Maserati Quattroporte 2019 Review

In the luxury full-size sedan market, consumers often have to choose between sporty performance and business luxury. However, the arrival of the 2019 Maserati Quattroporte GranSport seems to aim at breaking this binary opposition—it retains Maserati's iconic Italian design while enhancing its sporty attributes with the GranSport package. This time we got a test drive of this model, and the main goal was to verify whether its sporty performance in daily driving lives up to expectations, and to see if it can balance luxury and practicality.

The exterior of the Quattroporte GranSport is unmistakably Maserati. The traditionally vertical front grille, paired with the trident emblem, is highly recognizable. The chrome trim around the grille has been replaced with a piano black finish by the GranSport package. Together with the large air intakes on either side of the front bumper, the sporty vibe is instantly elevated. The side profile of the car is sleek, with a waistline that extends from the hood to the rear, combined with 20-inch alloy wheels (one size larger than the regular version), making the car look lower and sportier. At the rear, the exclusive GranSport design features quad circular exhaust outlets on both sides, complemented by a slightly upturned ducktail spoiler that conveys a performance orientation even when stationary. In terms of lighting, the front headlights use full LED sources, with ample brightness when illuminated, while the taillights retain Maserati's classic wrap-around design, ensuring high recognition at night as well.

Inside, the Quattroporte GranSport's interior style leans towards a blend of sportiness and luxury. The symmetrical design of the dashboard is mostly covered in Alcantara material (exclusive to the GranSport), paired with carbon fiber trim, offering an excellent tactile and visual experience. The 10.1-inch central touchscreen is located at the top of the center console, featuring a simple interface, supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and operates smoothly. The instrument panel combines traditional mechanical dials with a 7-inch LCD display. Although it doesn't have the fully digital dashboard's advanced tech feel, the movement of the mechanical dials is more stimulating to a driving enthusiast's desires. The seats are sport-style bucket seats with strong contouring and side bolstering. They also support 12-way electric adjustment and heating functions, ensuring comfort during long drives.

As a full-size sedan, the Quattroporte GranSport offers commendable spatial performance. With a body size of 5262mm×1948mm×1481mm and a wheelbase of 3171mm, the rear legroom is exceptionally spacious. Even a passenger with a height of 180cm seated in the rear would have more than two fists' worth of distance between their knees and the back of the front seat. In terms of storage space, the central front armrest compartment is quite large, capable of holding a variety of personal items. The door panel storage slots can also accommodate two bottles of mineral water. The trunk capacity is 530L, which, while not particularly large, is completely sufficient for daily use, such as fitting two 28-inch suitcases. The rear-seat amenities are also abundant, including independent air conditioning vents, USB charging ports, and adjustable rear seat backrest angles, enhancing long-distance ride comfort.

In terms of power, the 2019 Quattroporte GranSport is equipped with a 3.0T V6 twin-turbocharged engine that delivers a maximum horsepower of 430PS and a peak torque of 580N·m, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. During actual driving, the power reserve of this engine is very abundant, especially in Sport mode where the throttle response becomes very sharp. A slight press on the accelerator allows you to immediately feel a strong push-back sensation. During acceleration or overtaking, the gearbox shifts quickly and almost without any jerkiness. In normal mode, the power delivery is relatively smooth, making it suitable for daily commuting. In terms of handling, the steering wheel is highly precise with minimal play. Coupled with the GranSport package's stiffer suspension tuning, the car has excellent body roll control when cornering, providing ample confidence. Although the suspension system leans towards stiffness, it manages to filter out most of the minor vibrations when passing through speed bumps or bumpy roads, ensuring a comfortable ride.

In terms of fuel consumption, the official combined fuel consumption is 9.1L/100km. During a week-long actual test, with most driving on urban roads and occasional highway trips, the average fuel consumption measured was 11.5L/100km. Considering its power performance and vehicle weight, this fuel consumption figure is quite reasonable. Noise control is also commendable in the Quattroporte GranSport. When driving at high speeds, wind and tire noise are not very noticeable. During rapid acceleration, the engine roars can be heard inside the car, but instead of being jarring, this sound adds to the fun of driving.

Overall, the core strength of the 2019 Maserati Quattroporte GranSport lies in its "balance between sportiness and luxury." Compared to the BMW 7 Series M Sport edition in the same class, it has a more distinctive Italian design, and the use of Alcantara materials and carbon fiber trims makes the interior sportier. Compared to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class AMG Line, its power response is more direct and it offers better handling. However, its tech features are not as rich as the BMW 7 Series, and its comfort slightly lags behind the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

This car is suitable for consumers who pursue luxury while not wanting to give up driving fun—such as 35-45-year-old corporate executives who need it for business meetings during weekdays and want to drive it themselves to the countryside on weekends. It also appeals to young wealthy individuals who appreciate Italian design and value the brand's distinctiveness along with the vehicle's sporty performance.

The 2019 Maserati Quattroporte GranSport is not a perfect car, but it achieves the balance between sportiness and luxury. If you are looking for a luxury large sedan that is both prestigious and fun to drive, it is worth considering.