Maserati GranCabrio Convertible vs Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster vs Mercedes S Class Cabriolet: Review & Comparisons

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Review Of The Maserati GranCabrio Convertible

Want to lighten your wallet in style? The new, bespoke Maserati GranCabrio Convertible is one of the suavest drop-tops to have ever graced our humble planet. Performance is incredible, engine noise is apocalyptic, and four adults can travel in comfort. It’s one of the most versatile cars of its type that can take a walk on the wild side or cruise along riverbanks.

You can just picture yourself relaxing down the French Riviera, not a care in the world, as the gentle breeze laps at your shoulders. It’s just pure luxury straight out of a Hollywood movie.

However, such luxury doesn’t come cheap. Prices start just shy of £100,000, and the economy doesn’t go any higher than 15mpg.

Interested? OSV takes a closer look at what it’s all about with our 2017 Maserati GranCabrio review.

On The Road

They reckon Italian’s live in fear of this new Maserati, as each time someone fires one up, Mount Vesuvius begins to rumble.

Tipping the scales at close to 2,000kg, the Maserati is a heavy car. However, it hides its weight fairly well, and performance is explosive. It’s also agile and feels like a proper, zippy sports car.

The steering offers plenty of feedback and is well-weighted, while feedback is minimal as the GranCabrio feels balanced in bends. A 6-speed automatic transmission comes as standard. You can stick to the fully automatic mode, or you can switch to manual shifts. Doing so allows for more engagement and involvement.[vc_single_image image=”58381″ img_size=”article-image”]Our only complaint is that the brakes aren’t big enough. Slowing a two-tonne car isn’t the easiest thing to do, but it would have been made easier here with stronger brakes.

There is only one engine available, a 4.7-litre V8 petrol engine. It develops 434bhp in the standard model, and up to 454bhp if you go for the more expensive MC model. Both models offer the same acceleration, doing 0-62 in around 5.0 seconds. At the top of the rev range, it feels explosively fast.

Take the roof down and you can enjoy its incredible soundtrack. OSV has heard fewer engine notes that are better than this – it’s enough to send shivers down your spine. The MC variant, meanwhile, basically turns the soundtrack into Last Night Of The Proms by adding a louder exhaust to accompany the already bombastic engine. It’s exhilarating stuff.

Maserati GranCabrio Convertible Interior, Design & Build

[vc_single_image image=”58382″ img_size=”article-image”]On the outside, the GranCabrio Convertible sure looks elegant and classy. The MC stands out from the basic model, thanks to tweaks to the body work and different rear and front bumpers. But both models rock the sophisticated movie star look superbly with their aggressive design.

The cabin has a bespoke, handmade feel to it that’s expected of such an upmarket, expensive car. That said, we can’t fathom why Maserati still haven’t replaced the ageing controls for the sat nav and stereo. They look out of place. In fact, this is true of most of the switchgear, which looks flimsy and old.

Sound insulation is fantastic, so you don’t need to listen to the engine and exhaust whenever you just want to chill with the roof down. Wind noise is also well kept at bay.

There will be practical issues to consider, though. This is a big car that won’t be easy to drive around tight urban sprawls. It will also prove tricky to park. However, there are advantages to its size. Four adults can fit in and sit in comfort, while the boot measures 173-litres. That might not be huge, but it should be enough to accommodate buyers who want a car like this for weekend getaways.

Moreover, it’s pretty much par for the course in the luxury convertible sector.

Equipment & Safety Of The Maserati GranCabrio Convertible

You expect standard kit to be good in a car that costs at least £100,000 – and it is. Included in the list price is climate and cruise control, heated mirrors, parking sensors and a leather seat trim. You also get sat nav, body coloured bumpers, an alarm, and alloys.

The MC model adds sports seats and front fog lights.

Where safety is concerned, the Maserati hasn’t been put through its crash test paces by Euro NCAP. It probably won’t ever be, simply because not enough are sold. However, its standard safety kit includes all the usual stuff, such as front and side airbag’s, and traction control.

Costs Of The Maserati GranCabrio Convertible

Prices for the new car start out from £99,900 and rise to £126,555. If you prefer to lease, you can pick up a deal from around £1,675 + VAT per month. For more information on our leasing deals, check out our page here.

In terms of its running costs, having no hopes or expectations means you won’t be disappointed. Which is a good thing, because Maserati claim their convertible can return 14.5mpg at best. However, in the real world you probably won’t even reach the dizzying heights of 10mpg.

Its fuel tank measures just 75-litres, too, which means you’ll be making a fair few trips to the filling station. Emissions, meanwhile, stand at 337g/km. It’s expensive to insure too, sitting as it does in the top group.

Pros and Cons of the Of The Maserati GranCabrio Convertible

Pros:

On Song

In full flow, the Maserati sounds as incredible as ever. It’s got one of the best sounding engines in the world right now.

Fast

It might not be as fast as rivals, but it does 0-62 in 5.0 seconds, and feels eye-poppingly rapid at the top of its rev range.

Looks Stunning

It’s as elegant as ever. Its proportions are perfect, and we love the signature triple air vent that you’ll find on the front wings.

Cons:

Insanely Inefficient

Usually, if you’re prepared to pay over £100,000 for a new car, we assume that low running costs are just something you suck up. But potential returns of 9mpg at best will have even the richest among us feeling a bit queasy.

Old Interior

It’s a classy interior. But it’s dated. Compared to modern rivals, it’s fallen behind the times.

Maserati GranCabrio Convertible vs Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster vs Mercedes S Class Cabriolet

Let’s see how the car fares against its rivals in the comparison section of our Maserati Quattroporte Saloon review.

Maserati GranCabrio Convertible vs Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster

The new Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster is Britain’s own poster boy when it comes to luxury convertibles. The Maserati might be ridiculously good looking and have its own sense of Italian charm, but it’s not James Bond’s favourite car.

Is that a good enough reason to opt for the V8 Vantage Roadster? Probably not. But there are at least 007 other reasons.

Let’s start with its growly 4.7-litre V8 petrol engine that produces an earth-breaking 420bhp. It can launch you from rest to 62 in 4.9 seconds, and emits a soundtrack so loud that a crowd will gather around Hyde Park thinking that a rock festival has just started.[vc_single_image image=”58386″ img_size=”article-image”]

It’s certainly a car for enthusiasts, who love to get twisted on the road with the roof down. It runs on pure adrenaline, its stiff chassis making it super agile. And if you opt for the 6-speed manual transmission, you get to push it to its absolute limits.

Of course, all that pace and power comes at a price, and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage isn’t cheap to run. In fact, it’s insanely low running costs are the most disappointing thing about it. But if you’re prepared to spend over £100,000 on a car in the first place, will returns of 15mpg really bother you?

The annual tax bill, meanwhile, is £505.

What you’re here to enjoy is the way it drives and feels. Inside, the Aston Martin feels a bit coarse on rough roads, but that’s a similar fate all luxury convertibles suffer in the absence of a solid roof. However, while the Sport Pack adds more performance, it does also make the ride even stiffer.

That said, the cabin is a gorgeous place to be. As ever with an Aston Martin, it’s handcrafted. The design is timeless, and the soft-touch plastics look and feel great.

It’s not exactly practical, but who buys a car like this for trips to Tesco? The Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster dispenses with two rear seats, and instead uses that space for a 144-litre boot. No rear seats also mean the driver and passenger get more room, and the interior is as a whole is clutter and fuss-free.

Price:

Maserati – £99,9000 – £126,555
Aston Martin – £104,000

Maserati GranCabrio Convertible vs Mercedes S Class Cabriolet

The new Mercedes S-Class Cabriolet won’t get the pulses racing in quite the same way as the Maserati. But its luxurious cabin, comfortable seats and top-class tech is appealing. Overall, this is one of the finest exec convertibles’s on the market right now.

It’s based on the S-Class Coupe, which helps with its drivability. But despite being rapid, Mercedes have focused on making it comfortable rather than fun to drive – which is no bad thing. And with the roof up, it’s super quiet and relaxing inside.

It handles well, despite being a relatively heavyset cabriolet. The steering is precise and direct, and body lean is kept to a minimum.[vc_single_image image=”58384″ img_size=”article-image”]

All models are performative and fast, with even the entry-level S500 model doing 0-62 in less than 5.0 seconds. And the AMG model that tops the range? It delivers a staggering 624bhp that allows it to rocket you from a standstill to 62mph in 4.1 seconds. It’s powered by a savage twin-turbo 6.0-litre V12 engine that’s probably more at home on a rocket ship. Blasting along in a convertible has never been so exhilarating.

All that performance means economy will be poor. The most “frugal” model in the range is the base-level S500. Powered by a 4.7-litre V8 petrol engine, the addition of turbochargers means that economy is better than expected. It can return 33mpg at best while its emissions land you with a yearly tax bill of £295.

The AMG model that tops the range is easy enough to recommend to individuals who have money to burn. But returns of 23mpg at best won’t appeal to company car drivers. Neither will its yearly road tax bill of £515.

Maintenance will be expensive too, as will insurance costs. And like the Maserati and the Aston Martin, it will depreciate badly.

Inside, there’s nothing to complain about it. It’s just pure, shameless luxury all the way, from the comfortable, supportive seats to the sheer amount of advanced technology.

Buyers will especially appreciate the leather upholstery, with the driver and their passenger getting heated and cooled seats. Those in the rear get heated but not cooled seats. Fit and finish is excellent, and we love the wood veneers, LED ambient lighting, and metal switchgear.

There are all kinds of gizmos thrown in as part of your standard kit. These include a massive dual 12.3” touchscreen, Bluetooth, smart LED lights, and DAB radio.

The AMG really takes things up a notch, with Nappa leather upholstery, a 13-speaker Burmester stereo system, and heated armrests. It also comes with a heated steering wheel, a night-vision camera, and keyless entry.

And although the S-Class Convertible has four seats, you still get lots of interior space. In fact, it’s quite amazing how much space is on offer, even with the roof up. Small windows in the rear could make people feel hemmed in, however.

Access is easy with the roof down, but the boost is on the small size and measures less than 200-litres.

Price:

Mercedes – £112,900 – £196,000

Verdict Of Our 2017 Maserati GranCabrio Convertible Review

Movie star looks, end-of-the-world engine noise and near-supernatural performance sum this one up. It’s got elegance, it’s got smoothness, and it’s also got a bit of the devil in it. Fast, executive and loud as Hell, the new Maserati GranCabrio Convertible is the perfect specimen.[vc_row content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1464089844166{margin-right: 10px !important;margin-bottom: 10px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1494257310211{margin-right: 10px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;border-bottom-width: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]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