2024 Maserati GranTurismo Review and Test Drive
An athlete in a beautifully tailored suit.
Mark Takahashi
There it was, on the green at the prestigious Pebble Beach, California, car show in 2007, a sapphire-blue sports coupe with alluring curves. I nearly gasped at its beauty as I circled the car, seeking to know what it was — and then I found the familiar trident logo in the car's evocative grille.
The original Maserati GranTurismo made a huge impression with its sensual and sophisticated appearance, and it remained a desirable automobile until Maserati discontinued it in 2019. I was sad to see it go.
Mark Takahashi
Maserati's GranTurismo Proves That Beauty Often Comes at a Price
The second-generation 2024 Maserati GranTurismo marks the coupe's return after a five-year hiatus. This time around, Maserati offers the 2024 GranTurismo in Modena and Trofeo trim levels. The entry-level Modena making 483 horsepower has a starting price near $175,000, while the 542-hp Trofeo begins at around $205,000.
There is another version of the GranTurismo coming soon. The all-electric Folgore boasts a torque-vectoring, tri-motor drive system good for 761 horsepower. More details, including prices, will be available closer to the car's arrival in dealership showrooms.
This 2024 GranTurismo review covers the Trofeo. The test car had optional matte-finish paint; carbon-fiber interior trim; a premium audio upgrade; and Comfort, Tech Assistance, Sport Design, and safety feature packages. This brought the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $227,615, including a $1,995 destination charge to ship it from the factory in Modena, Italy.
Maserati provided the car used in this review, which I conducted in Southern California.
Mark Takahashi
The GranTurismo Adds Muscle to Its Seductive Shape
It's easy to mistake the new 2024 GranTurismo for its predecessor since its overall shape and style remain intact. The low-slung concave grille is one of the more distinctive traits, and the curvaceous fenders seem even more muscular, while the thinner taillights contribute to a wider-looking stance.
The GranTurismo is one of the most attractive cars on sale today. Even in car-jaded Los Angeles, it turns heads, with its quiet grace. That's one reason why the previous GranTurismo aged so well.
The interior gets a more significant makeover. A glossy infotainment screen and control panel dominate the dashboard's center, bringing the cabin up to date with other pricey sports coupes. The racy red leather upholstery adds a splash of excitement before you even start the engine. Those hides also fill the interior with an intoxicating scent that reminds me of a prohibitively expensive pair of shoes.
The feast for the senses continues with materials that are pleasing to the touch. Maserati tastefully executes the optional carbon-fiber trim, and even on rougher pavement, I heard no creaks or squeaks from any of the interior elements.
Mark Takahashi
The GranTurismo Is Worthy of Long-Term Consideration
As expected of a grand tourer, the front seats are comfortable over long distances. They're well shaped with adequate cushioning and provide ample lateral support when you're having fun in the curves. The optional Comfort package adds seat ventilation that kept me cool and fresh even after a few hours behind the wheel.
I was surprised by how accommodating the rear seats were. At first glance, they didn't appear inviting, but I was pleased to find enough space for my 5-foot-10 frame. Legroom is limited, and my head roasted under the rear window, but that's fine for a quick trip. Smaller passengers should be happy back there for longer periods.
An adaptive damping suspension adds to the GranTurismo's overall comfort, thanks to Comfort and GT drive modes that soften and smooth the ride. You'll still feel most bumps in the road, but they're muted instead of intrusive. The Maserati GranTurismo finds an optimal middle ground in the battle between a comfortable ride and sporty handling.
Engine and exhaust noises are also sensibly muted in the Comfort drive mode and louder in the Sport setting. Road noise is more prevalent than expected but quickly quelled by increasing the audio system's volume. The only other minor complaints include thick windshield pillars that block your view through sharp left turns and poorly labeled steering wheel buttons that are difficult to read in bright sunshine. In addition, their placement sometimes leads to unintentional cruise control activation.
But did I mention how good this car looks?
Mark Takahashi
More Than Just a Pretty Face
While there's adequate room for passengers, there is little space for their personal effects. You're limited to small door pockets, cupholders, and shallow bins in the center console. There is a handy rubberized phone tray with a wireless charging pad, though.
The trunk space measures 11 cubic-feet of capacity, but a large golf bag will fit with enough room left over for a couple of carry-on roller bags. I'd have no issue squeezing enough luggage for a couple's weekend getaway, but more passengers would likely require lighter packing.
Mark Takahashi
Maserati Intelligent Assistant Is Adequately Modern
The Maserati Intelligent Assistant infotainment system is a big step forward for the GranTurismo. The 12.0-inch touchscreen delivers sharp graphics, reasonably quick responses, and logically organized menus. Maserati includes a navigation system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Amazon Alexa integration, and streaming audio through Tidal. The system also features Maserati Connected Services, including access to a Wi-Fi hot spot and remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app.
My test car also had the optional Sonus Faber premium audio system with 19 speakers. It fills the cabin with clear highs and powerful bass, making for a pleasant experience regardless of music genre. Controlling the audio with the touchscreen can be a challenge when driving, but physical buttons on the backside of the steering wheel solve that issue.
The voice recognition system doesn't allow you to use natural speech commands. Instead, it relies on the older method of displaying recommended voice prompts on the center display. Follow them, and you'll find the system accurately deciphers voice commands but takes a few seconds to execute the request. Users will likely opt for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which accept natural speech commands.
During my testing, I experienced a minor annoyance with Apple CarPlay. Some menu buttons to switch between apps stopped working, but it proved to be an isolated incident, and I could still select my desired app through the main CarPlay screen.
Overall, the infotainment system functions as it should but is less advanced than systems found in Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz models.
Mark Takahashi
The 2024 Maserati GranTurismo Has Technology Where It Matters
Several additional tech features enhance the drive. For example, the digital instrument panel has several themes to suit your mood. The default screen delivers the most pertinent information with configurable mini displays showing secondary items. The Corsa mode is helpful when driving hard, as it prominently displays which gear you've selected.
An optional head-up display does an excellent job of keeping your eyes on the road and is easy to read in any light. There's also a digital rearview mirror, but I typically avoid that feature since it lacks the depth perception of a conventional mirror. Besides, the rearward view is decent enough not to need one, and the shark-fin antenna that houses the camera looks inelegant atop the roof.
Mark Takahashi
Safety at Considerable Cost
The GranTurismo's standard safety features include forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and front and rear parking sensors with automatic rear braking.
My test car had the driver-assistance base package that adds adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, a surround-view camera system, and a drowsy driver monitor. The full assistance package includes those features and adds a traffic-sign reader, intersection-collision assist, and a semi-autonomous hands-on driving system.
I did not experience any false alarms or technical glitches during my time with the GranTurismo. All systems worked as advertised, though the adaptive cruise control made me nervous as it waited a bit longer than I preferred to apply the brakes when traffic slowed to a stop.
Mark Takahashi
More Power With Fewer Cylinders
Maserati equips the GranTurismo Trofeo with a more powerful version of the base Modena's twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine. It produces 542 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque and pairs with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Besides the added power, the Trofeo also upgrades to an electronic locking differential for improved traction, lightweight forged aluminum wheels, and sportier styling elements.
Mark Takahashi
With a Body Like That, the GranTurismo Better Be Athletic
The GranTurismo's V6 awakens with a mechanical growl. It sounds sporty without being obnoxious, but I miss its predecessor's V8 burble. Glossy black buttons tucked between the infotainment touchscreens control the transmission, and they're not as intuitive or quick to use as a shift lever. They can also be annoying when executing quick multi-point turns. That's especially true when selecting reverse, as I had to either use a long press or a double button tap to get it to engage, and neither was consistent.
Once underway, the GT gathers speed smoothly, though when driven conservatively, the automatic transmission is too eager to get you into the higher gears. That makes it feel less responsive when requesting more power, as the transmission must drop down into lower gears. I preferred to switch to manual control via the column-mounted shift paddles that add driver engagement and make the GranTurismo feel more lively.
Under hard acceleration, the engine sings with a raspy howl, interrupted only by aggressive gear shifts that trigger grin-inducing pops from the exhaust tips. Maserati claims the GranTurismo Trofeo reaches 60 mph in less than 3.5 seconds, which is respectably quick for this class.
Mark Takahashi
The brake pedal requires appropriate effort and is easy to modulate. When slowing to a stop, a few inelegant downshifts caused some subtle lurches, and just before I came to a complete stop, the brakes often proved too abrupt.
The suspension instills confidence when cornering, but that trustworthiness wanes as you approach the GranTurismo's handling limits. That's due to the car's nervous reaction to mid-corner bumps, where each set of wheels briefly loses contact with the road, resulting in a quick shimmy that certainly gets your attention.
I spent my fair share of time exploring the GranTurismo's performance, manually shifting the car most of the time on a mix of fun canyon roads, city streets, and highways. As a result, I only managed a paltry 13.9 mpg. Driven in less sporting fashion, you might match the EPA-estimated 18/27/21 mpg in city/highway/combined driving, conceivably getting almost 500 miles out of a single 18.5-gallon tank.
Mark Takahashi
The GranTurismo Is Grand, With Certain Italian Intangibles
As the name suggests, the Maserati GranTurismo is a wonderful grand-touring car that should easily exceed most drivers' performance expectations while providing plenty of comfort for long journeys. In addition, the car's redesign represents a giant leap forward regarding technology and interior refinement, helping to justify its exorbitant price.
Above all, though, it is drop-dead gorgeous, far more eye-catching than the common high-end Audis, BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes, and Porsches roaming posh neighborhoods, yet not as desperate for attention as the Lamborghinis and McLarens. The GranTurismo's sinuous musculature simply puts it in another class, as superficial as that may sound.
The Trofeo's price also elevates the GranTurismo above the fray, where it competes against the Aston Martin DB12 and Bentley Continental GT. The DB12 has a similar touring performance mission, while the heavier Bentley leans towards palatial luxury.
Still, there are many alternatives for considerably less money, including the BMW M8, Mercedes-AMG GT, and Porsche 911. But those German rivals lack the GranTurismo's Italian flair that makes it unique among its rivals, and it's hard to put a price on that.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Mark TakahashiThere's no such thing as a perfect car, but I'm convinced that there is a perfect car for you. That's why I've spent the last two decades reviewing every type of vehicle I could get my hands on. From economy hatchbacks to high-performance sports cars and pickup trucks to family SUVs, I've driven them all. I aim to deliver the most comprehensive evaluation possible so you can see for yourself which vehicle is likely to be the best fit for your life and budget.
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