Maserati Grecale Folgore review

As on the regular Grecale, there’s a recessed electric exterior door release rather than a physical handle, with a soft-touch button inside to open the door for exit. This is good for aero and weight-saving, says Maserati.

The seats are superior to the class norm, if a little short on the squab, while the driving position is a useful compromise between SUV command and low-slung sporty. The three-spoke wheel feels good, and it’s festooned with switchgear for cruise control, audio, and information menus. The start button is on the lower left, the drive control dial on the right. They have a satisfying feel to them, as does the copper-toned 3D carbon trim on the doors.

Audi, BMW and Mercedes are all further ahead when it comes to the look and feel of the infotainment, though. Audi’s new Q6 e-tron has a fine interface, BMW’s curved glass set-up is straight out of a modernist dream home, and Mercedes has gone all-out on its OLED Hyperscreen.

The Maserati’s instrument display is clear and easy to read, with new-for-the-EV dials. The 12.3in ‘ultra HD’ central touchscreen majors on clarity rather than techy dazzlement. The second 8.8in one below it handles climate control, heated seats and so on, with a volume slider for the audio down the side. It’s big and easy enough to use but smacks a bit of overkill. It was also glitchy during our drive.

The traditional Maserati clock is still front and centre at the top but it’s gone fully digital now, and can be flicked through various displays: time, g-force, direction, and brake or throttle pressure. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Baidu CarLife (had to look that up – it’s for China) are available, and two devices can be connected. Maserati’s Intelligent Assistant offers voice recognition, but as with every other one of these systems it’s so hit and miss we gave up trying.

UK cars will feature leather trim as standard but as sustainability becomes the new premium paradigm, the Folgore can be fitted with a material called Econyl as a no-cost option. It’s made of recycled fishing nets by a company called Aqua Fil. Prada and Stella McCartney are both converts and the company is walking it like they talk it. It feels rather like neoprene in the automotive context, so it fits the Folgore brief and likely feels more breathable on a hot day.