2024 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo Review

In the current Malaysian sports car market, in the luxury coupe segment featuring a 3.0L V6 engine, consumers seek a sense of identity derived from brand prestige without compromising on the practicality of daily driving. The 2024 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo is designed to meet these needs. Its core selling point lies in the combination of the "Trident's" sporty genes and luxurious configurations — the 550-horsepower V6 engine delivers a 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 3.5 seconds, while still maintaining a four-seater layout and practical storage space. The purpose of this test drive is straightforward: to evaluate the balance it strikes between performance and daily usability, and to see whether it truly allows users to "have the best of both worlds."

From a distance, the GranTurismo Trofeo retains Maserati's classic coupe proportions, with a car length of 4966mm coupled with a wheelbase of 2942mm. The side profile is sleek but not overexaggerated, avoiding excessively aggressive designs. At the front, the large vertical grille paired with the Trident emblem is highly recognizable; the slim LED headlights on both sides feature a clear internal structure, giving a clean and sharp visual effect when lit up. The side skirts at the bottom and the air vents above the front wheel arches are among the few sporty design details, which align with its performance-oriented positioning without feeling out of place. The rear design is relatively understated, with a rounded contour accompanied by a dual exhaust system with four outlets. The taillights feature Maserati's signature boomerang shape, offering high recognition when illuminated. The overall exterior design falls into the "timeless elegance" category, aligning with the luxury brand's image without appearing overly flamboyant, making it suitable for daily commuting.

Sitting inside the car, the sense of luxury is immediately apparent. The dashboard is wrapped in extensive soft-touch materials, while the door panels and seats are upholstered in genuine leather, providing a refined tactile experience. The stitching on the seats is neat, and the leather's texture is distinctly palpable. The central control layout is clear, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen that is just the right size. The interface design is intuitive and easy to navigate, with commonly used functions like navigation and music readily accessible. The multifunctional steering wheel features responsive physical buttons on both sides, and the shift paddles behind it are made of metal, offering a solid grip. A noteworthy mention is the seat configuration — the front seats are power-adjustable with heating and ventilation functions, ensuring comfort for daily use. The rear seats, although designed for two, offer decent legroom; a 175cm tall passenger would find their knees about a fist-width away from the front seatback, making it suitable for short trips. In terms of storage space, the central armrest compartment is deep enough for two water bottles, the door pockets in the front can hold a phone and a wallet, and the trunk has a capacity of 173 liters, just enough to fit two 20-inch carry-on suitcases, meeting the needs of daily commuting or short trips.

The core of this test drive focused on power and driving experience. The GranTurismo Trofeo is equipped with a 3.0L V6 twin-turbocharged engine that delivers a maximum power output of 550PS and a peak torque of 650N·m. It is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. Upon starting, a slight press on the accelerator produces a very responsive reaction, with no noticeable turbo lag. The sense of acceleration intensifies as the RPM increases. Switching to Sport Mode makes the transmission's shifting logic more aggressive, significantly speeding up downshifts. While overtaking, a light press on the accelerator quickly raises the engine rpm, delivering a strong sense of acceleration. The official 0-100 km/h time of 3.5 seconds is evidently noticeable during actual driving. On the highway, the transition from 100 km/h to 160 km/h is also smooth. For everyday use in Comfort Mode, the power delivery becomes more subdued, and the transmission shifts proactively, keeping the revs largely below 2000, eliminating the "edginess" typical of high-performance cars, making it well-suited for urban driving conditions.

In terms of handling, the steering wheel feels heavy, but it is precise and has no slack when turning. When cornering, you can clearly feel the dynamics of the front of the car. The chassis is tuned towards sportiness but still retains a certain level of comfort—when crossing speed bumps, the suspension quickly filters out the bumps, and the body doesn’t experience significant jolts. On bumpy roads, the chassis has a strong sense of integrity without feeling loose. At high-speed cornering, the body’s roll is well-controlled, and the all-wheel-drive system distributes power in time. The rear wheels maintain a strong grip, preventing rear-end slippage, which provides a confident driving experience. Noise control is also well-executed; noise from tires and wind is not noticeable during urban driving. At highway speeds of up to 120km/h, wind noise slightly increases but does not affect in-car conversations. Engine noise comes into the cabin only when the throttle is pressed hard, and it sounds deep and not harsh.

In terms of fuel consumption, this test drive covered both urban traffic and highways, averaging around 14.2L per 100km, close to the official figure of 13.8L combined fuel consumption. Considering its 550-horsepower engine and 3.0L displacement, this fuel efficiency is within expectations—not particularly surprising but not a “gas guzzler” either. Regarding braking performance, the vehicle maintains a stable posture during emergency braking. The brake pedal feedback is linear, and the stopping distance from 100km/h is about 35 meters, matching the standards of performance cars.

In summary, the core highlights of the 2024 GranTurismo Trofeo are clear: first, the luxury and sense of identity brought by the Maserati brand; second, the powerful performance of the 550-horsepower V6 engine, delivering a 3.5-second 0-100 km/h acceleration that ranks among the top in its class; third, despite its positioning as a performance car, it retains a practical four-seat layout and comfortable configurations, making daily driving less fatiguing. Compared to other competitors in its class, such as the Porsche 911 Carrera S, the GranTurismo Trofeo holds an advantage in rear space and luxurious features, and it is relatively more affordable. When compared to the BMW M8 Gran Coupe, it stands out more in terms of brand heritage and sporty genes.

Overall, this car suits two types of buyers: one is young consumers who value brand image and performance but occasionally need to travel with family; the other is those who already have a family car and are looking for a luxury coupe that can balance daily commuting and weekend fun trips. It’s not a "purely track-focused" performance car, nor just a "showpiece" relying on brand premium; instead, it strikes a good balance between sportiness, luxury, and practicality.

To summarize in one sentence: The 2024 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo is a "performance coupe you can drive every day." It combines the sporty DNA of the trident badge with the practicality to meet family needs. If you're looking for a "not so extreme" luxury performance car, it’s worth considering.