Overview
IF increasing your SUV line-up defines the present automotive world’s ‘survival of the fittest’ mentality, then the all-new Maserati Grecale premium medium SUV is a case of ‘higher late than by no means’ for the Italian sporting marque.
Primarily based on a by-product of the Giorgio platform that underpins the Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV, the Grecale defines its extra unique positioning by providing a unique design with bigger sizing, distinctive suspension (that includes the provision of the model’s ‘Skyhook’ adaptive damping with air springs) and a pair of engines that add a particular flavour to the Grecale’s sporting credentials.
The range-topping $165,000 Grecale Trofeo scores Maserati’s personal 3.0-litre twin-turbo ‘Nettuno’ V6 from the MC20 supercar, delivering 390kW/620Nm, a 0-100km/h time of three.8 seconds and a prime pace of 285km/h. But sooner or later, that fossil-fuel slurping sporting flagship will probably be counter-balanced by the Grecale Folgore – an all-electric mannequin slated to supply greater than 370kW and a prime pace over 200km/h.
On the different finish of the line-up, the two.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder within the base Grecale GT and mid-spec Modena is expounded to the identical engine within the Giulia/Stelvio, although the Maserati beneficial properties a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and two distinctive states of tune.
The Grecale GT will get a 221kW/450Nm model of the Alfa’s spirited 2.0-litre whereas the Modena boosts energy to 242kW – each outputs evaluating favourably with the much-cheaper Stelvio Veloce’s 206kW/400Nm.
How less expensive? The facelifted MY23 Stelvio Veloce begins at $82,950 whereas the Grecale GT kicks off at $109,500, adopted by the Modena at $128,000 (all costs earlier than on-road prices) – a big step up.
However the Grecale can be fairly a bit bigger – primarily positioning itself as an upper-medium SUV with a size of 4846mm (159mm greater than a Stelvio), a width of 1948mm (+45mm), a top of 1670mm (+22mm) and a considerable wheelbase size measuring 2901mm (+83mm).
Certainly, the Grecale is nearer to the Maserati Levante in dimension than it’s the Stelvio, and challenges its bigger stablemate for packaging house … which begs the query, is the Grecale a wiser, extra refined different to the dearer, much-older Levante?
One factor the Grecale introduces is Maserati’s Fuoriserie customisation program that enables prospects to primarily create their very own bespoke Grecale … for a value.
Whereas our take a look at GT hit the highway at $132,395 (earlier than on-road prices) – together with metallic paint, 20-inch solid alloy wheels (19s are customary on the GT), black brake calipers, a panoramic sunroof, open-pore wooden trim, a Consolation pack (entrance seat air flow, 12-way ‘Luxurious’ electrical entrance seats and premium leather-based inside) and a Tech pack (head-up show, wi-fi cellphone charging and an ‘IR Safety’ windscreen) – the customisation prospects are nearly limitless.
Cue choices akin to carbonfibre inside trim ($6850), a 21-speaker Sonus Faber stereo ($5950) and matte paintwork in 5 colors ($50,500), amongst so many different enticements.
Driving impressions
Approaching the Grecale GT for the primary time, it’s the form of the car that’s extra arresting than the main points. It’s a good-looking, well-proportioned SUV with a muscular stance (notably from the rear) and a stunning facet view – highlighted by flush door handles with an electrical ‘squeeze’ launch, distinctive wheel designs and a good-looking glasshouse.
However in an period of putting lighting particulars, the Maserati’s fairly plain head- and tail-lights in some way promote it a bit quick, despite the fact that the refined ‘boomerang’ form of the rear LEDs is supposed to evoke Giugiaro’s basic 3200 GT design. From behind, if it wasn’t for the ‘Maserati’ script throughout the electrical tailgate, the Grecale’s rear view may very well be from something – muscular stance apart.
Inside, nonetheless, the Grecale seems considerably extra convincing. A slick inside design peppered with ultra-modern screens (together with a big central pair, with the decrease display screen controlling the cabin local weather) is complemented by the excellent high quality of its optionally available premium leather-based upholstery (that additionally covers the sprint) and most inside finishes to make it really feel much more unique than its distant cousin – the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
The Grecale additionally has a extra pure driving place than the Alfa, with glorious 12-way electrical entrance seats including to its feeling of expense – backed by spectacular rear-seat consolation and a great deal of rear legroom. There’s even first rate door storage, and the Grecale’s fantastically trimmed 535-litre boot supplies ample accompaniment.
There’s loads of know-how within the Grecale’s cabin, which modern patrons will most likely love, and Levante homeowners will most likely covet. A configurable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster seamlessly integrates its look with the remainder of the display screen fonts, and even the ‘inventory’ 14-speaker Sonus Faber stereo is superb (with wi-fi Apple CarPlay).
About the one jarring addition is the push-button transmission that consists of a horizontal band positioned between the higher 12.3-inch touchscreen and the decrease 8.8-inch display screen. It usually takes a decided prod to make your chosen gear interact correctly, and whilst you get used to its quirks and never making an attempt to hurry it, it doesn’t fairly gel with the Grecale’s slickness elsewhere.
The Grecale GT’s engine is a delight. Clean and torquey (450Nm from 2000-4500rpm), backed by Maserati’s attribute exhaust rasp, it simply fools you into believing there’s greater than 1995cc below the bonnet.
Tied to a sophisticated eight-speed computerized and all-wheel drive, it’s robust sufficient to punch the 1870kg Grecale GT from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds, but easy sufficient to make common city driving a pleasing expertise.
So is the GT’s suspension – on this case the usual set-up and never the air-sprung choice, which shocked us with its general absorbency and damping finesse, regardless of the take a look at automobile carrying critical 255/45R20 Continental tyres.
Mixed with eager steering response and glorious dealing with steadiness, the properly communicative Grecale GT could be punished on difficult roads whereas sustaining its cool on all ranges (braking included), although its 12.4-metre turning circle feels large and also you’ll pay for any throttle-pedal enthusiasm on the gasoline pump.
Regardless of the Grecale GT’s mixed consumption determine being 8.7-9.2L/100km (relying on wheel dimension), we averaged 12.9L/100km in our take a look at automobile throughout greater than 200km of assorted take a look at circumstances.
The Grecale additionally ticks all the trendy active-safety packing containers, that includes adaptive cruise with cease and go, blind-spot and lane-keep help, entrance and rear parking sensors, auto park-assist, rear AEB, rear cross-traffic alert, a surround-view digital camera, and obtainable traffic-sign recognition, intersection collision help, and energetic driving assistant.
Maybe better of all, although, is the actual fact you may flip the lane-assist off just by hitting a button on the top of a column stalk, fairly than diving into its extensively layered touchscreen.
So what we’re left with is a extremely succesful, pleasantly polished, satisfyingly refined upper-medium SUV that impresses in so many areas. It might be troublesome to see out of at instances, and a few discover the Grecale’s general styling therapy somewhat troublesome to take a look at. However in the proper color, with appropriate wheels and inside finishes – of which there are such a lot of – the Grecale looks like a pukka Maserati SUV.
It is higher completed, extra refined, extra comfy and so much much less patchy than the Levante it shares showroom house with. And other than its disappointingly uninteresting lighting signatures, there’s a lot to love right here – aside, maybe, from its value.
However then if you need to ask, you most likely can’t afford it anyway. And primarily based on the quantity of customisation that Maserati homeowners fortunately bask in, the Grecale’s smorgasbord of choices and variants – quickly with an electrical different – means this likeable sports-luxury SUV couldn’t have arrived at a extra applicable time.
