How good is the new Quattroporte?
The 2004-2012 Maserati Quattroporte wasn’t a big seller. It’s the type of car that everyone wants to own but only a few of the privileged can justify it. Now there’s a new one.
Its compact cabin and whopping 4.7 litre Ferrari V8 engine aren’t exactly the norm for cars in this class. So, in an attempt to broaden the Quattroporte’s appeal Maserati has released an all-new version. The new car is bigger more luxurious and more fuel efficient too.
Everything from the ground up is new including the chassis which is not only rear-wheel drive but you can also have it in all-wheel drive. There’s also an all-new in-house Maserati design job. On first glimpse it can look a little too brash but maybe that’s because the old Quattroporte was such a beautiful car. There’s something about the new car that we’re just not too sure about but maybe it’s a “grower” who knows.
The interior is completely different to the old car. Instead of the huge array of buttons the old version had you now get a much cleaner design where a huge touch screen basically controls everything. So, radio, heated seats, climate control, sat nav are all in one place. More surprisingly in a Maserati it’s quite easy to use!
The V8 engine used in the old car has been replaced by a pair of Ferrari developed hand built engines. There’s an entry level 3 litre turbo V6 which produces 404 bhp and a 3.8 litre V8 which will give you a meaty 528 bhp.
Probably the most memorable part of the old car was the howling metallic thunderous noise you got from the exuberant exhaust. This time around it’s a little different but by no means less spectacular. However, it doesn’t quite sing in the same way as the old naturally aspirated engine did.
The good news is that the handling still feels special. This is a car that shrinks around you. The quick and accurate steering is a perfect match for the finely tuned chassis and this gives this near 2 tonne car the kind of agility you expect from a hot hatch.
In conclusion, the new Maserati Quattroporte is in almost every measurable way a better car than the old one. It’s far quicker, it’s more efficient, it’s more spacious and far more comfortable. However, for some reason you just won’t be drawn to it in the same way as you were with the old version. Maybe this is because Maserati has sacrificed some of the charm of the old Quattroporte in order to go more main stream and generate more sales. However, as the old car is already a legend we’re just not sure that this new car, as incredible as it is, will make quite the same mark.
Why not take a look at some of the Quattroportes we have for sale by clicking here.