With the Grecale, Maserati brings us its first smaller SUV. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

The Grecale may not look quite like the Maserati you always promised yourself, but this mid-size performance SUV is the most accessible model yet from this classic Italian brand. There are four cylinder and pure electric options, as well as a classic roaring V6. And enough overtaking presence to scare dawdling Porsche Macans.

Background

Maserati has taken its time in re-inventing its product range but things are at last beginning to take shape. We've had Hybrid engines, the gorgeous MC20 supercar and now, most significantly of all, this, the Grecale. It's named after a Mediterranean wind and it's the company's long-awaited mid-sized Porsche Macan-baiting SUV. Yes, launched at a time when Macan combustion model production is in its final couple of years, but never mind: better late than never. It'll certainly do more for Maserati's bottom line than the brand's larger Levante SUV, which isn't quite large enough to be large - or quite small enough to be small. Maserati purists will possibly be horrified to learn that this Grecale has been engineered for both four cylinder petrol and full-electric power; but mollified by the availability of a top Trofeo model with a throbbing Nettuno V6 borrowed from the MC20. It all sounds intriguing. Let's take a look.

Driving Experience

The most relevant version of this Grecale gets an engine you might never have expected to see in a Maserati; a four cylinder 2.0-litre unit embellished with mild hybrid 48V tech and delivering 300hp to all four wheels in base GT form - or 325hp in the mid-range Modena model. It's the same GME T4 unit used in the Alfa Romeo Stelvio (and also in the Jeep Wrangler) and offers plenty of poke: even the GT manages the rest to 62mph sprint in just 5.6s, despite this Grecale's portly 1,870kg kerb weight. You'll need to be quick with the ZF 8-speed auto transmission's gorgeous long silver paddle shifters to achieve that. The variant enthusiasts will be most interested in though, is the Trofeo, which uses a slightly de-tuned 523hp version of the throbbing 3.0-litre Nettuno V6 found in Maserati's MC20 supercar. In this form, the Grecale sprints to 62mph in just 3.8s, providing you select the top 'Sport' or track-orientated 'Corsa' drive modes, the latter exclusive to the Trofeo variant. The other settings, available across the range, are 'Off Road', 'Comfort' and 'GT'. The Trofeo has vast cross-drilled brake discs clamped by huge calipers, all the kind of stuff that will appeal to traditional Maserati fans. But to prosper, the brand has to appeal to non-traditional customers, hence the pure electric Grecale Folgore model you can talk to your dealer about, which offers 550hp. It's accompanied by 820Nm of torque, which means that 62mph from rest is just 4.1s away en route to a top speed that's a very un-EV-like 124mph. A big 105kWh battery offers a 250 mile range.

Design and Build

It's hard to imagine why this crossover design, not the Levante, wasn't first to market in establishing Maserati as a performance SUV manufacturer. At 4.8-metres in length, the Grecale isn't actually all that much smaller than the Levante, sitting on a 50mm-extended version of the Georgio platform that underpins its cousin, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. It certainly looks little larger than its arch-rival, the Porsche Macan. And all the usual Maserati cues are in place - trademark front grille, trio of air vents in the front wings, Trident badging and so on. The flush exterior door handles hide touch-sensitive buttons for access and once inside, you'll find yourself in a luxury cabin dripping with trademark Italian style. And a driving position that manages to be focused, yet commanding. Not all the switchgear quality emulates the standards set by German rivals, but there's certainly plenty of the required tech - a 12.3-inch digital instrument screen; a centre screen of the same size with a "Hey Maserati" voice control system; and there's also a lower centre 8.8-inch monitor, plus an optional head-up display. Sadly, the traditional Maserati centre dash clock, though still analogue in layout, is now digital. But the thick-rimmed three-spoke wheel with its huge silver paddle shifters makes up for that. Two adults will be comfortable in the back; three would need to be on quite personable terms. And there's a decently sized boot - 535-litres in the 2.0-litre models and 570-litres in the top Tofeo.

Market and Model

Maserati offers pricing from around £64,000 (for the base Grecale GT) and we can see that tempting quite a few buyers in the mid-sized luxury SUV sector. That pitches the Grecale right into the heart of the BMW X3 / Mercedes GLC / Porsche Macan segment - and it's certainly a more exclusive choice than any of those SUVs. The 'Modena' model costs around £71,000 and you'll need around £102,500 for the top Grecale Trofeo. The Folgore EV costs around £110,000. Equipment levels across the line-up include as standard leather trim and all of the usual executive niceties. There are some lovely touches too - like the way that the digital central analogue clock can also function as a Chronometer or a g-meter. There's also the usual remote access via a 'Maserati Connect' system, accessible via a smartphone app. Key extras you can specify include air suspension, a Head-up display and a 3-zone climate control system with a 6.5 inch rear touchscreen. Many customers will also want to consider the optional Sonus faber audio system upgrade which claims to offer a 360-degree music experience. Safety-wise, Maserati is offering a wide range of Level 2 Advanced Driving Assistance Systems, which it claims is the highest level of driving automation support available on the market.

Cost of Ownership

You don't think about buying a Maserati luxury SUV, then worry too much about the cost of running it. Still, if you're interested, for the base 2.0-litre GT, the Italian brand quotes a combined cycle fuel figure of between 30.7 and 32.4mpg; and a 198g/km of CO2 figure. The 2.0-litre Modena model is WLTP-rated at up to 32.1mpg and 199g/km. The V6 Trofeo variant is rated at 25.2mpg and 254g/km. Now that the Levante has established Maserati as an SUV maker, the used market should be quite comfortable when the time comes to sell this Grecale. As a result, residual values should be strong thanks to the car's relative rarity. And the 2.0-litres engine is a proven Alfa Romeo-derived unit, so is unlikely to cause any issues. The all-electric Grecale Folgore gets a 105kWh battery pack, so should offer a decent driving range, but it runs on a 400V electrical system, so won't charge as quickly as the 800V system used by some segment rivals, the Kia EV6 GT for instance. It charges at 150kW, which means you'll be able to top up from 20-80% in 29 minutes, or add 62 miles of range in 9 minutes. Whatever Grecale you decide upon, it'll come with a three year unlimited mileage warranty - better than Audi's three year / 60,000 mile package but comparable to what you'd get from rivals at Porsche, BMW and Mercedes. Service intervals are every year or every 12,500 miles, whichever comes first.

Summary

The Grecale certainly makes the performance part of the mid-sized SUV market a more interesting place. If you've already decided that you really want a rival Porsche Macan, you'll find things to criticise in this Maserati's cabin, you'll cast a few aspersions about possible build quality glitches and you might well point out that it's not quite Porsche-like on the limit. We're not going to do that because this Maserati is aimed at a slightly different kind of customer. Someone who will love the aggressive looks, the Italianate interior and the glorious roar of the top V6 Trofeo variant. All of these things make the Grecale unique in its segment. Whether this car will feel quite as appealing in all-electric form is another question. But then, only a few years ago, we'd have questioned the concept of a four-cylinder Maserati too, yet by the time of this Grecale model's launch, that was the kind of car (the Levante Hybrid) that the company was selling most of. So Maserati has changed. It should have changed sooner. But the Grecale was worth waiting for.

Body Glass

Rain sensor

Rear wiper

Rear privacy glass

Heated rear windscreen

Demist sensor

Heated windscreen washer nozzles

Infrared (IR) protection windscreen

Front and rear electric windows with anti-pinch sensor

Brakes

Hill descent control

Electronic parking brake

Hill start assist

Advanced brake assist

Integrated vehicle control

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

Brake callipers painted in red

Performance braking system - Ventilated brakes: 350mmX28mm with fixed, four piston callipers at front, 330mmX22mm with floating MOC calliper at rear

Acceleration Slip Regulation (ASR), Antilock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Motor Slip Regulation (MSR)

Vehicle domain control module (VDCM)

Carpets/Rugs

Front and rear floor mats

Chassis/Suspension

Single rate suspension

Multilink front suspension with semi virtual steering axis and multilink rear suspension with lower control arm

Suspension stiffness

Communication

E-call

Maserati connect

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Bluetooth

TBM (Telematic Box Module) for Connectivity

Driver Aids

Adaptive cruise control with Stop and Go

Electronic Power Steering (EPS)

Surround view camera system

Drive mode selector with dedicated drive modes (Comfort, GT, Offroad, Sport)

Front and rear parking sensors with rear active braking

Active lane management (active blind spot and lane keeping)

Driver Convenience

Power tailgate

Wireless charger

Start and stop engine function

Driver Information

Head up Display

Drowsy driver detection

12.3" HD touch screen central display with Maserati Intelligent Assistant (M.I.A) and satelite navigation, Android Automotive OS

Connectivity Services (Europe)

12.3" full TFT digital colour display cluster with onboard computer and driver information

8.8" multifunction comfort display with smart gestures (controls for front/rear climate, seats, headlights, ambient lighting, clock & air suspension)

Driving Mirrors

Heated door mirrors

Auto dimming exterior mirrors

Auto dimming interior frameless mirror

Power folding door mirrors including memory

Black exterior mirror housings

Embellishment Trims

Open pore Radica wood trim

Engine

Engine sound enhancement (ESEM)

Entertainment

Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB)

Sonus Faber high premium sound system (860Watts) with 14 speakers

4 USB charging port

Exterior Body Features

Rear spoiler

Black door handles

Body coloured bumpers

Electric panoramic sunroof

Aluminium front door sills

Air shutter control

Black wheel arches

Rear side wing doors

Badges in black finish

Black side skirts inserts

Front grille with vertical grille bars in piano black finish

Front splitter in black

Daylight opening (DLO) in black finish

Black antenna

Lower bumper in black

Black candybar

Quad tips exhaust system with sport valve in black finish

Exterior Lights

Puddle lights

LED daytime running lights

Full LED headlights

LED rear fog light

LED tail lights and third stop light

Automatic headlight activation with dusk sensor

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Air quality sensor

Three zone automatic climate control with rear touch screen

Interior Features

Fabric headlining trim

Rear armrest with 2 cupholders

Brushed stainless steel sports pedals

Power height and reach adjustable steering column

Trident stitching on headrest

Maserati digital smart clock on dashboard

Two front cup holders

Full premium leather upholstery for seats with campidoglio stitching

12v power outlet in cargo area

Front armrest with 12V power outlet

Drilled leather multifunction steering wheel in forged black with fixed aluminium paddle shifters and blue start stop button

Interior Lights

Ambient lighiting on dashboard and door panels

Safety

Height adjustable front seatbelts

Passenger airbag deactivation system

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Front seat mounted side airbags

Child locks on rear doors

3x3 point rear seatbelts

Front seatbelt reminder

Front seat belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters, rear seat belts with load limiters

Front and rear side curtain airbags

Driver and passenger advanced dual stage front airbags

Automated emergency braking with pedestrian recognition

Seats

Heated front seats

Heated rear seats

Front headrests

Rear headrests

Isofix

Ventilated front seats

3 seat bench in 2nd row

Rear seats with ski hatch

40/20/40 split folding rear seat

Single front passenger seat

14 way power front sports seats with driver's side memory fuction

Security

Perimeter alarm system including volumetric sensing, anti-lift device and electronic immobiliser

Cyber security level 3

Vodafone stolen vehicle recovery with automatic driver recognition and remote inhibition

Driver and front passenger doors Keyless entry and keyless go function

Second hand key fob

Service/Warranty

3 years premium service plan

Transmission

All wheel drive system

Mechanical limited slip differential (M-LSD)

ZF - 8 speed automatic transmission

Vanity Mirrors

Driver and passenger sunvisor with mirror and courtesy light

Wheels - Alloy

21" Pegaso gloss black design forged alloy wheel staggered with summer tyres

Wheels - Spare

Fix and go tyre sealing compound and electric air compressor

Emissions - ICE

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 209

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Low - TEL: 297

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Low - TEH: 313

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Medium - TEL: 192

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Medium - TEH: 200

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - High - TEL: 171

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - High - TEH: 178

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Extra High - TEL: 199

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Extra High - TEH: 209

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 211

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 202

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 84

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 90

CC: 1995

Cylinders: 4

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

Number of Valves: 16

Camshaft: DOHC

Fuel Delivery: TURBO INJECTION

Catalytic Convertor: No

Engine Layout: NORTH SOUTH

Compression Ratio: 9.5:1

Transmission: SEMI-AUTO

Gears: 8 SPEED

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEL: 21.4

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEH: 20.4

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEL: 33.2

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEH: 32.1

WLTP - MPG - High - TEL: 37.1

WLTP - MPG - High - TEH: 35.7

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEL: 32.1

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEH: 30.7

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 31.3

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 30

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEL: 13.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEH: 13.8

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEL: 8.5

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEH: 8.8

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEL: 7.6

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEH: 7.9

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEL: 8.8

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEH: 9.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 9

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 9.4

General

Coin Series: Modena Sport

Coin Description: 48V MHEV

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 4

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: No

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: 100412

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: N

Service Interval Mileage: 15000

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 12

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N

NCAP Safety Assist %: N

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N

Badge Power: 330

Badge Engine CC: 2.0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 1

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: 0

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 5.3

Top Speed: 149

Engine Power - BHP: 330

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 243

Engine Power - RPM: 5750

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 332

Engine Torque - NM: 450

Engine Torque - RPM: 2000

Engine Torque - MKG: 45.9

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 255/40 R21

Tyre Size Rear: 295/35 R21

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 21" ALLOY

Wheel Style: PEGASO

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 4847

Width: 1979

Wheelbase: 2901

Width (including mirrors): 2163

Height: 1667

Height (including roof rails): N

Weight and Capacities

Gross Vehicle Weight: 1895

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 64

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 2300

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 535

No. of Seats: 5

Max. Roof Load: 70

Exterior Body Features

Metallic paint

Special metallic paint

Packs

Advanced driver assistance level 2 pack - Grecale

Paint - Metallic

Metallic paint - Grigio Lava

Metallic paint - Bianco Astro

Metallic paint - Nero Tempesta

Paint - Solid

Solid - Bianco

Paint - Special

Special metallic - Blu Modena

Trim - Leather

Full premium leather with campidoglio stitching - Black/Grey