2019 Maserati Quattroporte GTS GranSport Review

When the luxury executive sedan market was still revolving around "business sense" and "stability," the Maserati Quattroporte GTS GranSport carved out a differentiated path with its pure Italian sports DNA—it is both a four-door sedan that can meet business needs and a performance machine for the driver to enjoy on open roads. This time, we got our hands on the 2019 model for testing, with the primary goal of verifying whether its balance between "luxury comfort" and "sporting performance" is as outstanding as advertised, and to see if the 3.8T V8 engine delivering 530 horsepower can help this nearly 5.3-meter-long beast break free from the stereotype of an executive car.

From a distance, the body lines of the Quattroporte GTS GranSport appear more aggressive than its competitors in the same class. The vertically-slatted black grille combined with the trident emblem exudes high recognizability; the headlights on both sides feature irregular geometric shapes, with LED daytime running lights inside that are blade-shaped, offering a highly ceremonial lighting effect upon activation. The side of the car retains the coupe-like fastback silhouette of a four-door sedan, while the 21-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels (exclusive to the GranSport package) fill the wheel arches perfectly. The "V8 BITURBO" badge on the front fender serves as a constant reminder of its performance identity. The rear design is relatively simple, with dual-side quad circular exhaust pipes as a staple for performance cars. The LED tail lights adopt the family-style encircling design, providing equally high visibility when lit at night.

Once inside the car, the first thing that impresses you is the sporty ambiance brought by the GranSport package: the steering wheel is wrapped in Alcantara material, with grooves designed at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions, offering a firm grip; the seats are styled as sporty bucket seats, offering strong lateral support while remaining soft enough to ensure comfort during long periods of sitting. The layout of the center console retains the essence of traditional luxury cars, with an 8.4-inch touchscreen at the top, supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Its operational logic is straightforward, though its smoothness is average. Below the screen are physical buttons for primarily controlling the air conditioning and volume, making blind operation very convenient. In terms of materials, most areas inside the cabin are covered in leather and Alcantara, while carbon fiber accents on the door panels and dashboard add a touch of sportiness, nicely balancing luxury and performance.

As a mid-to-large luxury sedan, the Quattroporte GTS GranSport offers ample space for family use. The dimensions are 5262mm×1948mm×1481mm, with a wheelbase of 3171mm. After adjusting the front seat to a comfortable position, the rear seat offers more than two fists of legroom. The headroom is slightly compressed due to the fastback design, but a 180cm tall passenger would not feel cramped. In terms of storage, the front central armrest box has a moderate capacity, and the door panel storage compartments can hold two bottles of mineral water. The trunk has a capacity of 530L with a regular opening, accommodating two 28-inch suitcases without issue, though the fastback design limits the height. Larger items may require folding down the rear seats (4/6 split-folding supported).

The powertrain is the core highlight of this car. The 3.8T twin-turbocharged V8 engine delivers a maximum power of 530PS and a peak torque of 710N·m, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. When switched to normal mode, the power delivery is relatively smooth, the transmission upshifts proactively, and daily city driving is very effortless. However, by stepping hard on the accelerator, the transmission will immediately downshift, and the powerful torque pushes the car forward. Its official 0-100km/h acceleration time is 4.7 seconds, and during actual experience, the push-back feeling continues from the start all the way until over 120km/h. When overtaking at high speeds, there is almost no need for anticipation. In sport mode, the exhaust sound becomes more robust, and the shifting logic delays. At this point, the Quattroporte feels more like a performance-oriented sports car. The steering wheel's resistance also increases, and the road feedback becomes more precise.

In terms of handling, the Quattroporte GTS GranSport's chassis adopts an independent suspension structure of a front double-wishbone and rear multi-link design, and it comes standard with air suspension. In normal mode, the suspension is tuned for comfort and can filter out most small bumps on the road. When crossing speed bumps, there are no harsh impacts. In sport mode, the suspension stiffens, providing significantly improved support. Body roll is minimal during cornering, and combined with precise steering, the nearly 5.3-meter-long body feels quite agile. However, due to its length, more steering adjustments are needed to make U-turns in narrow areas.

As for fuel consumption, the official combined fuel consumption is 9.1L/100km. However, if driven aggressively frequently, fuel consumption can soar to over 15L/100km. For smooth city commutes, fuel consumption is around 12L/100km, while highway cruising can reduce it to about 8L/100km. This is considered standard performance for a V8 engine. Regarding braking performance, the front brakes use perforated ventilated discs paired with six-piston calipers. The brake pedal has moderate travel, and sufficient braking force is available from the initial step. During emergency braking, the vehicle maintains a stable stance without significant nose-diving.

In terms of driving comfort, this car performs fairly well. Noise control is quite good during daily city driving, with tire and wind noise well suppressed. Only during hard acceleration does the sound of the V8 engine enter the cabin (which actually makes the driver feel excited). At highway cruising speeds of 120km/h, wind noise slightly increases but does not hinder in-cabin conversations. Seat comfort, previously mentioned, indicates that the sport bucket seats balance support and softness, ensuring long drives are not tiring.

Overall, the 2019 Maserati Quattroporte GTS GranSport has its distinct advantages: the strong performance brought by the V8 engine, the blend of sportiness and luxurious interior ambiance, and a spacious and practical offering. Compared to competitors in the same class, such as the BMW 7 Series M760Li or the Mercedes S63 AMG, its brand positioning is more unique, with a stronger sense of sportiness while being relatively more affordable (with a 2019 Malaysian market guide price of about 1.6 million MYR, approximately 200,000 MYR less than the M760Li).

This car suits two types of people: one is business professionals who value driving pleasure, as it can be used to entertain clients while also offering an enjoyable driving experience during leisure time; the other is families pursuing individuality, as its space meets family needs while its performance satisfies occasional "wild adventures".

In conclusion: The Quattroporte GTS GranSport is neither a purely business car nor a purely performance car. It is a combination of both — providing luxury and comfort for daily needs, while its V8 engine ignites driving passion. If you are looking for a luxury executive sedan that is not so "boring," it can be a good choice.