Maserati Ghibli Hybrid Vs. Mercedes CLS 450: Which Of These Mild Hybrid Premium Saloons Would You Get?

Technically, the Maserati Ghibli Hybrid is indeed a hybrid, thanks to a 48 volt starter generator system, as well as an additional electric supercharger, aka e-Booster, working alongside a battery.

The Italian carmaker says that this is a “unique solution” for the segment, offering the “perfect trade-off between performance, efficiency and driving pleasure.” Now we’re wondering which segment Maserati thinks the Ghibli belongs to.

Even if you can call it unique, it’s not exactly as advanced as some Maserati customers may have hoped. For example, the Porsche Panamera, which is a direct competitor for the Ghibli, also comes in 4 E-Hybrid spec, which is actually a “proper” hybrid, the type you plug in nonetheless.

In any case, there are still alternatives to the Ghibli Hybrid that are powered in a similar way, and one of them happens to be more of a four-door sedan than the other (Mercedes CLS vs. Audi A7 Sportback). Let’s see how the Mercedes stacks up with the Maserati.

Maserati Ghibli Hybrid (price TBA)

Compared to the Mercedes CLS, the Ghibli is slightly wider (1.945 mm / 76.6 inches), but also taller (1.461 mm / 57.5 inches) and with a longer wheelbase (2.998 mm / 118 inches). Overall length however goes to the Merc.

Both cars feature 80 liter (21.13 gallon) fuel tanks, similarly sized trunks and space for five. They’re actually surprisingly similar, even though most people don’t frequently pair them together in conversations.

Powering the Ghibli Hybrid, which by the way can be identified by various blue exterior and interior accents, is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a 48-volt mild hybrid system and the previously mentioned e-Booster, for a total of 325 HP (330 PS) and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque.

On paper, it can accelerate from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.7 seconds and maxes out at 158 mph (255 km/h). If you take it easy though, you could average as little as 8.5 liters/100 km (27.7 mpg) in the combined WLTP cycle, with CO2 emissions of 192g/km.

Inside, it comes with Maserati’s latest infotainment system, which now features a 10.1-inch display instead of the old 8.4-inch one. There’s also a new gauge cluster, while the Maserati Connect program allows for software updates.

Mercedes CLS 450 4MATIC (€70,673)

Finding the right CLS spec here was a bit tricky, seen as how the Ghibli Hybrid isn’t expected to make the overseas trip to the U.S. If it would though, pairing it with the entry-level rear-wheel drive CLS 450 would have been perfect, seen as how the Ghibli Hybrid is RWD too.

The CLS 450 costs upwards of $69,950 in the U.S., whereas European buyers will be mostly shown the 450 4MATIC variant, which in Germany is priced from €70,673 ($81,228). It’s highly unlikely that the Ghibli Hybrid would cost considerably more, mainly because the Ghibli S Q4 is already priced from €87,438 ($100,000) and it’s way more powerful and faster than the Hybrid.

So what can we tell you about the CLS 450’s powertrain? For starters it features a larger engine. Power comes from a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six that’s paired to a 48-volt mild-hybrid system (EQ Boost), providing you with an extra 22 HP and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) of torque while accelerating.

Total output sits at 362 HP (367 PS) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque, and can get you from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 4.8 seconds in the all-wheel drive 4MATIC model, nearly a full second quicker than the Maserati. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph (250 km/h).

Aside from being quicker than the Ghibli Hybrid, the Mercedes CLS 450 4MATIC is also slightly more fuel efficient and slightly more environment-friendly. It averages 8.3 liters/100 km (28.3 mpg) in the WLTP cycle, with CO2 emissions at 189 g/100 km. A minor difference though.

In terms of size, the CLS is 4.988 mm (196.4 inches) long to the Ghibli’s 4.971 mm (195.7 inches), stands 1,435 mm (56.5 inches tall), 1.890 mm (74.4 inches) wide and has a 2.938 mm (115.7 inch) long wheelbase.

Inside, the CLS comes standard with two 10.25-inch displays, but if you’re willing to pay extra, you can have the 12.3-inch ones. Also, the German four-door coupe was only recently updated for the 2021 model year and now comes with the carmaker’s latest MBUX software.

Verdict

Is the Maserati Ghibli Hybrid / Mercedes CLS 450 comparison a good one? We feel that it absolutely is, seen as how the Italian saloon cannot match the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid in terms of engine tech or performance. As for the BMW 840i Gran Coupe and Audi A7 Sportback 55 TFSI quattro-ultra, the former doesn’t have a mild-hybrid system, while the latter is a fastback and not a saloon.

The CLS 450 is then, for better or worse, the best thing one can throw at the new Ghibli Hybrid, and on paper at least, the Mercedes actually comes out on top. If it also ends up costing you considerably less than the Maserati, then the matter is pretty much settled, at least for buyers of a more pragmatic nature.

But buying a car is not always a strictly logical decision dictated by numbers, so which one do you like the most?