Which Maserati Ghibli is better: diesel or petrol?
If you purchased any of the more recent Maserati products, you would know that the petrol derivatives use engines developed and produced by Ferrari. However, the Italian automaker has been experimenting with new engine technologies, a recent example is the diesel powertrain found in the Ghibli. We compare it with the Ferrari derived petrol derivative to find out which is best.
Over the last decade, a new trend has emerged from sports car makers. This new trend is automakers developing smaller and more efficient powertrains to replace traditional V12, V10 and V8 engine configurations. Maserati not only swopped out the Ferrari sourced V8, they usually utilise, for a V6 but also made it a diesel, a first for the firm.
Related: Which Maserati Quattroporte is better: diesel or petrol?
The Maserati Ghibli was introduced to the world in 2013 at the Shanghai Motor Show and not only made headlines for its aggressive new styling but also because it was the first Maserati to offer a diesel derivative. This new engine went on to be fitted in the to the larger Quattroporte model and the Levante SUV, another first for the Italian brand.
The figures
The Maserati Ghibli is offered in a variety of derivatives ranging from the baseline model all the way up to the powerful Trofeo model, there is even a hybrid model. All three the diesel offerings feature the same V6 motor with the same power figures, however, while all the petrol derivatives come fitted with the same V6 motor, some produce more power than others. For this comparison, we will be comparing the baseline diesel and petrol models.
| Maserati Ghibli Petrol | Maserati Ghibli Diesel | |
| Engine | 3.0-litre, Twin Turbo, V6 | 3.0-litre, Twin Turbo, V6 |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Power | 257 kW | 202 kW |
| Torque | 500 Nm | 600 Nm |
| 0 - 100 km/h | 5.5s | 6.3s |
| Top speed | 267 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Fuel consumption | 11.1 L / 100 km | 7.5 L / 100 km |
| CO2 emissions | 257 g/km | 198 g/km |
| Price | R 1 870 000 | R 1 880 000 |
Verdict
Comparing the two side by side it is easy to see that the petrol variant remains superior when speed and acceleration are concerned although the diesel option is not far behind. Where the diesel derivative shines out is with its big torque figure, frugality and CO2 emissions, offering similar performance but with more efficiency.
Considering a diesel Maserati might feel counterintuitive but as we can see the Italian marque did an incredible job with this motor. While the sound and performance figures of the petrol derivative produce might be attractive, the diesel introduces some practicality to the model. Thus, if you are buying the Ghibli to use as a daily commuter, rather consider the diesel as it not only will provide ample performance but save you money in the long term. If you are just looking for a weekend cruiser, the petrol option might be more to your taste.
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