2021 Maserati Quattroporte Review: New Year, New Entrant, The Trofeo
The luxury car segment even in these rather calamitous times continues to thrive. Sales have not seen a halt and instead have progressed at a much faster rate over the last year. This segment has long been dominated by a rather somber and dignified set of cars. Each year we see the same crop of cars vying for the title and the category would benefit from a breath of fresh air.
Enter the all-new 2021 Maserati Quattroporte. While the brand and the car have been an understated part of the luxury car market for nearly a decade, Maserati has decided to switch up things this year. They are retaining the same line-up of cars from last year, albeit with cosmetic and internal improvements. They are also adding a brand new Trofeo trim for the ultimate Maserati experience, more on that later. Let us dive deep into the world of the Italian carmaker’s 2021 lineup of luxury sedans see what’s good.
What’s New with the 2021 Maserati Quattroporte?
There are a lot of cosmetic upgrades all across the board. The overall look of the car is almost discernable from previous models, but upon closer inspection, you can tell Maserati has attempted to make it look slightly more athletic. Internally, the car feels a little more modern, and the 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system feels like a late, nonetheless, notable addition. There are also wireless charging pads and a brand new gauge display that complete the new 2021 Maserati Quattroporte.
The price range of the trims has been drastically changed, and this year the base model has lost a lot of its luster. Just a mere $7000 more and you can opt for either the GranLusso or the GranSport model.
The Quattroporte Trofeo
This year the real show stopper is the introduction of the new Trofeo trim for the Quattroporte. It comes in to take the crown as the top-of-the-line luxury sedan and it does so with charisma. The Trofeo trim gives customers a brand new Ferrari-built 3.8-liter twin-turbo engine that delivers a monstrous 580 brake horsepower along with 538 lb-ft of torque. This combined with the already resonant powertrain and exhaust system gives you a car that will overwhelm and leave you breathless.
The Trofeo is blisteringly fast, with a top speed of 203 mph, nothing like those electronically limited German luxury cars. It can also do a zero to sixty in under 4 seconds. These numbers make the Quattroporte Trofeo the fastest sedan Maserati has ever made. The Quattroporte Trofeo also gets a rear-wheel drive and a limited-slip differential that helps max out the car’s sportiness factor.
Maserati wants to bring back the ultimate driving experience to the luxury sedan class and to help in their endeavor, they have introduced a Corsa mode. This mode tones down the traction control and stability control system, and offers a launch control mode. The Corsa mode allows you to take the car to its limits and see what Maserati has packed under the hood.
Raw Performance for the Senses
The Italian carmaker wants to make a statement and to compete against virtually every available sedan in the luxury segment.
Standard (S, S Q4, GranSport and Granlusso)
All the models come with the base 3-liter twin-turbo V6 engine that churns out a respectable 424 brake horsepower. The performance is not eye-popping or extremely surprising by any means. It still gives out the same numbers as the previous models. However, as far as base models go, the Maserati stands out among the rest. No other base model can offer this level of refinement or performance.
The Quattroporte V8
You can opt for a 2021 Maserati Quattroporte with a 523 brake horsepower 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8. It is constructed by Ferrari and you can feel it the moment you start the car. It provides superb performance with zero to sixty times of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 191 mph. It is staggeringly quick and for the price, it puts up a good fight against its German and British challengers.
Quattroporte Trofeo
Maserati’s all-new trim for the Quattroporte, the Trofeo knocks it out of the park. The 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 here doles out a mouth-watering 580 brake horsepower and delivers 538 lb-ft of torque. It is clear Maserati has put all of their chips on this trim. It is the brand’s most powerful and fastest sedan to date. The company claims it can do zero to sixty in 4.2 seconds, however, tests on the GTS version gave a 4.1 second time, hence we believe the Trofeo can breach the sub-4-second mark. There are no electronic speed limiters and you can touch a top speed of 203 mph.
The addition of a Corsa mode combined with the 21-inch wheels means you can extract every bit of performance out of this car. Despite the exhaust being slightly nullified, it does wonders on the Trofeo, bringing out every bit of grunt from the engine into the open air. It is a truly remarkable addition to an already exceptional line of cars.
2021 Maserati Quattroporte Design
Unlike other cars in the category, the design of the Maserati is unique. Perhaps it is important to remember that there is an aura of specialty that is associated with Italian cars. Almost all of us have grown up with a poster of an Italian car on our walls and Maserati hopes to invoke this feeling with their cars. The 2021 Maserati Quattroporte is a culmination of the ever-improving design language of the last decade or so. In a long line of Quattroporte’s, this latest iteration aims to add more to the appeal.
The car is still gorgeous and this particular combination of curves and lines from Maserati works wonders. It never feels like the car is oddly proportioned and does a wonderful job of actually hiding the true size of the 2021 Maserati Quattroporte. The bold grille with the gigantic trident is a stark reminder that the car is indeed a Maserati. The big wheel arches do a great job of elevating the car and highlighting the true size of the tires. It is a confident-looking car.
The Trofeo looks a little more different, its grille has a more nuanced feel with two piano black bars to distinguish it from the rest of the Quattroporte line-up. There are red accents everywhere, from the bottom of the side air vents to the arrow on the C-pillar’s trident badge. There are also carbon fiber bits on the front air ducts and the rear extractors.
All of the cars in the Quattroporte line-up have one thing in common, they look commanding. These vehicles demand your attention, whether it is parked or whizzing past you. It is the type of car that oozes elegance and refinement from every angle.
Maserati Quattroporte’s Unique Interior Touch
Opulence is a good characteristic of every car that comes from Italy. Maserati does not skimp on luxury. It is a very spacious car and the cabin can comfortably fit 5 people. If you choose the executive trim that the fifth member will be excluded in place of recliner seats and armrests in the back. There is plush leather everywhere and you can also find bits of wood and carbon fiber depending on your trim. It is better to differentiate the interiors based on trims, so let’s get to it.
Quattroporte GranSport
For those that want their luxury sedan to be that much sportier, the GranSport trim available on the S and SQ4 models gives the option of a 12-way adjustable sportier front seat, carbon fiber dash, red brake calipers, and more aggressive styling.
Quattroporte GranLusso
Available on the S and S Q4 models, GranLusso stands for Grand Luxury and it stays true to its name. You get full-grain Italian leather with Ermenegildo Zegna Silk accents. There is a wooden trimmed dashboard and adding the executive seating option gives you reclining back seats. Speaking of seats, all the seats on the GranLusso are ventilated and heated.
Quattroporte Trofeo
Being the top of the line car in the 2021 Maserati Quattroporte lineup, the Trofeo gets the full treatment. The interiors are almost identical to the GranLusso, except with touchups. You get a dedicated infotainment system, a splash screen, and to remind you are in a Trofeo, the name is embossed on the headrests. The leather comes in color options of red, tan, and black. There are bits of carbon fiber everywhere from the doors to the dash to the center console.
Safety is Paramount
No IIHS or NHTSA ratings for the Quattroporte, however, for cars in this price category that has become the norm. These cars are so stacked with features that they almost always get the best possible ratings. Adaptive cruise control, parking assist, rearview, and surround cameras come as standard. The latter also features a blind spot alert due to the width of the car. There are also
Bi-Xenon headlights on the front that come with an adaptive system. ABS and EBS are standard. There is no lack of airbags in the car.
Some other key features include:
- Automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning
- Cruise control now has a semi-autonomous driving feature that allows you to take your hands off the wheels for extended periods of time.
Performance – Not for the Faint Hearted
We cannot talk about a Maserati and exclude a segment that details the driving experience. The main reason why anyone purchases an Italian car is for the driving experience. The handling and performance for the S and S Q4 models are eerily similar to that of the older models. Maserati has purposely not made changes. They understand that their customer base is niche and they like their cars to be fast and agile with the right amounts of noise. Here we have to discuss the Trofeo and why Maserati chose to introduce this trim.
Trofeo Taking Quattroporte to the Next Level
The 580 brake horsepower engine is a beast of epic proportions. The engine is sourced from Ferrari and while it has been slightly tamed to fit in a luxury car, the performance it provides is still extremely gratifying. From the moment you start the engine you can feel tremendous power under the hood. Once you launch it, it comes alive. The Maserati might not be a great car when it comes to standing starts, but when you kick down, it is a completely different story.
The tragic tale here is that the Trofeo has done away with a lot of the old GTS’s loudness. It is still a car that bellows, mind you. However, it is not the rapacious vehicle it once was.
There is a good amount of steering feedback and the car handles well on tight corners. The sport mode gives you ample amounts of fun on any road and will scare the pants off you. The agile handling is aided by the firm suspension. There is also a limited-slip differential to maximize traction.
When you turn on the Corsa mode, which can be accessed by long-pressing the sport button, is when the car goes into overdrive. The traction control and stability control are switched off and you can use launch control. It is a mode to help you feel the true performance capabilities of the car.
A Few Negatives Don’t Spoil the Line Up
No car comes without a set of drawbacks and the cars in the 2021 Maserati Quattroporte line-up are no different. The Maserati is a gas-guzzling machine and it gives terrible mileage for a luxury car. The interiors are starting to get stale and are in desperate need of a refresh. The switchgear used on the Quattroporte lends it a cheap feel and it is almost disheartening to see Maserati not address a problem that has been evident since its 2013 reintroduction. The Quattroporte also stands on the more expensive end of the luxury sedan market and some options can fetch you more for the same price.
Final Verdict
The 2021 Maserati Quattroporte is not a car for the faint-hearted. It is also not a car for those that are seeking the suave luxury option. It is a car designed specifically for those that want a feeling of exuberance and excitement, yet desire a little comfort. It is for those that wish to be seen and heard. It is for those that want their presence felt and show the world they truly think outside the box. The 2021 Maserati Quattroporte is not for everyone, it is for a special person who knows they are special and wish to express their uniqueness through an automotive means.
