Maserati MC20 Cielo review: stunning convertible supercar driven

Pros:

• Simple yet stunning design
• Punchy performance
• Easy to drive

Cons:

• Fiddly roof operation
• More practical alternatives
• Driving position not perfect for taller drivers

Wowscore: 9/10

Is the Maserati MC20 Cielo a good car?

The Maserati MC20 Cielo is the convertible version of Maserati’s drop-dead gorgeous supercar, and to the surprise of no-one, losing the roof only amplifies the car’s Italian flair.

To be fair, alternatives are pretty handsome, too. You might consider the MC20 Cielo alongside other convertible supercars such as the Lamborghini Huracan Spyder, Aston Martin DB12 Volante or Ferrari 296 GTS.

Despite the cool-sounding name, Cielo simply means ‘sky’ in Italian. It’s a bit like going by the name of Giovanni instead of John, or Giuseppe instead of Joseph. Everything sounds better in Italian.

Things don’t just sound better in Italian, they look better too, apparently. The Maserati MC20 Cielo is absolutely stunning, but what really makes it stand out is its relative simplicity. You get the typical low but wide supercar body style, but there’s no big wing and little in the way of sharp aerodynamic extras stuck to the bodywork. It’s elegant rather than aggressive.

Still, it’s not short on drama – if the Cielo’s rear buttresses weren’t eye-catching enough, you climb inside after lifting the doors to the sky, which should turn heads in the local Waitrose car park.

Once inside it’s surprisingly roomy with comfortable seats, though taller drivers might find there’s not quite enough adjustability in the steering wheel to get the perfect driving position. It’s also mildly annoying that you drop the roof using the touchscreen menu, which isn’t as intuitive as it could be.

Everything feels as luxurious as you’d expect from a ludicrously expensive supercar, but the infotainment screen is a bit fiddly to use, and there’s not much in the way of cabin storage. There’s a front and rear boot, but they’re pretty small so you’re not getting much more than some overnight bags inside. These are not normally big complaints for this type of car, but the way the Maserati MC20 Cielo drives invites you to spend hours behind the wheel, so these practical touches would make life easier for road tripping.

Ah, the way it drives. Fortunately, the MC20 Cielo is anything but form over function. The engine is a 630hp twin-turbo V6 that delivers power to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. In its sportiest setting it makes the car an angry bundle of energy, violently punching you between corners with a raucous engine note that feels surprisingly guttural, rather than refined as you’d expect from the classy, elegant design.

Everything you use to control the car is beautifully judged, so despite all the power the throttle is easy to control so you’re not constantly fighting to keep the car in a straight line, and the brakes have a fairly long travel that means you can be really precise with how much stopping power you want to mete out. The steering, too, is perfectly weighted, so you instinctively place the car exactly where you intended on the road. It’s all just so natural.

Just as impressive is how well everything settles down when you want to take it easy. The engine and exhaust notes are always there to give a fruity backdrop to even the most mundane drive, but the gentle throttle makes the MC20 Cielo easy to drive in town, and the well-judged suspension and comfy seats make it a pleasant place to cruise for hours on the motorway. The low dashboard means you have a great view ahead, too.

The Maserati MC20 Cielo ticks pretty much every box a supercar should tick, then, being fantastic to drive and gorgeous to look at. Sure, it’s not the most practical performance car, but that’s easy to forgive when everything else is just so good.

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