2026 Maserati GranTurismo Review: Is It the Ideal GT for Gulf Highways?

The Maserati GranTurismo has a harder job in the Gulf than simply looking expensive outside a hotel. It must stay calm on the long run between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, feel special on a weekend road to Muscat, cope with summer heat and still offer enough space for two occasional rear passengers and their luggage.

For this 2026 Maserati GranTurismo review, the answer is a qualified yes. In petrol form, it is one of the most convincing character-led GTs for Gulf highways, and the Modena is the strongest all-round choice. The Trofeo adds speed and theatre that most public roads cannot use, while the electric Folgore is wonderfully quiet and brutally quick but needs home charging and predictable routes to make sense as a long-distance car.

There is also a timing issue. As of 12 July 2026, Al Tayer Motors lists the GranTurismo from AED 689,000 including VAT, but Maserati announced a substantially refreshed global range on 18 June 2026. The newer car brings a 590 PS Trofeo and a claimed Folgore range above 540 km, yet UAE arrival dates and prices have not been confirmed. This review therefore covers the current UAE-listed 2026 model and explains whether buying before the update is sensible.

The 2026 Maserati GranTurismo review verdict for Gulf drivers

A proper GT should make distance feel easy without becoming anonymous. The GranTurismo largely manages that balance. It has standard all-wheel drive, air suspension, a long 2,929 mm wheelbase, four usable seats and a 310-litre boot in petrol form, yet it remains lower and more intimate than a luxury saloon or SUV. Independent road tests also describe it as composed and compliant rather than punishingly stiff.

The three versions suit quite different Gulf buyers:

• GranTurismo Modena: Its 3.0-litre twin-turbo Nettuno V6 produces 490 PS and 600 Nm, with 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. That is already far beyond what is needed for confident overtaking, and it retains the same basic space, air-sprung comfort and all-wheel-drive traction as the Trofeo, making it the rational choice in an irrationally attractive car.
• GranTurismo Trofeo: Output rises to 550 PS and 650 Nm, cutting the claimed 0 to 100 km/h time to 3.5 seconds and lifting top speed to 320 km/h. It feels more overtly sporting and offers the stronger sense of occasion, but the extra performance is difficult to exploit legally on UAE and GCC highways, so the case for it is emotional rather than practical.
• GranTurismo Folgore: Three electric motors deliver 560 kW, or 761 PS, at the wheels with 1,350 Nm, giving a claimed 2.7-second sprint to 100 km/h. It is the quickest version and the most hushed at a cruise, but its official 450 km WLTP range and 270-litre boot make it the most route-dependent choice for buyers who regularly cross emirates or borders.

Why the GranTurismo suits long Gulf journeys

A chassis that settles into the cruise

The GranTurismo is nearly five metres long, but its proportions do not translate into a heavy, detached driving experience. The mostly aluminium structure, air springs, electronically controlled dampers and all-wheel-drive system give it the composure expected of a GT while retaining useful agility. Reviewers have found the ride controlled and forgiving in its softer settings, although it is still tauter than a Bentley Continental GT.

That matters on Gulf highways. Smooth tarmac can be interrupted by bridge joints, resurfaced sections and sharp access ramps, and the Maserati’s suspension has enough range to prevent every imperfection becoming an event. The caution is its wheel and tyre package: 265/30 ZR20 fronts and 295/30 ZR21 rears leave little sidewall between the rim and the road. A poor repair, deep pothole or careless kerb approach can become an expensive interruption to the grand tour.

Four seats that genuinely improve usability

Many high-performance coupés have rear seats that are useful mainly for bags. The Maserati does better. Independent testing found that adults below roughly six feet can fit in the back, while another review judged the rear suitable for adults on shorter journeys. It is not a substitute for a four-door car, but it can carry children, visiting family or colleagues without turning every trip into a negotiation.

The petrol car’s 310-litre boot is enough for a couple’s weekend luggage or airport bags if packed sensibly. The Folgore drops to 270 litres because of its motors and power electronics, so owners planning regular road trips should test their actual suitcases rather than relying on the capacity figure alone.

A modern cabin, though not the class benchmark

The low seating position, sculpted dashboard and multiple displays give the GranTurismo a more contemporary feel than the old V8 model. Front-seat comfort is a strength, and ventilated seats are particularly relevant in the Gulf, but equipment varies by market and individual vehicle. Buyers should verify the UAE build sheet rather than assuming that every camera, driver-assistance feature or audio upgrade is standard.

There are weaknesses at this price. Autocar India found the lower touchscreen fiddly and some materials less convincing than expected, while Top Gear judged the cabin special but short of Bentley quality. Neither issue ruins the car, but both deserve attention when the UAE starting price is already AED 689,000 before personalisation.

Modena, Trofeo or Folgore for UAE and GCC use?

The Modena is the version that best understands the original grand-touring brief. Its 490 PS output is more than enough for quick motorway merging and effortless overtaking, yet its character is less fixated on maximum attack than the Trofeo. Official combined fuel consumption is about 10.15 litres per 100 km, almost identical to the Trofeo’s 10.18 litres, although summer air conditioning, traffic and enthusiastic driving can push real use higher.

The Trofeo is the heart-led purchase. It brings sharper responses, Corsa mode and harder acceleration, while retaining the same 70-litre tank and 310-litre boot as the Modena. For a buyer who wants the most expressive petrol GranTurismo and accepts its higher purchase price and potentially higher insurance cost, it is the one to desire. For steady inter-emirate cruising, the Modena gives away very little that matters.

The Folgore makes a different argument. Its instant response, near-silent motorway progress and low centre of gravity suit daily UAE use remarkably well, especially for an owner who charges at home and usually drives known routes. Its 2,260 kg homologated weight is 465 kg above the petrol models, but road tests suggest that torque vectoring and careful chassis tuning disguise much of that mass.

What Gulf buyers should test before ordering

A showroom walk-around will not reveal whether the GranTurismo fits your routine. Ask for a meaningful road test, ideally in the same trim and wheel specification you plan to buy, then focus on the details that become important after the novelty has faded.

• Test the cooling in real summer conditions. Start with the car heat-soaked rather than already chilled inside the showroom, then check cabin cool-down, seat ventilation and rear-vent performance. Folgore buyers should ask whether the UAE-spec car supports scheduled or remote cabin pre-conditioning and how it works while plugged in, because cooling before departure can reduce the battery energy used once moving.
• Use the ramps and speed humps you encounter every week. The GranTurismo is 1,957 mm wide without mirrors and 2,113 mm with them, with a 12.4-metre turning circle, so tight basement parking deserves a real trial. Check the nose-lift operation, front-camera view and clearance on the steepest entrance you regularly use.
• Drive over expansion joints and coarse surfaces. The air suspension has a useful comfort range, but the 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels still transmit more sharp-edge impact than a luxury saloon. Listen for tyre roar at your normal cruising speed and decide whether the chosen wheel design is worth the extra exposure to kerb damage.
• Bring the people and luggage that matter. Sit behind your own driving position, check child-seat access if relevant and load the suitcases used for weekend travel. The GranTurismo is more practical than its shape suggests, but two doors and a 310-litre boot still impose compromises that a brochure cannot show.

Folgore on Gulf roads: brilliant in the right routine

Maserati’s current Folgore uses an 83 kWh usable battery and carries a 450 km WLTP claim. Under ideal conditions it can accept up to 270 kW from an 800-volt DC charger, with Maserati quoting 20 to 80 per cent in 18 minutes. Those are strong technical numbers, but neither WLTP range nor peak charging power is a guaranteed journey result.

Independent UK experience illustrates the gap that can open between laboratory range and road use. Top Gear recorded roughly 220 to 230 miles in one cold, wet test, while its later long-term car averaged 2.2 miles per kWh, equivalent to around 180 miles. Those results should not be treated as Gulf estimates because the climate and driving conditions differ, but they show why a 450 km brochure figure should not be used as the sole basis for trip planning.

Hot weather, sustained air-conditioning use and high-speed cruising all consume energy. The US Department of Energy notes that extreme temperatures reduce EV range and that electric cars are generally less efficient on highways than in urban use because aerodynamic drag rises with speed. Maserati has not published a verified UAE summer motorway range for the current Folgore, so any precise local claim would be guesswork.

UAE charging infrastructure is improving. ADNOC Distribution opened a 60-point high-speed hub at Saih Shuaib on the E11 in January 2026 and said 15 highway hubs were planned during 2026. That makes an Abu Dhabi to Dubai routine easier, but cross-border trips still require checking charger location, power, access and payment before departure.

Before committing to the electric version, settle these points in writing:

• Confirm home-charging feasibility and cost. The Folgore supports AC charging up to 22 kW, but the actual rate depends on the building supply, wallbox, installation and local approvals. Obtain a site assessment before paying a non-refundable deposit, particularly in an apartment or shared car park.
• Map chargers by output, not only by pin count. A car capable of 270 kW cannot take that rate from a slower unit, and a busy or shared charger can extend the stop. Check the operator app, connector availability, access hours and a backup location for every long route.
• Clarify the EV warranty separately. Maserati UAE’s Extra10 programme can extend driveline protection for eligible combustion models, but its published terms exclude battery-electric vehicles. Folgore buyers should obtain the high-voltage battery, electric-drive, roadside-assistance and cross-border recovery terms from the authorised dealer in writing.

The ownership costs behind the AED 689,000 entry price

The purchase price is only the first large number. The GranTurismo’s wide performance tyres and substantial Brembo brakes are obvious consumables, while its aluminium-rich body and air suspension can make accident or suspension repairs specialist work. That is not evidence of poor reliability; it is a reason to budget for a specialist luxury GT rather than a mainstream saloon.

These are the checks that can prevent an attractive deal becoming an awkward ownership experience:

• Price tyres and wheel repairs before choosing a design. The standard performance sizes are wide and low-profile, so ask the dealer and at least one reputable tyre specialist for current replacement quotes and availability. Inspect pressures frequently, avoid mixing unsuitable specifications across an axle and investigate vibration or repeated pressure loss promptly.
• Get an insurance quote against the exact VIN or specification. Ask about agency repair, original glass, roadside assistance, agreed or market value, GCC or Oman extensions and the treatment of optional carbon-fibre parts. A Modena, Trofeo and Folgore may not attract the same premium or repair conditions, so do this before the deposit rather than after registration.
• Read the warranty and service plan, not just the sales summary. Maserati UAE describes a three-year contractual warranty, an extended programme with comparable cover through year five and a more limited engine, gearbox and transmission plan through year seven, subject to eligibility and activation rules. Extra10 can continue eligible combustion-car driveline coverage annually to year ten, but BEVs are excluded.
• Record the build date and model year. With a refreshed GranTurismo already announced globally, a car registered in 2026 may still belong to the outgoing specification. Ask the seller to identify the model year, production date and included options on the order form, then judge the discount and possible future trade-in effect accordingly.

The June 2026 update changes the buying conversation

Maserati’s newly revealed GranTurismo is more than a cosmetic shuffle. The Trofeo rises from 550 to 590 PS, the front and rear styling change, the cabin gains a redesigned steering wheel and controls, and the Folgore is claimed to exceed 540 km through new energy management and front-axle disconnect technology. A new Country mode can also raise selected versions by 20 mm at speeds up to 120 km/h, a useful feature for Gulf ramps and uneven access roads.

As of 12 July 2026, the UAE dealer site still presents the current car and its earlier output, while Maserati has not published a confirmed UAE launch date or local price for the refreshed version. It would therefore be wrong to describe the update as already available in Gulf showrooms. Buyers should treat it as a negotiating factor and a reason to verify stock, not as a reason to assume every current car is obsolete.

A well-priced 2026 Modena remains appealing because the update does not change the basic qualities that make this generation work: proportion, four-seat usability, air-sprung composure and effortless V6 performance. The decision is harder with a full-list-price Trofeo, because the globally announced refreshed version gains 40 PS and cabin revisions. It is hardest with the Folgore, where the claimed rise from 450 km to more than 540 km directly addresses the current car’s main touring weakness.

The Gulf verdict: a genuine GT, with one clear winner

Is the 2026 Maserati GranTurismo the ideal GT for Gulf highways? In petrol form, it comes close. It looks special without resorting to supercar inconvenience, has four genuinely useful seats, rides with composure and offers enough luggage space for real trips. It also remains engaging when the road becomes more interesting.

The Modena is the version to buy with the head and heart working together. It has all the pace required for Gulf road use, the same core chassis and practicality as the Trofeo, and a less difficult value argument. The Trofeo is the indulgent choice for drivers who will value its sharper character every time they start it, not merely its higher figures.

The Folgore is an impressive electric performance car but not yet the universal Gulf grand tourer. It makes sense for a home-charging owner whose long journeys stay mainly within well-served UAE corridors. For spontaneous cross-GCC touring, conventional refuelling and the petrol car’s 70-litre tank still provide the freedom expected from a GranTurismo.

Whichever version appeals, do not sign on styling alone. Test it in summer, check the ramps you use, price the tyres and insurance, read the warranty, and establish whether the car is current 2026 stock or whether waiting for the globally announced refresh suits you better. That work will tell you whether the GranTurismo is merely the most beautiful option on the shortlist or the one that genuinely fits your Gulf life.