Compare the2023 BMW M3VS 2023 Maserati Ghibli

The M3’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 M3 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 M3 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M3 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Ghibli doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The M3’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 M3 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The M3’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 M3 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 M3’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Maserati vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 90 more problems per 100 vehicles, Maserati is rated below average.

The M3 has more powerful engines than the Ghibli:

As tested in Car and Driver the M3 Competition is faster than the Ghibli Modena 3.0 turbo V6 (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the M3 gets better mileage than the Ghibli:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW M3 higher (5 out of 10) than the Maserati Ghibli (1 to 3). This means the M3 produces up to 39 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Ghibli every 15,000 miles.

The M3 offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Ghibli doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

For better stopping power the M3’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Ghibli:

The M3 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Ghibli doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The M3 stops shorter than the Ghibli:

For better traction, the M3 has larger tires than the Ghibli (F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19 vs. F:245/45R19 & R:275/40R19). The M3’s front tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Ghibli (F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19 vs. F:245/40R20 & R:285/35R20).

The M3’s standard 275/40R18 front and 285/35R19 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 standard 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

The M3 Competition handles at 1.03 G’s, while the Ghibli Modena Q4 pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The M3 Competition executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Ghibli Modena Q4 (23.8 seconds @ .85 average G’s vs. 25.5 seconds @ .8 average G’s).

The M3 is 6.8 inches shorter than the Ghibli, making the M3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the M3 Competition is quieter than the Ghibli Modena Q4 (44 vs. 56 dB).

The M3 has 1.8 inches more front headroom, 3.9 inches more front legroom and 2.4 inches more rear legroom than the Ghibli.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the M3’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Ghibli doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the M3 offers cargo security. The Ghibli’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

The M3 offers an optional 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 M3 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. 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.

The M3’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the Ghibli’s standard xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; LED headlights light instantly. LED lights also last about three to four times as long.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the M3 has standard extendable sun visors. The Ghibli doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The M3’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Ghibli doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The BMW 3 Series outsold the Maserati Ghibli by over 18 to one during 2022.