Road test | Maserati Grecale: winds of change

Beyond its legendary sporting track record, Maserati has fundamentally built its notoriety on its sculptural coupes and grand touring sedans. Proudly unconventional, the iconic 109-year-old Italian brand has also gone through some pretty tumultuous times under various owners, resulting in some intriguing designs. Now that the waters are less choppy under the control of Stellantis, Maserati is thinking bigger. The Grecale compact SUV is at the center of this growth strategy, but should we be happy about it?

Design

The Grecale is the second SUV to feature the trident logo. It is based on the Giorgio propulsion platform used by the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, among others, and whose wheelbase has been increased by 8 cm compared to this one. Visually, the proportions remain similar all the same, with the accent placed on a long muzzle, a sign of the longitudinal positioning of the mechanics. The overhangs are also shortened to collect everything and ensure dynamism. The identity of this Grecale is forged at the front with its oval grille with vertical bars on which sits the prestigious logo. The headlights complement the rather curved fenders and capped on the side with three “false” openings as a historical reference. This design exudes great confidence, especially if you opt for the Modena or Trofeo liveries which widen the rear tracks. That said, on the form, we detect a conformism that can be confused with… a Porsche Macan.

On board

Maserati has long cultivated its romantic image through its interiors. If his creations of the last few years borrowed too many pieces from FCA models, his new wave wants to get rid of it. The Grecale is particularly compelling in this sense, jettisoning any tangible reference to other Stellantis models. This freshness is accompanied by scents of top-stitched leather of good quality whose contrasts of black and red harmonize rather well with the textured carbon fiber of the specimen tested. The assembly is nevertheless a little uneven. Moreover, we borrow the digital age with an inferior touch screen that controls almost everything. A digital clock enthroned above the touch screen also signals the changing of the guard. Admittedly, this reorientation towards modernity is in vogue, but also makes us miss the tactile aspect and the richness of the various materials that made up luxury vehicles not so long ago.

Under the hood

The Grecale lands with a three-engine offering. Two 2.0L four-cylinder turbocharged mild hybrids producing 296 hp and 325 hp power the GT and Modena versions respectively. The Trofeo livery gets nothing but the – less powerful – heart of the MC20 supercar, a 523bhp 3.0L Nettuno twin-turbo V6. It is the middle variant that was tested. From the outset, at start-up, the character of this original Fiat mechanism gives off an astonishing expressiveness. Rough at times, it needs to be roughed up a bit to extract all its resources. After a rather marked response time before 3500 rpm despite the electric support, it activates up to the switch with a mechanical sound enhanced by the blinking of the turbocharger. This four-cylinder is not a thunderbolt, with a 0-100 km/h estimated at 5.3 s, but still manages to entertain us.

Behind the wheel

Despite obviously sharing many components with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the Maserati Grecale still manages to establish its own personality. Without having the hyperactivity of the Stelvio, its direction seems at first contact very light to the touch, but progressively places the SUV in turns. This Grecale also displays much more refinement than its Italian cousin in terms of damping and soundproofing of the running gear. Without the benefit of air springs, the Modena example tested absorbs unevenness with aplomb and consistency, but not without eliminating certain secondary oscillations. In that sense, this Grecale is expressive, continually communicating where weight shifts take place. That’s exceptional for an SUV. The eight-speed transmission supports driving pleasure by means of large fixed aluminum paddles. Braking, for its part, remains powerful and all the same flexible for an electrically assisted system.

Embedded technologies

Like many of the latest luxury compact SUVs, this Grecale is jumping into the digital world with both feet, ignoring all the physical controls, except on its steering wheel. The central core of this approach is a new Android-based multimedia system called Maserati Intelligent Assistant. It is accessed by a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Despite excellent quality graphics, this system suffers from momentary slowness when certain menus are selected. The reversing camera is also affected by a rather jerky image. In short, there are improvements to be made, but the basics are solid thanks to a great intuitiveness and a rather complete offer of features. The secondary control screen incorporates the touch volume control on the right, a curious positioning that is not very visible in the light. With regard to its sound, the chain of the Italian manufacturer Sonus faber spreads a beautiful sound depth.

The verdict

For all small manufacturers, the SUV is an essential transition path to ensure their survival and continue to offer their sports cars with limited distribution. Maserati is no exception to this fundamental principle which guides the destiny of many brands. With the Grecale, the brand with the trident no doubt diverges from its primary mission, but not without infusing it with an attractive character. Strongly balanced dynamically without shaking us like a plum tree, it displays a finesse in the crafting of its interior that few compact SUVs manage to achieve. At $77,300 as an entry ticket, the proposal is however very expensive and the bill swells briskly from one livery to another. There is also this technical promiscuity with the very competent and more affordable Alfa Romeo Stelvio. But, for some, the appeal of a brand through its exoticism is worth its weight in gold.