It’s been seven years since Maserati launched its medium SUV, the Levante, and the luxury Italian brand has followed that up with the Bellissimo Grecale compact SUV.

The Grecale has been added to the Maserati range to attract a new buyer and a new ethos for it, calling it  “The Everyday Exceptional”.

This means it can be used on a day-to-day basis in luxury and comfort, all while having plenty of performance on tap. And performance is something Maserati says should be a part of your daily routine. 

With competition from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Audi, Jaguar and Lexus, Maserati created a stylish compact SUV that has European charm, timeless design and the brand’s famous trident proudly centre of the grille.

Maserati Grecale sits on a modified Giorgio platform that also underpins the Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan Stelvio SUV.

The Grecale has generous dimensions; 4,846 mm long with a wheelbase of 2,901 mm, a height of 1,670 mm, and a width of 2,163 mm (including wing mirrors). With a rear wheel track of 1,948 mm (which becomes larger in the Trofeo), it has a distinctively sporty appearance.

Although sitting in the compact SUV segment, the Grecale can fit five adults, though the middle rear passenger has limited foot room due to the transmission tunnel running through the vehicle.

The Grecale boasts an impressive set of best-in-class features, including spaciousness and comfort, driveability, handling, acceleration (0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds – on the Trofeo), top speed (285 km/h – again on the Trofeo).

The Grecale offers a wide range of powertrains, including conventional internal combustion engines, hybrids, and in the future, full-electric options. The new SUV offers a unique blend of luxury, performance, and style, while also being an everyday car that can be used for commuting or family outings.

The Grecale is designed to deliver exceptional performance, with features like an advanced all-wheel-drive system and air suspension standard on Trofeo providing excellent handling and a thrilling driving experience.

Grant Barling, General Manager for Maserati New Zealand said, “The Grecale is an SUV that offers exceptional performance and luxury, combined with versatility and practicality. We are excited to introduce this model to the New Zealand market and believe it will be well-received by Maserati enthusiasts and new customers alike.” 

The Grecale is currently available in New Zealand in three versions: GT (priced from $124,000), Modena ($145,000), and Trofeo ($186,000),  with a full-electric version, Folgore, recently revealed at the Shanghai Auto Show.

I tested the GT and Trofeo with the top-spec Grecale gains more power, performance and handling.

The GT has a 48-volt mild-hybrid version of the 2-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 220kW and 450Nm with an eight-speed automatic transmission sending drive to all four wheels. The 48-volt mild-hybrid system does its best work down low in the rev range, adding some urgency to lowdown acceleration before the turbocharger spools up to do the heavy lifting.

The GT has four driving modes: off-road, comfort, GT, and sport. I kept it in comfort most of the time driving it around city roads, then GT for hitting the motorway with it holding the gears longer. But I felt it didn’t need sport mode as it wasn’t at its optimum performance unless you were going over 110km/h.

The Trofeo boasts a 3-litre twin-turbocharged Nettuno V6 and is used in Maserati’s MC20 sports car. Power is 395kW while torque is at 620Nm. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Trofeo has five driving modes; off-road, comfort, GT, sport and Corsa. The two latter ones stiffen handling and steering, while they hold the gears for longer than in comfort or GT mode. For example, I dialled in sport on the motorway, and it was still in fourth gear when I hit 100km/h.

With Corsa mode, all driver assistant functions, such as lane keep assist, are cancelled, so this makes it great if you want to do a track day in the Grecale Trofeo. Even better, just think what it would be like driving on autobahns with no speed limit!

The Corsa model also offers the driver the most extreme experience; the pedals are highly sensitive and responsive. The gear change is faster while Traction control is less active and Launch Control is switched on.

The Trofeo also has an off-road mod to improve all-terrain performance and driving control, efficiency is slightly reduced compared to the Comfort and GT modes. The gear change is gradual. The rev-limiter is activated and the driving height is set to “High”, +20 mm.

I don’t expect to see a lot of Trofeo owners towing boats, horse floats or taking the trailer to the rubbish trip instead think of field-side at the polo!

Inside the quiet cabin, the Grecale has a touch-based interior, featuring various displays for easy interaction. The car boasts a digital cluster, a 12.3” central infotainment screen - the largest ever seen in a Maserati - and a smaller 8.8” comfort display with extra controls and a new digital clock face. The car also features the latest in technical innovation, including the Maserati Intelligent Assistant (MIA) Multimedia system, and the Heads-up Display, available as an option.

The Grecale overall is a stunning-looking SUV that has an exterior similar to its main competitor, the Porsche Macan. What about the Grceale Trofeo competition? The Macan GTS is equal when it comes to performance while Merdeces-AMG’s GLC 63S also lines up alongside the Italian car. BMW joins in with the MX5, Audi has the SQ5 and Japan’s Lexus RX is added to the performance SUV category. And let’s not forget the British Jaguar F-Pace SVR.

While the Trofeo is built for everyday performance, there is a downside; it’s thirsty. I averaged 13.8 litres/100km although I had tested it in sport and Corsa mode and driven it hard on the motorway. But even driving in comfort mode sees the fuel tank depreciate quickly.

If you are looking for a luxury compact SUV, then I recommend you add the Grecale to your shopping list.

Ciao!