Compare the2024 Acura TLXVS 2023 Maserati Ghibli

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Acura TLX 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 Acura TLX 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 TLX’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 TLX 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 TLX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 129 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Ghibli has not been fully tested, yet.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the TLX 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 TLX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Ghibli’s (5/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the TLX for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Acura will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Maserati doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Ghibli.

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

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

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the TLX Type S’ fuel efficiency. The Ghibli doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Acura TLX uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Ghibli requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Acura TLX higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Maserati Ghibli (1 to 3). This means the TLX produces up to 47 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Ghibli every 15,000 miles.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura TLX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Ghibli.

For better traction, the TLX has larger tires than the Ghibli (255/35R20 vs. 245/45R19). The TLX Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Ghibli (255/35R20 vs. 245/40R20).

The TLX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Ghibli’s standard 45 series front tires.

The TLX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Ghibli doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The TLX Type S handles at .97 G’s, while the Ghibli Modena Q4 pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The TLX Type S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Ghibli Modena Q4 (25 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 25.5 seconds @ .8 average G’s).

The Acura TLX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 250 pounds less than the Maserati Ghibli.

The TLX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Ghibli doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The TLX has 4.8 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room and 1.7 inches more rear legroom than the Ghibli.

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

The TLX Type S has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, 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 TLX 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. The driver of the Ghibli can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The TLX’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.

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

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Acura TLX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Ghibli.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the TLX second among midsize 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 Acura TLX outsold the Maserati Ghibli by almost seven to one during 2022.