Behind the wheel the entry model Quattroporte isn’t exactly slow, but put it up against a long wheelbase S500 or a new 750i and it’s a different world in terms of dynamics.
While the Germans have employed enough sensors to make an Airbus compliance engineer proud, the Italians have a button that turns on Sport mode and another that makes the suspension stiffer for enthusiastic driving. It’s simple, but it works.
Around the twisty mountainous roads of the Old Pacific Highway in outer Sydney, we found ourselves pleasantly surprised by the Quattroporte’s handling ability, though the steering never felt as sharp or focused as we’d hoped.
With a kerb weight of 1900kg, it’s not the most nimble car around and certainly lacks the S-Class’ sophisticated suspension setup and the 7 Series’ dynamic ability, but get it stuck in traffic, where it will no doubt spend the great majority of its life, and the Quattroporte is an extremely pleasant place to be.
The front and rear seats offer great neck and back support and the ergonomics of the car are well thought out.
Even the doors, for example, can open and stay open at any angle, so there’s no need to hit a pivot point. Considering the size of the car, this makes getting in and out a lot easier than it would be otherwise.
Overall, the Maserati Quattroporte is the sort of car you’d happily drive yourself without the stigma of it being a chauffer car. It’s Italian luxury in terms of exclusivity, class, brand value and craftsmanship. Nonetheless, it lacks the technological and dynamic sophistication of its German rivals.
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