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2023 Maserati Grecale Review: Blazing its Own Trail

Maserati hasn’t been the fastest luxury automaker to venture into the SUV landscape, but here it is in 2023 with a second model (after the Levante). This is a capable new competitor to the likes of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Porsche Macan and Mercedes-Benz GLC out of Germany, plus the Cadillac XT5, Genesis GV70, Jaguar F-Pace and Lexus NX on what we’ll call the world squad.

2023 Maserati Grecale: What to know

The compact SUV seats five on a body based on the Stellantis company’s Giorgio platform, also used for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio – which is actually a fairly close cousin to this Maserati. The Grecale does get a wheelbase that’s 80 mm longer, and we should point out that Maserati went to a lot effort to make this model distinctive and unique in the Stellantis stable. To great success, because this SUV looks and feels like its own breed.

The Grecale comes in three trims: base GT version, the Modena model we drove, and the range-topping Trofeo, the highest-performance variant. The GT and Modena work with a hybrid powertrain, while the Trofeo gets a V6 engine we know from the MC20 model.

Note as well that the new all-electric Folgore variant is coming sometime before the end of this year.

The exterior of the 2023 Maserati Grecale: 8.5/100

First note we made regarding this SUV is that it’s in very good taste, all told. If Maserati was going for a sophisticated, refined and non-garish look, it has succeeded. The typical Maserati front grille is in place and it’s big but not ostentatious, and behind it the Grecale’s stance is athletic and slightly aggressive, but not in your face so. There’s no overdose of cuts and lines on the side panels and the back end is subdued, though we do find boomerang rear lights, and on the Trofeo model, dual exhaust tips. Note finally that the Modena and Trofeo have a track that’s wider by 33 mm than that of the GT.

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