Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs Maserati Quattroporte Comparison

On paper, the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class plug-in hybrid looks like an absolute masterstroke for the Indian luxury market. By marrying a silky-smooth 3.0-litre straight-six with a substantial electric battery, Mercedes is promising the holy grail of flagship motoring. Which is zero-emission city commuting alongside uncompromised, long-distance highway range. Add to that the unprecedented safety shield of 15 airbags and the cutting-edge MB.OS tech, and it looks poised to set a whole new benchmark.

However, the real test will be on the tarmac. We still need to see how seamlessly the complex hybrid powertrain behaves in bumper-to-bumper gridlock and how beautifully the standard AIRMATIC suspension handles the added weight of the 22kWh battery pack. It is an engineering marvel on the spec sheet, but we will reserve our final judgment until we get the keys for a comprehensive road test.

The GTS will set you back a good ₹ 2.2 crores and the one thing that Maserati has to deal with is the dealership network. It's just gotten back into the game, so it's still settling in and with dealerships in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, brand Maserati is looking at a good customer base. Though no one will question your choice of the GTS, you can opt for the diesel Quattroporte, which is cheaper than the GTS by more than a crore and has a better ride height and a softer suspension.