Name: Maserati Ghibli (2013 to 2023) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Maserati Ghibli
Rating: 42.0

Summary

The Maserati Ghibli was a large executive saloon, which launched in 2013 and was substantially updated in late 2017. It finally ended production at the end of 2023, after more than ten years on sale.

Along with engines for other Maserati models, the Ghibli’s twin-turbo petrol V6 motors were built for Maserati by Ferrari in Maranello. This arrangement came to an end when the Ghibli finished production, as Ferrari and Maserati are no longer part of the same overarching Fiat Group. A diesel engine was initially offered but was dropped from the range along the way.

The Maserati Ghibli received fairly average reviews from the UK motoring media, although its worth pointing out that its cause was not helped by its rivals being some of the best cars on the market – the class-leading BMW 5 Series was considered to be the best car that BMW mad, while the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6 were similary superior to most cars in their respective families. So the Ghibli was a good car in a field dominated by outstanding cars.

The Ghibli was praised for its style and image, as well as its Ferrari-sourced petrol V6 engine. However, it was criticised for not matching the level of comfort and quality that the best cars in its class displayed.

As of November 2024, the Maserati Ghibli holds a very poor Used Car Expert Rating of E, with a score of 42%.

More Maserati Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features

Key specifications

Body style: Large saloon
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price when new: From £90,600 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2013
Last updated: Summer 2019
Ended production: Autumn 2023

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert+

“Maserati is a bit of a hidden gem. The Ghibli serves up every bit as much luxury as perhaps better-known rivals, but with a diesel engine offering fuel consumption figures close to 50mpg it is also a surprisingly sensible purchase, especially in the corporate market.”
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Auto Express+

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol (mild hybrid) automatic Ghibli Hybrid Gransport
Score: 5 / 10
“On paper, the new Ghibli Hybrid seems like a great way to keep Maserati relevant yet desirable. In reality, it’s something of a disappointment, with uncompetitive hybrid technology failing to provide either the economy or the emissions it needs to keep pace, nor the driver appeal of its best rivals.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Maserati Ghibli combines style and quality with sharp handling to rival the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s not Maserati’s finest hour, but it’s a breath of fresh air in this often straight-laced market.”
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Auto Trader+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Maserati Ghibli offers an Italian alternative to the popular German premium saloons, albeit at a higher price. It struggles to match those rivals for quality and doesn’t drive as well either, but the engines are strong, the badge is a proper luxury draw and its exotic looks really make it pop.”
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Autocar+

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol (mild hybrid) automatic Ghibli Hybrid Gransport
Score: 6 / 10
“Some cars are brilliant. Some are charming. The Ghibli Hybrid doesn’t have enough of either to win people over.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic
Score: 7 / 10
“Maserati further polishes an impressively capable machine that combines genuine handling ability with improved refinement”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“It’s the most rounded Maserati ever created. But the sense it leaves is not of how good it is, but of how much better it could and should have been.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic S GranLusso
Score: 6 / 10
“It would be easy to understand anyone falling for the Maserati Ghibli’s interior, and its quietly handsome style, too. While it doesn’t offer all the electronics hardware of a Mercedes E-Class or a BMW 5 Series, the list of missing items is less serious than previously.”
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Business Car+

Model reviewed: Trofeo
Score: 7 / 10
“Against rivals from BMW, Mercedes and Porsche, the Maserati feels charming but dated – with the powerful V8 engine being the highest point.” (Martyn Collins)
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Car+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“If you want an upmarket diesel saloon, it’s hard to make a case for the Maserati Ghibli as the competition is so well-rounded, and also much cheaper in some cases, with better interior quality. If you want a nutcase saloon to thrash through the mountains at the weekend and sit on the motorway during the week, it’s an intriguing option that does feel special to look at.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic
Score: 8 / 10
“The Maserati Ghibli remains pragmatically almost impossible to recommend, but easy to fall for. Buy one and you won’t have the cheapest, comfiest or most tech-laden car in your street, but you will be safe in the knowledge that you’ve got the most stylish and probably the most interesting.”
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Carbuyer+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6.8 / 10
“The Maserati Ghibli is hugely alluring in many ways, but it comes with a higher price tag and more compromises than other large executive saloons.”
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Carwow+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Maserati Ghibli is a sleek and sporty alternative to more mainstream executive cars from Audi, BMW and Mercedes, but it’s comparatively expensive to run.”
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Eurekar+

Model reviewed: Ghibli Hybrid
“Maserati has little choice but to venture down the hybrid technology route, but whether it will win over the die-hard V6 and V8 fans that have been such loyal followers, remains to be seen.”
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Evo+

Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic Ghibli S
Score: 7 / 10
“Stylish and much improved dynamically, but still a way short of the best in class overall”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic
Score: 7 / 10
“Stylish and dripping with badge appeal, but off the pace of class best”
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Parkers+

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 7.6 / 10
“Stunning saloon is great to drive, but pricey”
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The Sun+

Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic
“I loved driving this saloon. For all its faults, the Maserati Ghibli is a heart-rules-over-the-head buy. It’s the only car in this sector that can give its pin-stripe suitors a bit of passion.”
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The Sunday Times+

Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic Ghibli S
Score: 6 / 10
“It’s comfortable and it’s practical and it’s quiet and, I have to say, it’s also a lovely place to sit. Apart from the beeping. And on top of all that, it’s a Maserati. Which means you can say to your husband, ‘Shall we take the Maserati tonight?’, which will make you feel extremely warm and fuzzy.” (Jeremy Clarkson)
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The Telegraph+

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol (mild hybrid) automatic
Score: 4 / 10
“A great-looking car with an evocative name, and a surprisingly adept mild hybrid system, although it doesn’t seem to confer any substantial economy benefits. But the ride quality on UK roads is simply unacceptable and Maserati faces hugely competent rivals with full hybrid drivetrains.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The allure of this exotic Italian brand is undoubtedly strong, plus the Maserati Ghibli looks suitably special inside and out. However, its diesel engine and ride comfort are disappointing, while the BMW 5 Series and Jaguar XF are both more enjoyable to drive. As is so often the case with Maserati, it’s a case of whether you let your heart overrule your head.”
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Top Gear+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“Don’t fancy a German four-door? There’s an updated, eccentric Italian alternative… but you need to really want one.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
“If you’re overly familiar with its established foes (most of them German), and the Maserati Ghibli diesel is sitting on the company car list among them, it may prove difficult to resist its more superficial charms. Head further up the range, though, and it’s hard to escape that Alfa Romeo now makes a better fast four-door than Maserati.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic
Score: 7 / 10
“It boils down to one simple question: should you? In isolation, the Ghibli is convincingly seductive and perfectly credible. As it stands, the diesel emits 158g/km CO2 and sits in the 26 per cent company car tax band, so it’s there or thereabouts. But forget all that, and do me a favour when you get to the end of this paragraph: just say the last word out loud – Maserati.”
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What Car?+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“The Maserati Ghibli sports swanky looks, but is off the pace in most other areas.”
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Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: November 2013
Date expired: January 2020
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 95%
Child protection: 79%
Vulnerable road users: 74%
Safety assist: 81%

No safety rating

The Maserati Ghibli was tested by Euro NCAP in 2013 and was awarded a five-star rating. This rating expired in January 2020 and is no longer valid. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.

However, if you are comparing a used Ghibli to vehicles of similar age, whose ratings will have probably also expired, its safety rating score is still useful.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

The Maserati Ghibli was not tested by Green NCAP during its production life.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	22 mpg	E	22 – 22 mpg	E – E

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	240 g/km	D	183 – 286 g/km	C – D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	50	F	48 – 50	D – F

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£596	D
Year 2	£1,472	D
Year 3	£2,192	D
Year 4	£2,625	D
Year 5	£3,495	D
Overall	£10,380	D

The Maserati Ghibli is a rather expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Fuel economy is very poor, with an average score of E ranking it in the bottom 20% of all cars in our database. CO₂ emissions are also poor.

Insurance costs are likely to be high as the Ghibli is categorised in the highest group 50, while servicing and maintenance over the first five years is also expensive.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of November 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Maserati Ghibli to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as we have sufficient data on the Ghibli, we’ll publish the score here.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Maserati Ghibli

2024

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

Date: June 2024
Recall number: R/2024/206
Model types: All
Build dates: 04/2021 to 08/2021
Number of vehicles affected: 6
Defect: On affected vehicles, the pressure/temperature sensor within the short fuel line may cause a possible fuel leakage in the engine bay. This may lead to a loss of power and, in the worst case, a potential fire.
Remedy: Replacement of the short fuel line containing the pressure sensor.

Date: December 2021
Recall number: R/2021/441
Model types: All
Build dates: 09/2021
Number of vehicles affected: 37
Defect: Wrong TVV (Type-Variant-Version) on statutory plate.
Remedy: Replace label located on B-pillar

Date: June 2020
Recall number: R/2020/185
Model types: All
Build dates: 01/2019 to 02/2019
Number of vehicles affected: 2
Defect: Engine code marked on diesel engine replaced in aftersales is different from the homologated and production code.
Remedy: Documentation will be provided to the customer stating the Italian transport authority confirms this marking is an administration error.

Date: July 2019
Recall number: R/2019/239
Model types: All
Build dates: 08/2017 to 02/2019
Number of vehicles affected: 320
Defect: Front headlamps full LED version headlamp vertical beam out of compliance.
Remedy: Check adjustment of the front headlamp vertical beam.

Date: February 2019
Recall number: R/2019/042
Model types: All
Build dates: 08/2017 to 12/2017
Number of vehicles affected: 126
Defect: There is a possibility that a leak may occur in the fuel line.
Remedy: Replacement of the fuel delivery line.

Date: January 2018
Recall number: R/2018/022
Model types: All
Build dates: 08/2017 to 12/2017
Number of vehicles affected: 53
Defect: Due to material imperfections, the fuel delivery line may leak at line unions. This is more likely after prolonged use.
Remedy: On affected vehicles replace the fuel delivery line.

Date: July 2017
Recall number: R/2017/235
Model types: All
Build dates: 02/2013 to 11/2016
Number of vehicles affected: 3,844
Defect: An incorrect driver seat wiring harness layout can cause the seat wiring harness to rub against metal points on the seat/seat frame assembly through normal seat adjustment operation. Over time this can lead to an inoperative seat adjustment system and, in rare cases, a potential risk of fire due to an electrical short to ground between the seat wiring harness and the seat adjustment motor assembly.
Remedy: Replace 2 seat circuit breakers with 25-amp mini-fuses check harness apply protective barrier and reposition if undamaged. If damaged, replace harness and then ensure repositioned and protective barrier applied.

Date: March 2017
Recall number: R/2017/235
Model types: All
Build dates: 07/2013 to 10/2014
Number of vehicles affected: 283
Defect: A leak may occur in the fuel delivery line. Prolonged use of the car could result in the possibility of a fuel leak at the engine end of the pipe where the quick-release connector is fitted.
Remedy: Replace the complete fuel delivery line.

Date: February 2017
Recall number: R/2017/051
Model types: All
Build dates: 11/2013 to 07/2014
Number of vehicles affected: 1,039
Defect: The gearshift lever resting position may mislead drivers into believing the vehicle’s transmission is in the park position when actually it is still in a drive gear. This could result in the vehicle moving off without the driver being in the vehicle.
Remedy: Replace the driver’s door lock and update the software to introduce a drive-away inhibition strategy.

Date: December 2016
Recall number: R/2016/278
Model types: All
Build dates: 09/2016
Number of vehicles affected: 30
Defect: The locking nut of the differential pinion may not have been tightened to the correct specification. This will be identified to the driver by noise generated from the differential and also possible vibration. Prolonged use in this condition could result in failure/locking of the differential and the subsequent loss of control of the vehicle.
Remedy: Check the tightness of the locking nut on the differential pinion. If found to be incorrect, the differential will be replaced and possibly the driveshaft if projections or metal contaminates are found in the differential rear cover.

Date: October 2016
Recall number: R/2016/226
Model types: All
Build dates: 04/2015
Number of vehicles affected: 5
Defect: Due to a manufacturing issue, the front wheel bearing can become noisy and vibrate. If the driver does not take notice of these warnings, the bearing could fail and cause loss of control of the vehicle.
Remedy: Check and, if required, replace the front wheel bearing.

Date: June 2016
Recall number: R/2016/122
Model types: All
Build dates: 12/2013 to 09/2015
Number of vehicles affected: 2,453
Defect: In extreme and hard driving conditions it is possible for the rear tie rod fixing bolt to become loose which can ultimately result in loss of vehicle control.
Remedy: Replace both rear toe-in tie rod bolts and washers. Fixing points will be inspected and rear hub assembly replaced if unserviceable.

Date: March 2016
Recall number: R/2016/046
Model types: All
Build dates: 04/2013 to 12/2015
Number of vehicles affected: 2,773
Defect: Throttle pedal may jam in any position. This can lead to a heightened risk of a collision.
Remedy: Replace the throttle pedal cover carpet mats carpet mat fixings modify floor covering depending on VIN list and inspection.

As of November 2024, there have been 13 DVSA vehicle safety recalls on the Maserati Ghibli to address various issues.

Not all vehicles are affected by recalls. You can check to see if your car is included in any of the above recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Maserati dealer.

If your car is affected by a recall, the vehicle must be repaired and you should not be charged for any work required. If you are buying a used Ghibli, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.