Compare the2024 Lexus ISVS 2023 Maserati Ghibli

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus IS have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Maserati Ghibli doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The IS’ optional 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 Lexus IS 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 IS has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, 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 IS offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking 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.

Both the IS and Ghibli have rear cross-traffic warning, but the IS offers optional Rear Cross-Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Ghibli’s Rear Cross Path doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the IS and the Ghibli have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the IS its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Ghibli has not been fully tested, yet.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the IS 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Maserati covers the Ghibli. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Ghibli ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The IS’ corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the Ghibli’s (6/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

There are over 2 times as many Lexus dealers as there are Maserati dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the IS’ 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 IS’ reliability 40 points higher than the Ghibli.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Ghibli isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Maserati vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Maserati is rated lower.

As tested in Motor Trend the IS 500 5.0 DOHC V8 is faster than the Ghibli Modena 3.0 turbo V6:

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

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

The IS 350 F Sport handles at .93 G’s, while the Ghibli Modena Q4 pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the IS’ turning circle is 4.2 feet tighter than the Ghibli’s (34.2 feet vs. 38.4 feet). The IS AWD’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Ghibli’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The Lexus IS may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 450 pounds less than the Maserati Ghibli.

The IS is 10.5 inches shorter than the Ghibli, making the IS easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the IS 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 IS offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

If the windows are left open on the IS the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the Ghibli can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The IS’ 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.

Consumer Reports rated the IS’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Ghibli’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus IS, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Maserati Ghibli isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Ghibli isn’t in the top three.

The Lexus IS outsold the Maserati Ghibli by almost 13 to one during 2022.