive use of aluminum, Maserati’s Ghibli sports sedan for 2017 keeps its weight right around two tons. Despite the lighter weight, the Ghibli’s structure remains appropriately stiff, which helps improve handling as well as cut down on interior rattles.

EXTERIOR DESIGN
Let’s face it. The first thing that catches our eye when car shopping isn’t the EPA figures or crash-test scores; it’s the design. Maserati’s Ghibli sedan for 2017 is attractive from any angle. It stands out a sea of conservative German and American design.

We’re talking about a midsize-luxury-sports sedan with an exotic heritage, so the Maserati Ghibli is expectedly well-equipped. Standard fare includes a power sunroof, Italian-leather upholstery, heated and 8-way-power front seats, navigation, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and starting system, Start & Stop, Blind Spot and Cross Path alert, power trunklid with hands-free operation, and all the usual and expected driving aids and occupant-protection features. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay join a new 8.4-inch touch-screen infotainment system backed by a 900-watt, 10-speaker harman/kardon audio system.

Maserati offers the 2017 Ghibli with an immense array of personalization choices, with multiple exterior colors, leather interiors, wheel selections and even different colors for brake calipers. A new Sport Package adds 20-inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers, Skyhook Adaptive Suspension, 12-way-power sport seats and a sport steering wheel. The Luxury Package brings 19-inch alloy wheels, black brake calipers, Zegna Edition Silk or full leather interior and 12-way-power comfort seats with memory function. There’s also a Bowers & Wilkins Premium Surround system with Clari-Fi, which scans digital music and restores the details lost from digital compression.

The 2017 Ghibli models use two slightly different versions of a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6. In the base Ghibli and the Ghibli S it makes 345 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque; in the AWD Q4 it makes 404 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. In either case, it’s matched to an 8-speed automatic with paddle shifters and various shift modes, offering maximum efficiency or optimum performance with crisper shifting. The engines deliver rousing performance and the Ghibli likes to be driven with verve, but it is not particularly fuel-efficient. But, if it’s fuel efficiency you’re after, why are you shopping for a Maserati Ghibli?

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Ghibli/Ghibli S)
345 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
369 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/24 mpg (Ghibli); 16/24 mpg (Ghibli S)

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Ghibli S Q4)
404 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
406 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/24 mpg

Note: Due to changes in EPA testing to more effectively reflect real-world conditions, some 2017 models show slightly lower fuel-economy scores than their 2016 versions.