MASERATI QUATTROPORTE SALOON 2004-2009 Review
Good Points
- Exceptional weight distribution and handling
- A powerful sporty V8 engine
- High quality and reliability
Bad Points
- Only an auto gearbox is available
- Limited space at the back
- Despite the size, it’s just a 4-seater
Engines
All modifications are equipped with a 4.2-litre 394 – 433bhp V8 engine.
Performance & Economy
It’s probably daft to speak about economy when it comes to expensive executive cars. The Quattroporte wasn’t designed with the environmental agenda in mind. If you’re looking for an economical executive car, the Maserati is certainly not the best choice. Being one of the smallest luxury limos, the Quattroporte still competes with the Rolls-Royce for the title of the most gas-guzzling vehicle, it hardly returns 17mpg, a level that is quite disappointing for a medium-sized car.
The economy aside, the V8 engine offers exceptional dynamics. The car can accelerate from zero to 60mph in 5.4 seconds and can reach a 167mph top speed. The tuned sport version is even quicker at 4.9 seconds to reach 60mph and 177mph top speed.
The car is very expensive in comparison with the Jaguar XJ and apart from the different styling and handling qualities, there’s not much to justify the premium.
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Introduction
The 5th generation Maserati Quattroporte is the largest and most luxurious in the history of the model line. The new car was officially unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Eleganz in California almost precisely 40 years after the 1st generation Quattroporte was shown there. The Quattroporte is the best selling car of the exclusive Italian brand. The new generation is a direct effort from the Ferrari stables which took over the ailing Maserati in 1997. With the new model and serious changes in quality management, Ferrari has managed to increase the production output tenfold. The 4th generation Quattroporte sold slightly over 400 units in its prime while the new model consistently reaches thousands, 5,700 units in its best year in 2006.
Exterior & Interior
The Quattroporte has a tendency of growing in size from generation to generation. The boxy, angular 4th generation was quite a small car with very little leg-room at the back. That was one of the factors that limited the sales of the car. Being the World’s smallest executive car certainly didn’t help. The new Quattroporte has gained 16 inches in the wheel base allowing much more space for the passengers.
The unique rounded body is styled by Pininfarina and it was decided to bid farewell to the old-fashioned Italian edges. They’ve used just about any Italian car design studio in the past, mainly Gandini and Italdesign. With Pininfarina they’ve finally got it right. The car looks different than anything else on the road and it’s mainly the shape and the size that set it apart from other high-end luxury saloons.
Despite being so much bigger than the older Quattroporte, this car is still significantly smaller than the leaders of the expensive executive cars, hence it attracts people who don’t want to be seen driving anything as bulky as the Rolls-Royce Phantom or Maybach 57. The Quattroporte is similar to the Jaguar XJ in size.
The cabin is very comfortable and finished to the highest possible standards. However, if you switch to the Quattroporte from a larger car, you still may feel a bit crammed at the rear. The Standard and GT trims come with a carbon-fibre dashboard while the top of the range the Executive trim is using excessive amounts of leather and wood. The Executive version can be distinguished by the chrome styling around the grille and side gills but the most novel feature remains the rear seats with a massage function.
Drive
The Quattroporte is the ultimate 4-door sports car. The exceptional handling it offers is achieved by a clever weight distribution. The engine is located behind the front axle and the auto gearbox is integrated in the rear axle differential. That’s why the car has near-perfect grip even in difficult road situations. The large Maserati is definitely a joy to ride.
Faults & Repairs
The older Maseratis were notorious for their poor reliability. The 5th generation Quattroporte is an entirely different story. What we’re looking at is a Ferrari in a Maserati clothing. The high-spec quality control that is applied to the Ferrari cars is also applied to the Maseratis and has turned the company around. This is great news for perspective buyers as they can expect relatively hassle free motoring.
