A conversational video review of the Maserati Ghibli SQ4 that combines subjective impressions (quality, interior, handling) with objective acceleration testing. Speakers criticize the interior quality and perceived poor value for the $93,000 price, praise the engine sound and steering feel, and report measured performance: ~424 hp, brisk but not class-leading acceleration (0–60 ≈4.72s, quarter mile 13.12s).
Questions this video answers
A Ferrari-sourced 3.0 liter twin-turbo V6 producing 424 horsepower and 428 foot-pounds of torque.
$93,000 (fully loaded).
0 to 60 in 4.7 seconds (manufacturer claim).
0–60 in 4.72 seconds.
178 miles per hour (stated).
Chapters
This is the Maserati Ghibli SQ4. Some would call it an entry level Maserati. I call it a massive pile of crap.
Sure, on paper it sounds great. A Ferrari source 3 liter twin turbo V6 producing 424 horsepower and 428 foot pounds of torque. An 8 speed ZF transmission and the option of either rear or all wheel drive. A 0 to 60 time of 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 178 miles per hour.
Plus you get that classic Maserati grill.
With the famous Trident up front.
But that's where all the fun and games ends here. This particular car cost $93,000 fully loaded. And the second you drive it off the lot, it's depreciates to zero. But let's drive it and see what's up.
Nope, I haven't changed my mind.
This interior is one of the worst interiors I have ever seen. And I'll explain why. This stuff that looks like leather is not leather. It's pleather. Everything creaks and rattles. This gear shifter for example, it is made out of full plastic. And shifting it is the dumbest thing ever. You can't get it into reverse properly, can't get into drive properly, can't put.
It in neutral property.
The infotainment is from a Dodge and so is the center display here. So are these buttons, so are the window switches, which kind of sucks for a car that's $93,000. All they did here was gave me a Maserati badge on the screen.
Cool.
I guess it's special to the person that doesn't know anything about cars. And I'm talking about you rich folks out there who got swindled into buying a Maserati Ghibli. This is not worth $93,000, nor is it worth $60,000. I would pay $30,000 for such a car. Granted it's got a Maserati engine, but everything else about it is not Maserati. When Maserati made a car, it felt Italian. It felt special. Granted it was very unreliable. Still unreliable. But at least the interior made you feel special in here. Not the case. The only two bits I like about this thing are these paddle shifters which are metal and this door handle. The steering wheel is uncomfortable to hold, but I mean it makes cool noises. The steering in this car is actually pretty heavy, which I like. The feel of it. Handling on the other hand, very direct. Even with the four wheel drive system, there's no understeering in this car. Well, at least I haven't pushed it.
That far to find out, but on.
Everyday roads, handles really good. The handling of this car is so good, but the downfall is is that the seats suck. If you go through a turn, you.
Slide right out of it.
Either you go left or right, you're sliding right out of the seat, which is not comforting in a sports sedan. You want to be hugged tightly. You want to be able to adjust it. There is no adjustability in this seat whatsoever. At least Maserati outfitted this car with a ZF8 speed. The upshifts and downshifts are pretty decent. On upshifts, it crackles nicely. Downshifts, it doesn't do much noise, but it's pretty decent. So this car does suffer from turbo lag. Up until 3000rpm you don't get much, but then the torque hits you like a ton of bricks. For a Twin Turbo V6, this car sounds really good. But I guess that's always been Maserati's thing, making good sounding cars. Maybe not the fastest, but at least the best sounding. So this car does have. You can change the intake, the downpipes and give it a tune and then you'd have some decent power gains. But from what I've heard, it becomes even more unreliable. But enough about this. Let's hand this over to a professional driver on a closed course and see where it stacks up on our fast list.
It's now for the disappointment you guys were waiting for.
In terms of our acceleration test, it did 0.60in 4.72 seconds, which is right there with the manufacturer claims. Real Life Zero 100 happened in 11.42 seconds and the quarter mile was pegged at 13.12 seconds at 107.47 miles per hour. A little depressing because it's just marginally faster than the Kia Stinger GTS we just reviewed in terms of raw power. Let's look at the rolling times. 40 to 100 happen in 8.57 seconds.
Which means that the Kia is still.
Hanging in there with the Maserati. The story takes a turn in the 60 to 130 range, where the Maserati did 15.41 seconds, which means the Kia somehow catches up with the Italian sports sedan on the high end. How ironic for the cool kids out there. We did the standing half mile at 20.66 at 129.84 miles per hour. Remember, the Kia is still right next to you, so if you're in a Ghibli don't try to flex on a Stinger. When Dan told me I had to review a Maserati Ghibli, I wasn't enthused at all. And then, after driving it, I've been pretty upset because why did Maserati make this car? These results are all sad for a car of this caliber, and frankly, I can't recommend this to anyone ever. Unless you want to buy one for your wife to stunt when she's at brunch.
What?
I thought that just happened randomly. I was like, what? This car's malfunctioning? Yes.
First time on the channel. Don't forget to check out some of my other stuff. I produce all sorts of cool content with performance cars and acceleration tests, so if that's your jam, be sure to hit that subscribe button and ring that bell icon for new episodes every Thursday. Thanks for watching.
