Sitting below is a second touchscreen that controls the air-conditioning, as well as most other controls, such as the lighting, roof and digital clockface, but we can’t help missing some of the physical controls that help expensive cars like this feel special.
Space inside the car is very impressive, but the boot is comparatively tiny
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 4,966mm |
| Width | 2,113mm |
| Height | 1,365mm |
| Number of seats | Four |
| Boot space | 131-117 litres |
However, something that hasn’t changed over the last generation is the distinction of offering four full-sized seats for adults. With the possible exception of a Rolls-Royce Dawn, this is unheard of in today’s open-top GT market. In purely practical terms, though, you’ll have to compromise on the available bootspace, because the huge folding roof means it’s reduced to a tiny 131 litres with the roof down, and just 117 litres in the Folgore. At least wind buffeting is well controlled, especially with the wind-deflector in place.
Maserati has a full suite of active safety, but no Euro NCAP rating
| Key standard safety features | Euro NCAP safety ratings |
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There’s no reason to undermine the GrabCabrio’s safety record, and being a modern European car, it includes all the usual active features. There is a system that will jettison a roll hoop if the car senses a roll-over, for instance, but there’s no official Euro NCAP rating given the car’s low sales figures. Maserati’s reliability record is one to look at a little more closely, though, because the brand doesn’t have a great track record.
Maserati GranCabrio alternatives
Four-seat luxury convertibles aren’t quite as popular as they once were, but there are still a few models that could be seen as rivals. For example, Bentley’s new Continental GT Speed Convertible is one that’s admittedly bigger and quite a lot more expensive. This is a halfway house between the pure-petrol and pure-electric models offered by Maserati, and offers a very impressive driving experience to boot. Less expensive Continental GT Convertible models will be on stream soon.
From here, though, the rear seats of most rivals become more of a coat rest. Aston Martin’s DB12 is a more dynamic alternative, lacking the Maserati’s plush ride, but it comes with an even more high-end feel and a charismatic V8 engine. The Mercedes SL is less plush inside, but while it comes with more tech, it also has less overt character.
