Maserati Grecale review

The good news is that the Grecale has a lot going for it in the cabin. It’s properly spacious with a big boot, although slightly smaller in the mild-hybrid cars that have the battery in the rear. No problem sitting a six-footer behind a similarly-sized driver, as rear legroom is deceptively generous. It does that better than all of the Germans, even if the boot doesn’t quite have the class-leading floorspace of the BMW X3.

Ok, what goes on around the driver?

The big news is the infotainment; a 12.3-inch screen and 8.8-inch panel for extra controls, with no buttons. It’s a little busy, but it all works very nicely and looks ultra-HD slick, with decent graphics. The lower portion that deals with ancillaries does look a bit congested, but you soon figure out which bit does what and where it sits: it’s a huge improvement over previous Maserati efforts and adds a modern look to the whole dash. And there’s the usual advanced driver assistance systems and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so the tech is well catered for.

But it’s also pretty artfully done. There’s quilting and texture galore, giving the Grecale a lovely layered feel throughout the cabin, with nice use of things like matte wood and soft leather. Although if you poke around a bit, certain aspects do feel like pleasant veneers with not a huge amount of heft behind them. The seats look great too, and although a tiny bit narrow in the base and very firm, seem to be comfortable over a few hours. It’s a happy antithesis of the more clinical Macan, and you can see how the interior might well convince Maserati fans away from other brands.

It’s a Maserati, there must be quirks?

There's nowhere to rest your fingers while operating the screen, which is irritating. You sort of have to brace by wrapping a finger around the edge. The sides of the car are high, which forces you to raise the driver’s seat to get a proper, commanding driving position, and even when you do, you still find the door mirrors sit too high, thus blocking your view forwards while enhancing your view backwards.

Also, the automatic headlights were a disaster on our test car, refusing to stay on main beam. Hopefully a glitch, but something guaranteed to bring out your inner arm-waving Italian.