2017 Maserati Ghibli S Q4: A mid-sized delight
Maserati is a name synonymous with gorgeous cars and evokes a feeling of luxury when you hear it. The carmaker’s famous trident is emblematic of the finer things in life. Naturally, their line of vehicles in the 21st century embodies the same feeling. While they were known for making luxury vehicles, Maserati took a bold move in 2017, foraying into the world of mid-sized sedans.
The Maserati Ghibli has been around the 1960s and what once started as a coupe, has now become a sleek mid-sized sedan. Relaunched in 2014, the Maserati Ghibli was the first car from a company that wanted to steer itself into a new direction. This car led to the manufacturer being able to sow the seeds for many models and the 2017 refresh is proof that Maserati still cares about Ghibli’s name. The S Q4 edition comes with all-wheel drive, and a more powerful engine, bolstering its resume in the mid-sized sedan segment.
One look at the Maserati Ghibli and you will see that it exudes the class that is commonly associated with cars of Italian heritage. The sleek design combined with the powerful engine makes it the complete package.
Engine and Performance
The 2017 S Q4 is not only about the looks, it is also powered by a twin-turbo 3-liter V6 engine. Designed by Maserati and manufactured by Ferrari, this engine is a collaboration between two powerhouses of the Italian automotive industry. The 3-liter V6 engine might look small as compared to its other heavyweight counterparts but it is no slouch. The S Q4 delivers an astounding 410 brake horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, scintillating stuff. The Q4 moniker is indicative of the all-wheel drive. This combined with the raw horsepower means that this beast can go from 0-60 miles per hour in a brisk 3.7 seconds.
The S Q4 comes with a sport mode that utilizes the eight-speed, paddle-shifted automatic to its fullest extent. The sport mode enables a much faster throttle response and allows for quicker shifts. While the car is oozing with Italian refinement, there are instances where it feels a little coarse.
There is a noticeable disagreement in the performance of the car as it is not always smooth when accelerating. While the suspension is firm and allows for superb handling on sharp turns, the steering is a little off-centered and feels like it resists driver input. Despite it all, it is still very Italian and the superior driving experience we have come to know from Maserati is felt every time you put your foot down on the throttle.
For sports car enthusiasts, the Sport package comes with a sporty steering wheel that has aluminum gear shift paddles, sportier seats that have anti-whiplash headrests, and sport pedals.
For those willing to go all out and turning this mid-sized sedan into a racing machine, there is also a Sport Carbon package that comes with a carbon fiber steering wheel, door sills, interior trim, and shift paddles.
Italian Styling All-Around
The 2017 Maserati Ghibli S Q4 is perhaps the most stunning four-door sedan in the world. It has a very unique sculpted look and the iconic Maserati grille that is unique to the brand enhances its appeal. The grille also boldly displays the trident, signifying its Italian heritage. While the car might be on the smaller side as compared to its older brother, the Quattroporte, the S Q4 still carries the Maserati name beautifully. Italians are known for stylish and suave cars, the S Q4 certainly fits that bill. In a sea of German and American mid-sized sedans, the 2017 Maserati S Q4 boldly stands out and declares its Italian artistry.
Bespoke Interiors with Driver-First Technology
Nothing says Italian refinement like lush leather interiors does. The interiors of the Ghibli are extremely well-designed and comes with tons of details. The interiors are spacious, even for a sedan. The design elements of the interiors will make you swoon, from the artful seats to the sweeping instrument panel, elegance is everywhere you look. There are also plenty of great cargo and storage ideas on board the 2017 Maserati Ghibli S Q4, after all, it is a mid-sized sedan and not a coupe masquerading as a sedan. There is room everywhere as you get superb headspace and wider floor space.
If you want the luxury aspect of owning an Italian car, the Maserati Ghibli S Q4 has a luxury package. You will get the Zegna edition’s silk and premium leather upholstery, a Harman Kardon audio system, an Alcantara headliner, and wood trim.
The car is also equipped with a host of features such as dual-zone climate control and 8-way power seats. There is a dial controller that allows you to effortlessly toggle between the infotainment systems. The 8.4-inch touchscreen is surprisingly intuitive and feels less gimmicky than other counterparts. The car also comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration allowing you to entirely ditch the onboard system and use your smartphone instead. The 15-speaker Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system ensures that you can easily drown out the grunts from the engine.
The 2017 Maserati S Q4 is a car that has taken customer feedback seriously. It comes with driver assistance technologies such as lane-keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring. Driver-first features such as adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, and forward-collision warning are also included in the S Q4.
Safety
Any modern car has to undergo a rigorous series of tests to ensure that they are safe, the 2017 Maserati Ghibli S Q4 aced these tests. The IIHS or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Maserati Ghibli with the highest rating possible. The crash tests proved that the car was safe in the event of collisions and survived the overlap front and side tests, and head restraint and roof strength tests.
The car also features a myriad of driver assistance features. Some new ones include lane departure warnings, rearview cameras, and adaptive cruise control. The Stop-Go mode is designed to aid drivers in the event of a traffic jam. Overall, the ergonomics and feature set of the S Q4 make it a very driver and family-friendly car.
On-road review
For those of you that want a family-friendly mid-sized sedan but are not willing to look at the bland German and American options, the Maserati Ghibli is for you. It combines the utility of a sedan with the driving feel of a sports car. The 2017 S Q4 version is simply staggering. The 410 bhp engine does a fantastic job of delivering quality performance in every single driving condition. It is extremely responsive, as is the characteristic of any Ferrari engine.
The 3-liter V6 is there to remind you why anyone ever purchases an Italian car. They do it so they can hear the hair-raising roar the car makes as it comes to life. As you step down on the throttle, the eight-speed automatic does the rest for you. This car can do a quarter-mile in 13.5 seconds, which is lightning fast for a mid-sized sedan. Put it on sport mode and you can hear the car waking up. It gets growly and as you accelerate harder, you will feel the loud grunt of the engine.
Despite the Maserati Ghibli’s propensity for loud noise, it is as smooth as they come. The handling of the car is simply sensational and at no point will you feel like two-ton curb weight is holding you back. It is surprisingly agile in the streets and there is a firmness in the ride that fans of the typical Euro sedan will appreciate. The handling is simply flawless. The car is a delight when stretched to its limits and the most astounding part is that it displays no understeer. Perhaps no other car in this segment can provide the handling that this machine does.
The Ghibli S Q4 exists to remind you that not all mid-sized sedans are boring.
The Cons
The brakes on the Ghibli are good, nothing spectacular. They feel a little nimble early on and when applied fully, can bring the car to a standstill without too much effort. Albeit they could have done with a more powerful brake caliper. The steering is very light and feels slightly off-centered. It doesn’t take driver input well and feels electronic rather than natural. The steering wheel itself feels a little too big, it is disproportionately wide and makes it hard to see buttons next to the console shifter.
The front seats are exceptionally comfortable while giving you the sporty feel of an Italian road car. The rear seats are slightly harder, however, as you settle in, you can feel the richness of the leather doing its thing. The rear door, however, is quite small and makes it hard for taller individuals to get in.
The quality of the interior could also do with a little upgrade. It is noticeable that a lot of its elements have been borrowed from its parent, Fiat Chrysler, and feels far too cheap for an Italian luxury car.
Verdict
The 2017 Maserati Ghibli S Q4 is a representation of the Italian carmaker’s ambition to find its footing in the automotive industry. The car has been introduced in a segment that has been screaming out for excitement. The combination of a powerful Ferrari engine and the flamboyant Italian design makes the 2017 Maserati Ghibli S Q4 is a unique offering from a unique brand.
