2023 Maserati Ghibli vs. Audi A7 vs BMW 5-Series vs Mercedes-AMG E53 AMG

Buying a luxury sedan is easy, there is no shortage of four-door sedans with comfortable interiors made with high-quality materials. But what if you also want it to be exciting? What if you don’t want to be driving the same thing everyone else is driving? Now that’s a bit more difficult. Luxury sedans tend to be pretty understated when it comes to styling, and driving dynamics tend to be a secondary consideration. But this is where the Maserati Ghibli comes in, a midsize luxury sedan built to get noticed. Built to be exciting.

But how does it stack up to the competition? What we need to see is a detailed breakdown, and fortunately, that’s precisely what Maserati Louisville has put together here.

Maserati Ghibli VS Audi A7

The Audi A7 is a perfect example for illustrating the difference between the Ghibli and the German competition. The Audi A7 is certainly a more stylish and exciting alternative to the A6, with more interesting exterior styling, and the larger of the A6’s engine options. And since the A7 comes with standard AWD, we’re comparing it to the Ghibli Modena Q4, the AWD version of the Ghibli. Both of these two sport sedans come with 3.0-liter V6 engines, but that’s where the similarities end.

The Ghibli offers up more power – a lot more – which is why you see such a huge difference in both the 0-60 times and the top speeds. Also helping is the 8-speed transmission found in the Ghibli, allowing for a higher top speed without sacrificing low-end torque. Finally, don’t miss the larger brakes found on the Ghibli, since your stopping power is a critical component of both performance and safety.

An exciting car is something special, and it’s only natural that you’ll want to make it truly your own. That’s why Maserati offers a number of customization options, including painted brake calipers, and a huge list of interior color options. You won’t get anything like that on the A7.

Maserati Ghibli VS BMW 7-Series

Up next we have the BMW 7-series, which as we can see has a very similar price and a very similar engine configuration. However, the differences start to appear when we look at the power produced by those two engines. That’s the kind of difference you’re going to notice, especially when you consider that the 740i is about 600 pounds heavier than the Ghibli. So it’s not surprising that the Ghibli will get to 60mph quicker, and will go on to a much higher top speed.

For Ghibli buyers, the Modena trim exists in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive forms, with the drivetrain layout being the only distinction between them. But the only way to get an AWD 7-Series is to option up to the 760i, which means a $20,000 bump in price. And speaking of options, BMW does a bit better than Audi when it comes to interior colors, but it still falls well short of what Maserati offers. The 7-Series does offer a good amount of trunk space, but the back seat doesn’t fold down, so loading longer things like skis gets a bit complicated.

Maserati Ghibli VS Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Last up, we have the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, specifically the S 580. With its similar price and turbocharged V8 engine, it’s perfect for comparison to the Ghibli Trofeo. The Mercedes V8 actually comes with a slightly bigger displacement, but if you’re thinking that means more power, it doesn’t. The difference in torque and horsepower output, as well as weight, explains the sizable differences in 0-60 times and top speed. You’ll look better doing it too, in part thanks to the bigger wheels on the Ghibli. But also, the Ghibli is just generally better looking than the bland German sedan.

You get a noticeably tighter circle with the Ghibli, thanks to a slightly shorter wheelbase. But even with the longer wheelbase, the Mercedes is still offering a weirdly tiny trunk. The difference is pretty significant, and therefore worth mentioning on a car build for high-speed touring.

Winner – Maserati Ghibli

It’s clear that competitors really can’t keep up with the Ghibli’s performance. Inside and out, the styling of the Ghibli is far more exciting and emotionally evocative than what is on offer from the Germans, and it’s easier to make it your own. But really, this kind of excitement is something you need to experience in person. Fortunately, Maserati of Louisville can help with that, stop by and see the Ghibli for yourself.

*MSRP listed does not include preparation, delivery and destination charges: USD 1,250 for all Ghibli and Levante models; USD 1,800 for all Quattroporte, GranTurismo, and GranTurismo Convertible models