2020 Maserati Ghibli

Maserati has an eclectic lineup. Its SUVs are positioned as alternatives to Audi, BMW, and Porsche for luxury car buyers, while the MC20 and GT2 Stradale are low-volume supercars that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. In between those, there’s the Quattroporte sedan, GranTurismo coupe, and GranCabrio convertible, cars that any Beverly Hills or Miami hotspot would valet out front. In the past, many Maserati vehicles had engines co-developed with Ferrari, but that partnership is no longer. Consumer Reports has only tested the Grecale, an SUV that competes with similarly sized models from Audi, BMW, and Porsche. We enjoyed its sports-car engine note and agile handling, but ended up aggravated by its many quirks.

The Ghibli is Maserati's more-attainable luxury sedan. It uses a Ferrari-developed 345-hp, turbo V6 mated to an eight-speed automatic, driving the rear wheels. The SQ 4 all-wheel-drive version has a 404-hp turbo V6. The platform is based on the Chrysler 300, but the Ghibli's interior, driving dynamics, and exhaust note are all Italian. Handling is sporty and agile, and the engine emits a distinctive bark. The interior is full of high quality leather and suede, and most controls are easy to use, including Chrysler's UConnect touch screen. The ride is stiff and the rear seat is cramped. Updates for 2016 included a powered/hands-free trunk opener, a start/stop system for the engine, and a few other interior trim updates. The V6 turbo engines gained 20 hp for 2018. 2024 is the final year for the Ghibli.