2024 Maserati Grecale

There are some people, perhaps you’re one of them, who don’t want the usual stuff everyone else has. But it still has to be good. We applaud such taste and individuality. These folk might want a compact luxury SUV, but yawn at the notion of a Lexus. So how about the Maserati Grecale?

Maserati is one of those evocative and romantic Italian marques that used to go racing back when life was in black and white. The company still has an aura to it, even with its SUVs. If you see a Maserati on the street, it’s a bit of a special occasion. Although it’s still relatively pricey, the Grecale is the most affordable way of experiencing that special occasion every day. It’s the cheapest new Maserati. And because it’s Italian, there’s a certain style blended with a certain poise.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of compact luxury SUVs, including the Maserati Grecale.

Having made its debut last year, the Grecale didn’t need any updating, but Maserati has introduced the Fuoriserie Personalization Program. It’s a broader range of options, color schemes, and wheel designs. An all-electric Folgore (which means “lightning” in Italian) is coming at some point.

There are plenty of rivals, but we’ve cherry-picked a selection that might appeal to the potential Grecale buyer because of their elevated prestige or driving talents. The Porsche Macan starts at $61K, and the Jaguar F-Pace begins at $57K. The BMW X3 (from $47K) and Alfa Romeo Stelvio (from $44.7K) have a driver’s edge. The Mercedes-Benz GLC (starting in the high $40Ks) and Land Rover Range Rover Velar (from $61.5K) bring more of an emphasis on luxury.

Before buying a new Maserati Grecale luxury SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The Porsche Macan has the strongest resale values. We don’t expect the Grecale to be any better than average.

The Grecale GT comes with 296 horsepower from its turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. It can dash from a standstill to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. That compares well against the base Porsche Macan’s 261 horsepower and 5.8-second sprint time. The midlevel Modena boosts that same engine to 325 horsepower and is quicker than the GT by 0.3 of a second.

Driving modes in the 2024 Grecale SUV are Comfort, GT, Sport, Race, and Off-Road. The 523-horsepower Grecale Trofeo with its turbo V6 adds a Corsa (track) setting that includes a launch mode, enabling a standstill-to-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds. This feels wonderfully quick, especially in an SUV.

The Modena trim has a mechanical limited-slip rear differential, which is optional in the GT. The Modena also straddles a wider rear track (the distance between the rear wheels) for enhanced stability. The Trofeo model has an electronic locking rear differential.

Fuel Economy

The Grecale beats the base Macan here as well. The 2.0-liter engine achieves 25 mpg in combined city and highway driving. The Macan returns 21 mpg combined. The Trofeo V6’s 20 mpg combined outdoes the V6-powered Macan by one mile per gallon. Learn more about the Maserati Grecale fuel economy at the EPA website.

We’re impressed by how Maserati blends luxury and technology. The GT version of the 2024 Grecale SUV comes with a black interior as standard. Even this entry-level model has a leather-covered dashboard. There’s also a leather-wrapped steering wheel with aluminum paddle shifters mounted beneath.

Emphasizing the high-tech element is a 12.3-inch digital driver information display, plus a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with an 8.8-inch screen below that handles cabin temperatures. These screens are set into a cool-looking angled unit, separated by a row of buttons that controls the transmission.

Maserati’s claims of best interior space include a 7-inch advantage in rear legroom. With a 6-footer in the driver’s seat, it’s still more than tolerable in the back for someone a couple of inches shorter. Although the roof has quite a fashionable slope to it, we’ve found rear headroom to be sufficient. The rear seats also have a power-folding function operated by a button in the generously sized luggage area.

Maserati’s designers have attempted to achieve a timeless look, but that really is a wait-and-see thing. Like other Maserati vehicles, the Grecale SUV has a convex grille sporting the famous trident emblem (modeled after a statue of Neptune, god of the sea, in Maserati’s home city of Bologna). There are the usual three small vents in the front fenders as well.

To get some grasp of the Grecale SUV’s size, let’s put it up against the popular and well-known BMW X3. At 191 inches, the Grecale is about 6 inches longer than the X3, 3.5 inches wider, and about half an inch lower.

The GT model comes with 19-inch alloy wheels as standard, although the Grecale also offers 20-inch and 21-inch alloys. For all those buyers of luxury SUVs who wish their ride would come in yellow, Maserati obliges with Giallo Corse.

Infotainment system
The Grecale has a digital assistant. Just say something like, “Hey, Maserati. Set the cabin temperature to 72 degrees,” and that saves fumbling around for the correct button. Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant are all standard as well.

Driver Assistance package
This is the smaller of two optional bundles containing various driver aids. At the very least, we think it’s worth investing in this one to gain features like blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

360-degree camera system
Optional in the Modena and Trofeo, this provides a complete view of the Grecale’s surroundings, which is always a good idea when maneuvering.

Sonus Faber audio
This might be an unfamiliar name to many, but it’s a high-end Italian audiophile brand. For an idea of how high-end, it’s possible to buy a Bose Bluetooth speaker for about $150. A similar thing from Sonus Faber costs two grand. The top system available in the 2024 Grecale pushes 1,000 watts through 21 speakers. However, even the base GT model has a 14-speaker setup as standard.

Twin Spark V6
The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 in the top Grecale Trofeo trim employs twin spark technology. It has two spark plugs for each cylinder instead of the usual one. It’s far from a new idea — Alfa Romeo did the same kind of thing with racing car engines back in 1914 — but it certainly helps with creating class-leading power. This same engine is also found in the Maserati MC20 supercar, where it makes 621 horsepower.

Air suspension
This is standard in the top Trofeo version and an option for the Modena trim. It has six selectable heights, including Off-Road (set high for optimum ground clearance) and Parking (set low for easy entries and exits).

The first two of the three trim levels in the 2024 Grecale lineup have a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, augmented by a mild-hybrid system with a belt starter generator and an e-Booster, which functions before the turbo system kicks in to eliminate any lag. In the GT, this setup makes 296 horsepower. The Modena enjoys 325 horsepower. They both generate 332 lb-ft of torque.

The range-topping Trofeo has a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. Output is a substantial 523 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque.

All-wheel drive is standard throughout, along with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Maserati’s new-vehicle and powertrain warranties both last four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This is typical among European luxury car makers.

Safety Ratings

The Grecale hasn’t been crash-tested by any agencies in the United States. As an indication of how well it might do, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio (with which the Grecale shares a platform) was awarded the maximum five stars overall from a European crash-test program, Euro NCAP. Standard safety equipment includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection.