Maserati Grecale review

Do you want a driver’s SUV? You do? And you’re sure you don’t want a lower slung, more satisfying fast estate? Not even a BMW M340i xDrive Touring? Because you will have more fun in that. Better ride and better efficiency too. But we get it, it’s the look and feel of an SUV you want first and there’s too many Macans around.

If this is you, the Grecale is a good option. It’s actually lighter on its wheels than the Porsche (so too is the Alfa Stelvio this shares much with) and drives with a verve that’s not often found in this class. Maserati seems to have rediscovered its mojo recently, and the Grecale is a car that actually wants to go at roads with determination. The chassis is composed and capable, body control is good, the steering is accurate and well-weighted (even as it changes through the various modes), and the brakes bite well and remain powerful no matter how much abuse they receive.

We’re talking about the Trofeo, right?

Nope, this all applies to the base model GT without the trick diff and air suspension, not the top spec Trofeo. The engine is responsive at medium to high revs (but it’s a hell of a shame it doesn’t rev beyond 6,000rpm) and the gearbox is pretty good and second guessing you. It has the right amount of performance for the chassis – it feels like the base car may well be the sweet spot.

Sweeter than the Trofeo?

The Trofeo is quick but feels a little heavy (it weighs 2,027kg), the GT much lighter (it’s 157kg less, and most of that seems to be from the front of the car). The Trofeo can fling itself along at a more than respectable clip, but also starts to reveal the limits of the chassis. It makes a cool noise though and packs a punch to rival AMG’s GLC 63 or the BMW X3M. 0-62mph takes 3.8 seconds, 0-125mph takes 13.5s. Rapid, but no quicker than either of those, both of which are more spacious, more established and marginally cheaper. In other words the Trofeo has its work cut out.

But the Grecale is meant to be a family SUV, right?

It is, and that – slightly – is the issue. It’s not at its best when doing the everyday stuff. For starters the four cylinder engine sounds limp and reedy low down, so if you’re expecting your Grecale to growl like a Maserati should, you’re in for a disappointment. And then there’s the gearbox, crisp when going fast, seems to lose all decisiveness at low speeds, where it becomes slow and lazy. There’s also a little too much NVH (noise, vibration and harshness), with certain roads offering up a variety of fizzes and vibrations through the floors.

That’s… not great.

No, but you’ve got modes to play with that make a bit of a difference and the GT with its e-Booster technology has minimal lag and a solid mid-range. If you enjoy driving you’ll get quite a bit from it. And you’re also more likely to forgive the 32.1mpg economy (200g/km CO2). If you’re just after a desirable badge and the practicality of an SUV, you might find the Grecale a bit too demanding of your attention.