The Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo has the looks, soundtrack and blistering performance to turn heads across London, but does its £191,820 price tag justify a cabin that does not quite match the glamour?

There is always something rather alluring about the Maserati line-up, but I cannot quite put my finger on it. Maybe it is that effortless Italian chic or perhaps the decades of rich motorsport heritage to fall back on. Either way, Maserati seems to make a car feel sexy without even trying.

But the company has been haunted by reliability issues, and the latest models share a parts bin with some not quite so high-end marques such as Fiat, for example. Yet, even with those drawbacks, I would still be first in line when the opportunity arises to get behind the wheel of one of these cars, especially if it looks as gorgeous as the GranTurismo Trofeo. You have to admit, even the name sounds seductive.

And should you want further proof of just how tempting this car is, it has the beating heart of a 3.0-litre V6 engine beneath the bonnet and can reach 62mph quicker than you can say “sixty two miles per hour”.

Yes, it costs the same as a small bungalow in the suburbs, but it is a vehicle that will give you catwalk status as you meander down High Street Ken, drawing envious glances from bystanders along the way.

So, let us take a look at this Italian beauty in a little more depth and see if it still has the magic pull for buyers to part with almost £200k.

Is the Maserati GranTurismo really that much of a head-turner?

The latest GranTurismo marks the return of the performance icon that first debuted 75 years ago as the A6 1500. And, like a fine wine, this model has definitely matured with age. That heritage matters here, because Maserati is leaning heavily on its grand-touring past while trying to make the car feel properly modern at the same time.

The two-door, four-seater is just shy of five metres in length, but it is only 1.35 metres tall, and it is those dimensions that give this vehicle its bullet-like streamlining. The long sculpted bonnet is flanked by muscular haunches, and narrow light clusters complete the dynamic front-end styling. Move to the side, and the silhouette is breathtakingly powerful, aided by tinted rear windows, 21-inch front wheels and 20-inch rear wheels, complemented by red brake calipers.

Move to the back, and there are four tailpipes for maximum vocal effect, with the car’s make and model taking pride of place on the tailgate.

I am a great believer that sports cars should all be bright red in order to make a statement, and our test car was finished in Fuoriserie Rosso GranTurismo paint that added almost £15,000 to the price tag but certainly introduced the ultimate wow factor.

Does the interior live up to the high expectations?

It seems the Maserati designers spent all their time and funds sculpting and styling the exterior of the GranTurismo and then had to cobble together an interior on a bit of a shoestring. Yes, it looks stylish enough, but certainly not £200k enough. The black seats are crafted from full-grain leather, and they are 18-way power-adjustable, so finding the perfect driving position is simple enough. In addition, along with the leather-wrapped steering wheel, they can be heated or ventilated.

It all looks and feels okay, but I wanted more. And it is all very dark too, with black fixtures and fittings, although red contrast stitching on the seats, doors, dashboard and centre console helps lift the gloom a little.

There are also shared parts with other Stellantis models that are a fraction of the price. If I am spending that sort of money on a car, I want it to be unique, bespoke and a little bit special. Sadly, this GranTurismo’s interior is none of the above.

Can I listen to all my favourite tunes?

Without being unnecessarily flashy or over-complicated, the on-board technology is just fine, with most functions accessed via a 12.3-inch touchscreen. There is a smaller climate control panel just below this, but both screens are quite prone to fingerprint smudges. It is easy enough to connect a smartphone, though, using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which means you can play your favourite Spotify playlist through the 19-speaker Sonus Faber sound system.

There is a sat nav set-up, Bluetooth and DAB radio, along with a 360-degree camera that is handy when tucking in close to a kerb so you do not scratch those expensive alloys.

If you are venturing away from the city lights, all the important numbers, such as speed and speed limit, are clearly displayed on a screen behind the steering wheel as well as a head-up display, which was part of a Tech Assist Pack that cost £3,000 extra.

Everything is well positioned for ease of use, and the sensible number of physical controls and switches is welcome too. After all, who wants to scroll through endless touchscreen menus simply to adjust the temperature?

Is there enough room for golf clubs?

While the interior looks compact, there is plenty of space up front, and another gold star should be awarded to the supportive seats that offer exceptional levels of comfort. Despite there being two individual rear seats that are ideal for youngsters, getting in or out with any sense of dignity takes some doing. Back-seat passengers do have ample room to place their feet beneath the front seats, and even taller occupants will have enough headroom, which is surprising considering the car’s tapering roofline.

The Maserati has a powered tailgate, and that opens into a deep boot area with a 310-litre capacity. That is ample space for a couple of suitcases for weekends away, or a few sets of golf clubs. Fair to say, this vehicle will be the envy of the patrons when viewed from the 19th hole.

There are also a number of handy storage compartments inside the car, including a glovebox, narrow door pockets, front and rear cup holders, a tray, plus a central cubby with USB ports to keep devices charged and connected on the move.

Just a quick word of warning, though: with exceptionally wide opening doors, you need to watch out for cyclists whizzing past before exiting the car.

How much will this set me back?

Naturally, cars with the looks and handling potential do not come cheap. Our test car was £144,390, but I have mentioned £200k quite a lot in this report. That is because the optional extras and additional packs saw the final price creep up to £191,820.

Do not expect the day-to-day costs to be reasonable either, as this car has a combined fuel efficiency figure of 27.9-28.5mpg with carbon emissions of 225-228g/km. The first-year tax bill will be £4,850, and as it tops the £40k threshold for the government’s Expensive Car Supplement, owners will need to find an extra £440 on top of the tax from years two to six.

So, it is an expensive bit of kit and expensive to run, but rival models would also face the same issues, so Maserati is not alone.

Does the performance match the dynamic styling?

We have deliberately left the best part to last, so we could end on a high. And that, of course, is the performance. Without getting too technical, the Maserati GranTurismo in Trofeo form is the most powerful of the petrol models. The entry-level GranTurismo Modena has the same engine, but less oomph, and there is also a fully electrified version called the GranTurismo Folgore, which is Maserati’s first EV.

But my GranTurismo Trofeo featured a 3.0-litre V6 engine with 550hp and 650Nm of torque. More importantly, those numbers translate into a 0-62mph sprint time of just 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 199mph. Sadly, it is unlikely you will experience anything close to this vehicle’s potential without escaping the madness and congestion of the city.

It is a car that will eat up the motorway miles for breakfast, but it really comes alive when faced with twisting country roads — the more bends, the better.

There are drive modes that change the characteristics of the vehicle, and these are called Comfort, GT, Sport and Corsa. Comfort does exactly what you would expect, and GT is the car’s default mode and is also ideal for everyday use.

For added edge and breathtaking handling, Sport is the setting to go for. The automatic gearbox is sharper, the suspension set-up alters to enhance the dynamics, and the engine sound becomes much more vocal. Finally, Corsa is the go-to mode for track-day experiences, although it is unlikely many owners will risk their pride and joy in that particular arena.

The GranTurismo Trofeo is beautifully balanced, unless you hit a pothole, which sends a shudder through the cabin. The grip through faster twists and turns is completely assured. For added fun, the driver can take control of the eight-speed gearbox by using paddles to manually change gears. The acceleration, handling, noise and all-round driving experience are impressive, and the level of power at your disposal is seemingly endless.

As I said, end on a high... almost.

Verdict

There are plenty of high-end performance cars from the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Porsche that deliver similar, if not better, driving dynamics to the GranTurismo. But Maserati has historical charm along with a certain uniqueness about it.

From the outside, you simply cannot fault the gorgeous lines and streamlined body, but sadly, the interior falls a long way short. I want an upmarket cabin that screams “premium” at every turn, not something that looks like it has been thrown together as an afterthought.

But, and it is a big but, if my six numbers came up, I would not rule it out entirely.