Car review: 2017 Maserati Ghibli S GranLusso

More massaging for Maserati’s best-selling model

All Ghiblis share the same elegant body style, and all have a tidy cabin with a lovely Italianate finish that’s leather-lined and luxurious

The Ghibli is Maserati’s best-selling car and, as a reward, it’s been treated to an extensive round of revisions to mark its mid-life facelift. There are more electronic driver aids, more power for the petrol S engine, standard LED headlights and a redesign to the grille, nose and tail.

Maserati’s also offering a couple of fancy new trim packs on top of the base version – comfort-focused GranLusso or racier GranSport. The latter lives up to its name with sport seats, sport body detailing and Skyhook electronic dampers; the former has normal suspension but indulgent electric seats, soft-close doors and interior trim boasting silks by fashion designer Ermenegildo Zenga.

Your turbo S model now boasts a healthy 444bhp, with the regular V6 turbo producing 344bhp, and the V6 turbodiesel unchanged at a rather more prosaic 247bhp. It was the twin-turbo S we thus chose to drove, the motor making up for not quite having the verve we’d expect of a 444bhp engine with a lovely V6 howl that’s a treat to listen to.

It’s a pity Maserati didn’t focus up the suspension a bit to go with this extra power. If you leave it in comfort mode, it heaves and patters; sport tightens up body control, but also firms up the ride. The new steering system, electric instead of hydraulic, is better, though, with good accuracy, if still not much feel.

The one Ghibli version that did truly impress us – the all-wheel drive S Q4 – was a cracker through corners, with drifts on demand and a beguiling exhaust note. But then Maserati let us down by saying it’s not coming to the UK, because it won’t be re-engineered for right-hand drive. Groan.

Still, all Ghiblis share the same elegant body style, and all have a tidy cabin with a lovely Italianate finish that’s leather-lined and luxurious. It’s well-crafted and sumptuous, with finally an up-to-scratch infotainment system, although it’s still not a match for ever-more sophisticated rivals here. Rear seat space isn’t great either: at least the chairs themselves are comfortable.

What we have, then, is a charming car that isn’t as good in any key area as a BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E-Class, but which will be forgiven by the few who do fall for it, simply because it’s a charming Maserati.

With the 2018 car, the firm has dialled out even more of the obvious failings, meaning it’s less obviously lacking compared to the competition. This is now a better car than ever, although it’s still not there yet, meaning it’s only either die-hard enthusiasts or those charmed by its beguiling appeal that will choose one over a German alternative. Perhaps we’ll just have to wait for a new Ghibli for Maserati’s best-selling car to become a genuine best-selling rival to a BMW or Mercedes.

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The Spec: Maserati Ghibli S GranLusso

Price	£73,840
Engine	V6 2979cc, twin turbo, direct injection
Power	424bhp at 5750rpm
Torque	428lb ft at 2250-4000rpm
Gearbox	8-spd automatic
Kerbweight	1810kg
0-62mph	4.9sec
Top speed	178mph
Economy	29.4mpg
CO2	223g