2019 Maserati Quattroporte GranLusso Review

In the luxury executive sedan market, consumers often seek both the sense of identity brought by brand premium and the practicality and comfort for daily driving. As a representative of Italian luxury, Maserati has always strived to strike a balance between sportiness and elegance. This test drive of the 2019 Maserati Quattroporte GranLusso, as the flagship sedan of the brand, boasts a core selling point of a combination of "sporting DNA + luxury configuration" — can it break the stereotype of "paying for the badge and getting the car as a bonus"? We'll verify whether it deserves the luxury executive-level position through a static experience and dynamic driving test of the vehicle.

From a distance, the body lines of the Quattroporte GranLusso retain Maserati’s classic coupe stance. The long hood and short front overhang design extend the visual proportions, while the side waistline runs fluently and powerfully from the fender to the taillights. The front features a vertical slat grille paired with the trident emblem, offering high recognition; the irregularly shaped headlights integrate LED daytime running lights for a sharp visual effect when illuminated. At the rear, the quad round exhaust layout clearly signals its performance orientation, while the taillights adopt a family-style wrap-around design, echoing the front face. The overall exterior doesn’t rely on overly fancy decorations but conveys the elegance and sportiness of Italian design through its details.

Stepping inside, the interior materials of the GranLusso version obviously lean towards luxury. The seats and the inside of the door panels are wrapped in genuine leather, while the upper part of the center console is covered with soft-touch materials, creating a refined tactile experience wherever you touch. The center console layout is driver-oriented, featuring an 8.4-inch touchscreen at the center with a clear interface logic, supporting CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Below the screen, some physical buttons remain, making blind operation easier while driving. In terms of core configurations, the front seats offer 12-way electric adjustment, heating, and ventilation features. The rear seats are equipped with independent air conditioning vents, USB charging ports, and a center armrest with storage compartments and cup holders. However, the tech-savviness of the interior isn't particularly outstanding, as the screen size is smaller compared to competitors in the same segment, and the responsiveness of the infotainment system is merely average.

In terms of space performance, the Quattroporte’s dimensions are 5262mm×1948mm×1481mm, with a wheelbase of 3171mm, meeting the standard D-segment size. The front row offers ample seating space, with a 180cm-tall occupant finding a fist of headroom after adjusting their seating posture. The rear legroom exceeds two fists, while the headroom provides around four fingers’ space — even with three adults seated together, it doesn’t feel cramped. For storage capacity, the front central armrest box is relatively large, door side storage pockets can hold two bottles of mineral water, and the trunk offers a regular capacity of 530L, which is sufficient to accommodate three 28-inch suitcases for business trips or long-distance family travels.

As for the powertrain, the 2019 Quattroporte GranLusso is equipped with a 3.0T twin-turbocharged V6 engine delivering a maximum horsepower of 430PS and a peak torque of 580N·m, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission (8AT). In actual driving, when switched to normal mode, initial acceleration provides smooth power output and a linear throttle response, making it suitable for city commuting. When pressing the accelerator harder, the turbocharger kicks in promptly, providing robust mid-to-late-range acceleration, which inspires confidence while overtaking. Switching to sport mode makes the transmission shift logic more aggressive, with quicker downshifts and a deeper, richer exhaust sound, clearly emphasizing the tuning of a performance car. However, at low speeds, the gearbox occasionally exhibits slight jerks, affecting some of the ride's smoothness.

Handling and chassis performance are the highlights of the Quattroporte: The steering wheel is precise with minimal slack, light at low speeds, stable at high speeds, and offers perfectly calibrated feedback. The suspension system features a front double-wishbone and rear multi-link design, capable of filtering out most minor bumps during daily driving. When passing speed bumps or uneven roads, the body remains stable with no unnecessary bouncing. While cornering, the suspension provides ample support and effective roll suppression, and with the rear-wheel-drive layout, the handling feels agile, completely unlike a large sedan over five meters in length. As for braking performance, it boasts a braking distance of about 38 meters from 100 km/h to a stop, ranking at an excellent level among its peers. The brake pedal offers a linear feel, providing ample confidence during braking.

Regarding fuel consumption, the official combined fuel consumption is 9.1L/100km. In actual testing, fuel consumption in urban traffic conditions is about 12-13L/100km, while highway cruising consumption can drop to 7-8L/100km, which overall meets the expected performance of a 3.0T engine. In terms of driving comfort, the front seats provide good support and wrapping, making long drives less tiring. Noise control in the cabin is well-handled, remaining acceptable for wind and tire noise even at 120 km/h on highways. However, engine noise becomes noticeably pronounced during sudden acceleration and penetrates into the cabin.

Overall, the core advantages of the 2019 Quattroporte GranLusso lie in its balanced combination of “brand, performance, and luxury”: The trident badge delivers a strong sense of identity, the 3.0T engine provides ample power for performance demands, while the GranLusso trim balances it with daily comfort-oriented configurations. Compared to rivals in the same class, its handling outshines models such as the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series, which are more comfort-oriented, although its technological features and interior refinement are slightly inferior. However, it holds an advantage in price.

This car suits two types of individuals: First, business professionals who value brand prestige and driving pleasure, seeking a car that reflects their status while providing an enjoyable commuting experience. Second, families who appreciate Italian design—its ample rear legroom, thanks to the long wheelbase, caters to family outings, with occasional bursts of performance car excitement.

In conclusion, the 2019 Maserati Quattroporte GranLusso is not an “all-rounder” luxury sedan. However, with its sporty DNA and Italian luxury, it carves out a unique niche in the homogenized D-segment market. If you are looking for an executive sedan that combines brand prestige with driving enjoyment, it is worth consideration.