Test Car Specifications
Model: 2022 Maserati MC20
Price: From £206,885
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol
Transmission: eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power: 630hp
Torque: 750Nm
Emissions: 262g/km
Economy/Range: 24.4mpg
0-62mph: <2.9 seconds
Top speed: 202mph
Boot space: 100 litres (plus 50-litre frunk)
Styling
The MC20's styling is apparently influenced as much by physics as aesthetics, but Maserati's engineers could have fooled us. The MC20 is stunning from every angle, what with its curvy front wings, pert rear end and smooth silhouette. It isn't as intricate as Ferraris sometimes are, but that lack of fuss gives it a really clean and beautiful design. Maserati says it has some more hardcore versions of the MC20 in the pipeline with suitably aggressive body kits, but we think it's pretty much perfect as it is.
Interior
Like the exterior, the MC20's interior is predictably clean and uncomplicated. The modern, sculpted dashboard is joined by some beautiful bucket seats and there's a big central touchscreen, as well as a digital instrument cluster and a button-rich steering wheel. Otherwise, there's very little in the way of controls or switchgear. Admittedly, that causes ergonomic problems in places, because most functions are either on the wheel or in the touchscreen's countless menus, but it works better than you might expect from a style-conscious Italian supercar. And while visibility is admittedly terrible, Maserati has combatted that with a clever digital rear-view mirror, which allows you to see what a bumper-mounted camera 'sees' behind you. It takes some getting used to, but it's very clever.
Practicality
Naturally, space is at a premium in an MC20. There is a boot, but it’s small at just 100 litres – you get more room in a Mazda MX-5 – and it gets very warm indeed, because the exhausts run just underneath the boot floor. There’s an extra 50-litre ‘frunk’ at the front, but that’s hardly commodious, so you’ll have to travel light. That said, the cabin is big enough to seat two in relative comfort, and even tall people will be fine for headroom, despite the low roof.
Performance
The beating, roaring heart of the MC20 is the 'Nettuno' 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine that sits beneath a clear canopy behind the drivers' left ear. It might be small compared with the V8 engines traditionally found in supercars of this size, but it packs a meaty punch. At the disposal of your right foot is 630hp and 750Nm of torque, which is fed to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. As a result, the MC20 gets from 0-62mph in less than 2.9 seconds, while the top speed is in excess of 202mph. But that isn't what impresses most. From the driving seat, the noise is a little underwhelming at times, but from outside the V6 howls its way through the rev range, announcing the car's imminent arrival from a great distance. It's spectacular. And surprisingly efficient, managing well over 20mpg with ease on long journeys.
Ride & Handling
The way the MC20 drives is largely decided by the drive modes. There's three to choose from, with GT being the softest option. In that mode the suspension is remarkably supple and the MC20 becomes a fine motorway cruiser, albeit one with limited rear visibility and a lack of storage space. But in the sharper settings, it becomes pointier and more aggressive, as you expect a supercar to be. The steering is sublime, the responses are immediate and the grip is immense. It's a driver's delight, and a car that demands to be used on great driving roads. And it's this two-faced character gives the car real appeal, allowing it to be used on an almost daily basis.
Value
Pricing isn’t usually a big issue in the world of supercars – customers who have to ask too many questions generally can’t afford one – but the MC20 is competitively priced. At around £200,000, it’s noticeably cheaper than the Ferrari 296 GTB, and only a little more expensive than the much less characterful Audi R8. And there’s some great kit on offer, including the rear-view camera and the optional ‘lift kit’, which allows the nose to be raised for traversing speed bumps and the like.
Verdict
The MC20 is brilliant. Perhaps it doesn't quite have the magic of the Ferrari 296 GTB, but it has the character and the looks to compete, while undercutting the hybrid Ferrari in terms of price. And it's just as enjoyable on the road, while being more ergonomic and easier to use from the driver's seat. Admittedly, that's grown-up stuff that has no place in the world of supercars, but the fact remains the MC20 is a return to form for Maserati, and a statement of intent for a brand that claims to be going places.
