The 2022 Ghibli Trofeo comes loaded with only the best of what’s there. Being a sports sedan, the wheel choice must be nothing less than a 20-inch one and so does it come with 21-inch sharply cut alloy wheels. The base car only has xenon headlights but the Trofeo gets adaptive LED headlights and taillights. This isn’t exactly a luxury version as the emphasis has been given more on the performance side and to merit the claim we can dissect the fact that the body style comes with performance tires, adaptive suspension, high-performance brakes, etc. 

For passenger comfort and ambiance, we do have dual-zone climate control, high grain leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, and much more. For a 6-figure price, it could have gotten 4-zone climate control and hand-stitched Italian leather seats, unfortunately, it does not. Overall, the features list is more inclined towards performance rather than balancing both categories. Even the optional packages provide exterior upgrades to much of the proportions like carbon fiber mirrors and rear spoiler.

Apart from having such a host of assets, the Ghibli Trofeo does house some inspiring extensions namely the Climate Package costing around $700 and the Exterior Carbon Fiber Package getting quadrupled of the former’s label. With them, one can avail of the heated rear seats and power rear sunblind along with carbon fiber spoiler as per respective formats. Moreover, the interior engagement is quite a case as it has an exemplary 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system in conjunction with standard assists like the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. All in all, the Ghibli Trofeo has got that nudge to challenge and champion the segment against the rivals.

Which Trim should you buy?

The Maserati Ghibli Trofeo is a well-designed and sculpted sedan that has the presence to charm the masses without the revelation of the thrust it beholds. The status is enriched yet it always feels something more could have been there because of our unquenchable desire. The performance, comfort, convenience, and probably the most satisfying among all its other siblings, the Ghibli Trofeo is something that might break the knots to build up its own space. As far as long hauling is concerned, one has that practicality bestowed inside the cabin with which high-speed exhilaration can be relished quite comfortably.

2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo Sedan Release Date

There have been many speculations as per its date of launch and release but nothing has been confirmed from the brand’s end yet. The Covid scenario might worsen or delay an official announcement about its status and we will also prefer not to comment any.

The 3.8L Twin-Turbo V-8 engine under the hood of the 2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo is what an enthusiast driver would want in his/her car. This engine produces a healthy 580 hp of power and 538 lb-ft of torque mated to an RWD drivetrain; now this is the good old recipe for track days. The 8-speed automatic transmission is buttery smooth even in the manual mode. V8 powertrains are generally very vocal but this one is one of the calmest. 

But it exhibits this behavior only in normal mode. Switch it into the sports mode and the rumble becomes more apparent. The outright acceleration just throws you back in your seats as you touch 60 MPH in just 3.7 seconds. If you believe in flexing the power of your car you will be disappointed as in the city the Ghibli drives like a calm family sedan with only the slightest burble and pops noticeable to other drivers. And sadly you can’t rev bomb it like the manuals.

Having nearly 3-second acceleration timing is kind of standard for machinery with a turbo V8 engine and all the cars above do that without breaking a sweat. The AMG E63 S is particularly faster than the rest but all those differences are 0.3 or 0.2 seconds at the max. The M5 sure is fast but it’s the base M5; the Competition package, meanwhile, gets there in 3.2 seconds. 

In the middle of such variations, one of the commonalities among all of them is their parallel mid-rev band. This is a depiction of the trend of maintaining a high power-torque graph without compromising the corresponding top speed limit. 155 mph seems to be mirror figures in the Ghibli Trofeo, BMW M5, and Audi RS7 whereas the AMG E63 S leads the pack with a 180 mph mark.

Performance cars and fuel economy are like pineapple on pizza, they don’t go well. Just like that, there is no relation between fuel economy and a Maserati. The 2022 Ghibli Trofeo is the least efficient in the segment. This isn’t a complaint, but we should at least get something similar to what rivals are offering. The 21.1-gallon fuel tank is the biggest among its rivals; big enough for highway cruising trips as it pushes the overall driving range well over 400 miles.

By this time, you might all be well aware that Mercedes is the emperor of fuel economy in performance sedans as the AMG E63 S gets the best of everything; From the most fuel economic return at 18 MPG combined to the largest fuel tank. The M5 and RS7 both have a similar economy but Audi gets a little less fuel capacity. Last but not least comes the Ghibli Trofeo which is the least efficient of the lot but overall it's an acceptable economy considering its segment.

The interior of the 2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo is a hit and miss; maybe most of the budget went into the engine and those performance aspects. Well, the overall design theme of this cabin is fairly decent and the material choice is content. But there is nothing special about it, that's what it is to be conveyed. We have seen much better cabins on top trim mid-size sedans that cost less than 60k or 70k. The switchgear is the most disappointing part of this car, it’s been sourced from the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler Town & Country. 

There surely are high-quality materials like full-grain leather and aluminum trims and door handles. But a car that asks more than $100k and adding just carbon fiber to the mix doesn’t improve things at all. The front seats are great but we would have loved a little more lateral support around the shoulders. The second-row seats are comfortable for 2 passengers, legroom is more than enough and even headroom is decent. Passenger comfort isn’t the issue in this sedan, it's the design and overall feel. The interior just doesn’t feel like a $115,000 one. You are going to feel ripped off if you see someone in Grand Cherokee with similar switchgear as your luxury performance sedan.

The interior on the M5 is supremely appointed and is very much filled with tech-like fully digital instrument clusters and well-bolstered seats. Audi of course has that virtual cockpit and the overall dashboard is miles apart in terms of look and feel. The AMG E63 S has a nice interior accent as well. Compared to them, the Maserati looks like an underdog despite having premium clouding. 

Being a Sportback, Audi offers the largest cargo space in the segment at 24.6 cu ft with a complimentary seating arrangement inside the cabin. Therefore, all of them are at par with one another while the Ghibli Trofeo might have to go back to paperwork to reach that cornerstone. Standout interior features in the 2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo include:

• Carbon fiber interior trim
• Full-grain leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable front seats
• Heated front seats and steering wheel
• Dual-zone climate control

What’s there to keep you entertained?

This is probably one of the best parts of this cabin. The 2022 Ghibli Trofeo comes with a 10.1-inch touch screen system. The touch response is really great and there’s no lag in opening several applications on the native software and the Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. The touch screen has an oleophobic coating which helps in keeping this big-screen clear of fingerprints. About the sound system, an 8-speaker sound system comes standard and there are 2 optional ones- 10-speaker Harman Kardon or 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system.

In addition to such an interactive array, a top-notch Navigation unit can also be availed of to have a track on oneself’s mobility along with Alexa in-vehicle voice assistant. The other features like the SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and Bluetooth Connectivity are also available for your 24x7 service establishing a hallmark in the realm. On the whole, one really can’t wish for more with it unless the greed is unbearable. Standout infotainment features in the 2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo include:

• 10.1-inch touch screen
• Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• Navigation
• 8-speaker sound system
• 10-speaker Harman Kardon or 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system

Just like every other performance car in this segment, Maserati has their signature styling elements. If you are someone who likes flying under the radar more than showing off, then this slick design of the Ghibli Trofeo will work magic for you. Everyone knows an AMG or an Audi Sportback when they see one but there’s something about the anonymity of the Maserati. Hardly anyone on the road will notice this car at first glance. 

The diving front end with that big trident logo and the exhaust gills on the fender; these 2 aspects are more than enough to differentiate this car from the performance lot. Those gills are red painted on the Ghibli which when viewed with the 21" Orione Forged Polished Black Wheels, adds to the character of the sedan. Italians design their cars with curvy body panels rather than having sharp edges as the Audi does. In short, the 2022 Ghibli Trofeo is a serious performance sedan but doesn’t look like one unless intimidated.

As far as the dimensional limit is concerned, the Ghibli Trofeo is the lightest among all because of which the handling and forward diving have been constrained to a large extent keeping in line with the performance. Apart from this, the other parameters are very much comparable to rivals. 

The streamlined length and commensurate aspect ratio allow each one of them to have airflow management which negates the turbulent air with the best of their abilities at the rear near the trunk. The Ghibli Trofeo can even be upgraded with an optional rear spoiler that aids in increasing downforce which is a must, especially, when you have more than 550 hp at your disposal. Standout exterior features in the 2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo include:

• Sunroof
• High-performance brakes
• Adaptive suspension
• Adaptive LED headlights
• Exclusive exterior styling
• 21-inch wheels
• Summer performance tires

NHTSA hasn’t crash-tested the previous MY Maserati Ghibli but the IIHS has, with selective categories, simply because of what it represents. The limited production and hefty price tag refrain it from being a showpiece of crashworthiness as the flagship stature is itself a testament to that. The Ghibli does come with frontal crash prevention tech but that has also been kept miles away from such businesses. Since the structural strength is definite to be a prerequisite which the engineers would not have ignored, it is those active safety assists that are more intriguing. 

The list entails the likes of the High-speed adaptive cruise control, Blindspot monitor, and Lane-keep assist which are exceptionally advanced and pinpoint in their functionalities. The Rear cross-traffic alert and Traffic sign recognition are also handy for amateur drivers in the first place. One is even empowered to have a view of surrounding elements with the Surround-view camera system with a mark to have control of the movement with the readiness of Parking sensors. The level of sophistication is just and somewhat makes up for the price tag as one does not encounter such assists in everyday lives. Standout safety features in the 2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo include:

• High-speed adaptive cruise control
• Blindspot monitor
• Surround-view camera system
• Lane keep assist
• Parking sensors
• Automatic emergency braking
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Traffic sign recognition

2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo vs 2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 S

If we are to speak about significant differences then there are only a few. The outright acceleration on the AMG is much better than the Ghibli and the E63 S variant is a launch on wheels. The interior of the Mercedes-Benz AMG E 63 S is significantly luxurious. In terms of performance and handling the AMG does have an edge over Ghibli but the suspension setup and overall comfort are similar. Therefore, with a better pursuit in every parameter possible with lower margin only, it is evident to favor Mercedes-AMG E63 S over the former.

2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo vs 2021 BMW M5

The BMW M5 is better powered than the Maserati. The interior is also better than the Italian. Being a performance car, the driving dynamics are superb and so is the performance. The styling of the M5 is very subjective; some call it aggressive, some call it a subtle sedan. If you are looking for value for money then the M5 is no doubt a better choice but by even the tiniest chance you feel like the Ghibli is more enchanting than the BMW, don’t worry too much; you are getting one of the finest performance cars out there.

2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo vs 2021 Audi RS7

The RS7 is a hands-down better car in every aspect. All the cars in this segment perform great but Audi is just technically better. The interior of the RS7 is what we expect in a 21st-century sports car. The RS7 even looks much better than the Ghibli although the styling ideology is very different, if kept both of these sides by side, most buyers will choose the Audi. The pricing of both the cars is similar and the kind of package you get in the Audi is undisputed.

The new Maserati Ghibli Trofeo is a phenomenal sedan with all the performance and horsepower you can ask for. But the pricing and uninspired interior make it a difficult proposition. Not only that, the figures are impressive in solidarity but may start to fade when brought to the comparison table. Hence, there are a lot of nicer and better options in the German stable but if you strictly want the Italian flare then it's better to get the Maserati.