Several times per year, I get a car for review that people just can’t resist. Such is the case with this beautiful 2019 Maserati GranTurismo convertible. By the way, GranTurismo translates to Grand Tourer, so most people refer to this car as a GT.
This car is beautiful inside and outside, starting with the classic Maserati grill that showcases the legendary Maserati Trident. With short overhangs in the front and rear, and a long vented carbon fiber hood, the GT looks muscular and fast, especially with the large black 20” wheels, yellow brake calipers, front and rear spoilers, and centered dual exhaust.
This car comes in two trim levels, the Sport and the top-of-the-line MC, like this one.
Pop the hood and you’ll find a Ferrari-built 4.7-liter V8 putting out 454-horses, without the use of a turbo or supercharger, it is naturally-aspirated. This real-wheel drive with 6-speed automatic will take you from 0-to-60 in 4.5 seconds, and if you continue to accelerate, it will shut itself down at 177-miles per hour.
Although this car comes in a coupe, this is the roadster that comes with a retractable soft top that operates quickly and easily. With the top down, you get a great view of one of the things Maseratis are known for…truly spectacular interiors.
You’ll immediately see that technically this is a 4-seater, but with a full center console between the back seats, it is pretty much for kids. It is easy to get back there thanks to electronically sliding front seats.
As you sit behind the flat-bottom steering wheel, you are staring at a very simple gauge cluster with a large speedometer on the left, a tachometer on the right, and a driver info center between them that you cannot change.
In fact, other than the 8.4” Uconnect screen in the center of the dash, this car is really simple, almost retro, in fact. Small buttons operate many of the features of the car including the top operation. This is the first car I’ve had in a long time that actually uses a key and does not have pushbutton start.
The Uconnect system is one of the simplest to operate you will find and it is quick to switch screens to operate the navigation system, Bluetooth, the 10-speaker 750-watt Harman Kardon sound system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Carbon fiber and rich white Alcantara adorn the entire interior, including flowing across the dash into the door panels. Both materials surround the center console, and the black and white seats look fantastic.
Don’t plan a long driving trip unless you pack carefully, trunk space is pretty limited.
The Maserati GT convertible’s handling is amazing thanks to a double wishbone suspension and optional Skyhook adaptive damping system. There is no lean or sway in quick turns. The acceleration is strong and steady.
Overall, it is just a very balanced car in every way, especially when you hit the Sport Mode button on the console.
I own a Maserati Quattoporte Gran Lusso myself, and this GranTurismo has the two features that sold me on trading my Corvette for a Maserati. The first is the large fixed shift paddles. On most cars, they are attached to the steering wheel making it hard to shift in a turn. These never move, which is fantastic.
Secondly, the exhaust sound is amazing and nothing but a Maserati sounds like this.
Fuel economy is not great, but that’s the price of almost 500-horses. It’s rated at 13 city and 20 highway, and equipped like this one, MSRP is just short of $193,500. That’s a lot of money, but this is an incredible machine.
There is one serious flaw in this particular car. There is a hood that covers the gauge cluster to keep the sun from reflecting. The only problem is that it is covered in white Alcantara and causes a large reflection on the windshield that is extremely distracting. Had they done it in black, it would have been fine.
