Marketing often leads us to believe that if we want the best version of a thing, we must spend more for its priciest iteration. Take Apple’s iPhone as an example. Are the millions of people who shell out extra for its “Pro” variant each year truly pros? Is the base iPhone, whose performance largely mirrors that of its upper-tier sibling, truly so inadequate as to necessitate the upgrade?
Sometimes, the upgrade is well worth the cost of entry. A Porsche 911 GTS is a great driver’s car, but a GT3 is better. However, as I climbed in for a weekend in Miami behind the wheel of the 2024 Maserati GranTurismo Modena, I wasn’t sure the same logic applies. Last year, the GT Trofeo was my first introduction to the Trident’s updated grand tourer. Frankly, I came away very impressed with the precision of its handling, its stylishness, and overall just how fun it was to rack up miles in.
Stepping into the “entry-level” Modena, I wondered how much of the Trofeo’s magic would be absent. For 2024, the base GT starts at $158,000, a full $32,000 less than the $190,000 range-topper, without even diving into the options list. Yet, it’s powered by a detuned version of the same 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6. It sends power to all four wheels via the same eight-speed automatic transmission and given that they weigh about the same, they share the adaptive suspension system. Given their similarities, is stepping down from the range-topping Trofeo truly a downgrade?
The tl;dr is no. From an aesthetic perspective, although the GranTurismo Modena may not have the sporty bumpers, side skirts, and carbon trim reserved for the pricier Trofeo, the base GT doesn’t immediately stand out as the cheaper model. Despite its aesthetic not being quite as edgy, this car’s core styling, one of the central points of its appeal, is already that of a sporty grand tourer. Given its use of the same powertrain, key signifiers of its sporting credentials, such as the size of its air intakes, the width of its rear diffuser, or its quad-exhaust tips, remain unchanged.
Sort through its list of available options, and you’ll find both GTs are available in identical color shades, ranging from the retrained to those infused with tremendous sparkle, such as the $16,500 Orange Devil or the $29,700 Powder Nude Texturized. The same goes for the various sets of staggered 20 and 21-inch wheels, although the Modena is the only trim available with the Crio Design Diamond Cut set cast in the same size. This trend continues onto the optional finishes that adorn this car’s six and four-piston Brembo brake calipers.
Step inside, and the differences become apparent. While the 2024 Maserati GranTurismo Modena only offers its leather-wrapped cabin in Cuoio (brown), Griege (beige), or Nero (black) with your choice of either a beige or black-trimmed roof, the Trofeo’s palette is far sportier. Available with bright contrast stitching over its black leather seats or even a fully Rosso (red) trimmed cabin, the range-topper isn’t afraid to shout about its sporty intentions through its options list. Small touches, such as the stitching patterns on its front seats, door cards, and dashboard, differentiate its aesthetic.
Yet, as with exterior styling, the layout of this GT’s cabin is inherently sporty regardless of trim level. The positioning of its leather-trimmed chairs has you sitting low in the car with the near-perfect alignment of its pedal and wheel, supplemented by plenty of head and shoulder room. Its large metal column-mounted paddle shifters are reminiscent of Maseratis and Ferraris of old. At the same time, the view out of its front window offers a peek at its raised wheel arches and sloping long hood, serving as constant reminders that you’re piloting a traditionally proportioned grand tourer.
Miami’s lack of twisting back roads and the dense traffic of a Formula 1 weekend made detecting any tangible performance differences between 2024 Maserati GranTurismo Modena and its tuned-up sibling a true challenge. Its 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 may generate 483 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, 59 hp and 36 lb-ft less than the Trofeo, but this delta is practically irrelevant in most scenarios.
The torque figure here is key. Not only is feeling such a marginal loss difficult in ideal conditions, given that the pair delivers that output near identical ways, with a hint of turbo lag before fully deploying midway through the tach, but both accelerate with familiar aggression. The numbers back this up: The Modena takes 3.9 seconds to 62 mph, just 0.4 slower than the Trofeo. It’s only at higher speeds that the pricier sibling breaks away, taking 11.4 seconds to 124 mph vs the base car’s 13-second time.
More importantly, the 2024 Maserati GranTurismo Modena still feels agile on Miami’s rare bends. Its front end is grippy, eager to change direction, and capable of fully utilizing its engine’s output thanks to its all-wheel-drive system. A quick-shifting eight-speed auto makes this GT feel properly quick in its top Sport + setting while working through gears effortlessly at slower speeds. Although it occasionally struggles to serve up an unexpected downshift, its calibration suits the GT’s intentions.
The Modena drives as well as it does because it shares all of its physical suspension, brakes, and tires with the Trofeo. It sports double wishbones up front with a multi-link rear complemented by adaptive dampers. Although their most aggressive Corsa mode is reserved for the pricier Trofeo, the Modena’s Sport + setting still strikes a nice balance, dialing out unwanted body motions without spoiling its ride. Six and four-piston Brembo brakes, coupled with 14.9 and 13.8-inch rotors, confidently keep its nearly 4,000-pound curb weight in check while its 265/30 and 295/30 section tires air rear-biased all-wheel drive system in translating all of the available power to the road below.
While it’s happy to tackle the occasional bend, the Maserati GranTurismo Modena is most at home racking up highway miles or traversing crowded cities. Despite its sports car capabilities, the GT never forgets that it’s a grand tourer first, nicely soaking up most road imperfections while remaining nicely planted at higher speeds. Coupled with the dialed-in above driving position and plenty of tech from its digital instrument cluster and twin central screens, the Modena is just a nice place to spend considerable time behind the wheel.
I suspect that for most, the most significant deciding factor between the Modena and Trofeo will be their pricing, not their looks, performance, or interior options. Starting at $32,000 less than the $190,000 Trofeo, the $158,000 Modena offers a significant discount while delivering an almost indistinguishable driving experience. It costs about the same as competitors, such as the $150,900 Porsche 911 GTS, but slightly above the $137,400 Mercedes-AMG SL 55.
Be it marketing or simply a need to feed the ego, for some, only the range-topping Trofeo will do. With its extra power, sharper aesthetic, and sportier cabin, it’s a GT that embraces the sportier side of its persona. However, given the price difference, while still retaining a similar look, equally impressive interior, and comparable performance, the Modena isn’t just a downgrade; for most people, it’ll be the one to have.