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Maserati Grecale

The Grecale is the Italian sports car manufacturer’s second SUV, after the Levante. That one came on the market in 2016 and has not hurt the brand. More than half of Maserati cars sold today are Levante. But sales are slumping a bit, so it’s time for a breath of fresh air: the Grecale. Named after a Mediterranean wind, this mid-size SUV takes on models such as the Porsche Macan and BMW X3. We tell you below why you should (not) ditch a solid German for this charming Italian.

1. He’s big 👍

The Grecale is positioned below the Levante, but it is no small boy. It is quite a bit larger than the Porsche Macan and BMW X3, for example. Indeed, it is only a few inches shorter than a BMW X5. The Audi Q5 is also a size smaller than the Italian.

You especially notice this in the second row of seats and in the luggage compartment. It offers at least 535 liters of luggage space, and tall passengers sit pristinely in the back. Maneuvering in small, narrow streets is a challenge, though. Rear axle steering is unfortunately not available. Fortunately, by now most Dutch people are used to the hefty dimensions of an SUV.

2. More power 👍

The Grecale we are testing is the GT variant. Under the hood of this entry-level car is a 300-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder. So no brute force. Those looking for that can opt for the 530-hp Trofeo. A 330-hp Modena is also still available. At 300 hp, the base version of the Grecale is still a bit more powerful than the cheapest Macan Porsche delivers. For 114,000 euros, Porsche will send you home with the 265-hp base version, which takes 6.4 seconds over the 0-100 sprint and has a top speed of 232 mph. Costing “only” 100,694 euros, the Grecale GT has 35 more horsepower than the Macan. It also leaves the Porsche behind at the stoplight: 0-100 goes in 5.8 seconds and its top speed is 240 km/h.

3. Stylish 👍

Tastes differ, but the Grecale – like almost all of Maserati’s models – is a classy and reasonably striking appearance. Okay, we can’t deny that the Grecale bears some resemblance to the Ford Puma – a friendly-priced B-segment SUV – but is that such a bad thing? The Aston Martin DBX and Jaguar E-Pace also look like a high-powered Ford. An excellent list to be among, then, if you ask us.

Moreover, the big trident on its nose makes an impression when you enter a street. How often do you see a new Maserati these days? The three classic air vents above the front wheel arches and four fistfuls of exhausts make it clear to onlookers that you are not out and about with a well-behaved SUV.

Then the interior, the highlight of the Grecale as far as we are concerned. A Maserati interior used to consist mostly of FCA and Chrysler parts made of cheap plastic. Stellantis – Maserati’s new parent company – has better materials to offer. Everywhere you look you see high-quality materials that are beautifully designed. The traditional Maserati clock on the dashboard is still present, but is now fully digital. Also nice: no savings were made on computing power for the infotainment system, either.

4. Ensign’s SUV 👍

The Grecale is not a throw-and-miss car, but on twisty courses it can disguise its weight – 1,870 kilograms – reasonably well. The undercarriage is communicative, letting you know exactly when you are in danger of going too far. Grip is present to a large extent and there is hardly any leaning. So you can steer quite a bit with the Grecale.

5. Tough and old-fashioned 👎

The downside is obvious: the undercarriage is hard. Even in Comfort mode – you can choose from Comfort, GT and Sport – the dampers transmit a lot of feedback from the road to your back. Very dramatic it is not, but if you want to buy an SUV because your back hurts easily, store Land Rover or Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes-Benz also lets you drive away immediately with a powerful electric SUV with a similar price, such as the EQC, EQE SUV and EQS SUV. Compared to that, the Maserati Grecale GT does feel a bit old-fashioned. Although the GT uses hybrid technology, this is the “mild” version. A starter motor as well as a battery – not much bigger than the one in your phone – provide a little electrical support. Nice to fill the turbo gap a bit, but that’s about it.

Fortunately, Maserati will introduce an electric Grecale in 2023: the Grecale Folgore. According to rumors, this variant gets a 105 kWh battery pack and an 800 Nm electric motor. Puike numbers. Count on a nice range and fast acceleration times. Its price is not yet known, but since it emits 0 grams of CO2, it will be priced fairly friendly in our country. So the Folgore variant is perhaps the Grecale you should have and therefore perhaps better to wait for….