Given the success of Maserati's first SUV, the Levante, it's no surprise the Italian automaker fast-tracked a smaller crossover to shore up its SUV portfolio. The 2023 Maserati Grecale — named after a strong, cold Mediterranean wind — is a fitting effort, offering a standard four-cylinder in two states of tune and a range-topping ferocious twin-turbo V6.
The base GT trim uses a twin-turbo four-cylinder paired to a 48-volt mild hybrid system. The Grecale isn't a traditional hybrid, however. Instead, it uses a small electric motor to reduce the load on the gas engine, and, depending on your driving mode and style, it helps improve fuel efficiency or provide extra power. The GT makes a robust amount of low-end power — 332 lb-ft of torque — for the class, edging out the mechanically related Alfa Romeo Stelvio and four-cylinder Porsche Macan.
The Grecale Modena trim makes more power and adds a few upgrades, while the high-performance Trofeo gives full commitment with a 523-hp turbo V6 engine. Maserati plans to introduce a fully electric Grecale variant next year — the Folgore — to broaden the SUV's appeal. With nearly 600 lb-ft of torque expected, it won't have much problem finding takers.
Inside, the Grecale is a cleverly masked assembly of parent company Stellantis' parts bin. The familiar steering wheel comes from the Stelvio, and the infotainment interface recalls a similar concept in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. It's not a bad thing — similar complaints dogged the Maserati Ghibli many years earlier — but it will cause some to grumble, especially as the price crests six figures with the Trofeo trim. But even if that sounds lofty, the Grecale's prices align with its primary intended target, the Porsche Macan. While Audi, BMW and Mercedes all have small performance SUVs, the Macan is the best execution of speed, handling and luxury in the class. The 2023 Maserati Grecale may soon change that.
The 2023 Maserati Grecale is a five-passenger compact SUV available in GT, Modena and Trofeo trim levels. It offers a choice of two engines. The GT comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (296 horsepower, 332 lb-ft of torque), while the Modena uses a more powerful version of the same engine (325 hp, 332 lb-ft). The high-performance Trofeo comes with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (523 hp, 457 lb-ft). Both engines pair with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard.
GT
The base trim GT kicks off the Grecale lineup with features such as:
Modena
The Modena is equipped similarly to the GT but comes with a more powerful engine. It also adds a handful of upgraded features, including:
Trofeo
The high-performance Trofeo builds on the Modena's features with:
Several option packages and stand-alone features are available for GT and Modena trims. Highlights include:
Stand-alone features
Since it was introduced in 2015, the Porsche Macan has been the vehicle to beat in the small luxury performance SUV category. While distinct variants like the Mercedes-Benz GLC 63 and BMW X3 M are truly impressive, the fun-to-drive character of those specific vehicles doesn't really translate to their more pedestrian versions. The Macan, on the other hand, is pretty sprightly even in its base form.
The base Grecale GT is powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It's paired to a 48-volt mild hybrid system that uses an electric motor to either reduce fuel consumption or provide extra power, depending on driving mode and style. The GT produces 296 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, which is quite a lot for a base powertrain in this class. It eclipses both the mechanically related Alfa Romeo Stelvio (280 hp, 306 lb-ft) and the four-cylinder Macan (261 hp, 295 lb-ft). Maserati says that the Grecale GT manages the 0-60 mph run in 5.3 seconds — several tenths of a second quicker than either of these rivals.
The Grecale's cabin borrows bits and pieces from the Stellantis parts bin — the steering wheel is pure Stelvio, and the dual-screen infotainment system is conceptually similar to the one in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer — but the overall design is fairly cohesive. Leather is used liberally throughout the cabin, even on the base GT variant, while the performance-minded Trofeo adds carbon fiber, sport seats and contrast-color stitching.
Performance might be the Grecale's raison d'être, but it's still a luxury vehicle, after all. And that means the baby Maserati is loaded with tech features. Gaze inside, and your eyes are naturally drawn to the center stack, which is composed of two touchscreens. The 12.3-inch upper screen controls the infotainment system, controls one of two available Sonus Faber audio systems (the top-tier model has 21 speakers), and features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Move your eyes downward, past the row of shifter buttons, and you'll see a lower 8.8-inch screen that offers climate control and other vehicle functions. The only part of the Grecale's interior that looks incongruous is the new digital clock that sits atop the dash — like pairing a Brioni suit with an Apple Watch.
Edmunds saysPorsche has been the master of small performance SUVs since it launched the Macan in 2015, and it's run virtually unopposed ever since. The 2023 Maserati Grecale's intriguing powertrain lineup and sumptuous interior show that it has the goods to pose a significant challenge to the Macan's dominance.
