Compare the2022 BMW 8 Series Gran CoupeVS 2021 Maserati Ghibli

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Ghibli doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Ghibli doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Ghibli doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Ghibli.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Ghibli doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 8 Series Gran Coupe and the Ghibli have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s corrosion warranty is 8 years and unlimited miles longer than the Ghibli’s (12/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 8 Series Gran Coupe for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Maserati doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Ghibli.

There are over 3 times as many BMW dealers as there are Maserati dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s reliability 38 points higher than the Ghibli.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 8 Series Gran Coupe first among large premium cars in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Ghibli isn’t in the top three in its category.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has more powerful engines than the Ghibli:

As tested in Motor Trend the 840i Gran Coupe 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder is faster than the Ghibli S 3.0 turbo V6:

On the EPA test cycle the 8 Series Gran Coupe gets better mileage than the Ghibli:

Regenerative brakes improve the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Ghibli doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Both the 8 Series Gran Coupe and the Ghibli have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All 8 Series Gran Coupes have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe higher (3 out of 10) than the Maserati Ghibli (1 to 3). This means the 8 Series Gran Coupe produces up to 22.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Ghibli every 15,000 miles.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Ghibli doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Ghibli:

The 840i Gran Coupe’s standard 245/40R19 front and 275/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Ghibli’s 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the 8 Series Gran Coupe can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Ghibli doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe M850i has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Ghibli doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The M850i Gran Coupe offers an available active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Maserati doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Ghibli.

The 840i Gran Coupe xDrive handles at .92 G’s, while the Ghibli S Q4 pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The 840i Gran Coupe xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Ghibli S Q4 (25.1 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 25.5 seconds @ .8 average G’s).

The front grille of the 8 Series Gran Coupe uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Ghibli doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has .3 inches more front headroom, 4.4 inches more front legroom and 3.4 inches more rear legroom than the Ghibli.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Ghibli doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 8 Series offers cargo security. The Ghibli’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Ghibli, the 8 Series Gran Coupe has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Ghibli doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the 8 Series Gran Coupe the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Ghibli can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

A power rear sunshade is standard in the 8 Series Gran Coupe and manual rear side window sunshades are optional to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Ghibli doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Ghibli.

The BMW 8 Series comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Maserati Ghibli isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.