If you want an indicator on what type of vehicles the market is currently leaning toward, all you need to do is take a simple look at the current lineup of traditional sportscar manufacturers like Porsche and Maserati. While the sales figures of these two used to be dominated by sporty cars in the past, SUVs now make up the majority of their overall tally. This is why a compact luxury SUV from Maserati called the Grecale was pretty much bound to happen already.

Competing with the likes of the Porsche Macan and Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the Maserati Grecale is the Italian luxury automaker’s first foray into the compact luxury SUV segment. For the U.S. market, the Grecale will come in three trims: GT, Modena, and the performance-oriented Trofeo.

Read our review of the Grecale Trofeo. }}

What’s New for the 2023 Maserati Grecale?

The Maserati Grecale rides on the FCA Giorgio platform, which is also shared with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The Grecale will be the last car from the Stellantis group of automakers that will utilize this platform due to it being less flexible in accommodating a range of electrified powertrains. Nevertheless, the Grecale will also be available as a fully-electric Folgore version.

Design-wise, the Maserati Grecale looks properly stylish for a compact luxury SUV. It certainly stands out in a sea of cookie-cutter premium offerings like the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Lexus NX, just to name a few. There’s the brand’s signature grille with the Trident badge proudly sitting up front, along with a dynamic side profile that’s characterized by clean lines and a sloping rear end. At the rear, sleek LED taillights give the Grecale an imposing look at night. Overall, while the Grecale does look stylish relative to its competitors, it does look a bit too similar to the midsize Levante.

Pros and Cons

2023 Maserati Grecale Trims

2023 Maserati Grecale Exterior

Dimensions

Exterior Colors

2023 Maserati Grecale Performance

Engine and Transmission

Handling and Driving Impressions

Riding on the same platform as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, we won’t be surprised if the Maserati Grecale will be just as sporty to drive, with sharp steering and excellent body control. Refinement levels should also be good for the class. All engines come with an eight-speed automatic that’s made by ZF, and if past experiences with this transmission from BMW, among other brands, are an indicator of what’s to come for the Grecale, then we should expect a vehicle that comes with a transmission that shifts telepathically quick and very smooth.

The 296-HP GT variant should be good enough for most people, and it’s also the trim we recommend. If you want a bit more power, you can, of course, splurge on the Modena or even the V-6-powered Trofeo altogether. Available as standard on the Trofeo but as an optional extra for the rest of the lineup is an air suspension that varies its damping depending on the drive mode.

Also interesting to note is the upcoming fully-electric Folgore trim. Unfortunately, details about the Folgore are very scarce at the moment, but we do expect it’ll pack around 500 horsepower as well as a dual-motor electric powertrain.

2023 Maserati Grecale Gas Mileage

2023 Maserati Grecale Interior

Seating and Interior Space

Interior Colors and Materials

The 2023 Maserati Grecale has been graced with the brand’s most modern interior aesthetic yet. Interior quality and layout haven’t been a strong suit for Maserati, but they’ve somehow nailed it with the Grecale. As expected, the interior is wrapped in leather and trimmed in various metals or wood, depending on your preferences. The luxury SUV will arrive this fall 2022, and more information regarding its interior colors and trim choices will be released by then.

2023 Maserati Grecale Trunk and Cargo Space

The Maserati Grecale offers 18 cubic-feet of space, which, surprisingly, is actually two less than the range-topping Trofeo. This is probably due to the fact that the four-cylinder models are actually mild hybrids, and therefore come with a battery that eats into trunk space.

2023 Maserati Grecale Infotainment and Features

Infotainment

The 2023 Maserati Grecale utilizes the brand’s latest Maserati Intelligent Assistant (MIA) infotainment system that’s operated via two screens. Most functions are accessed via the main 12.3-inch touch screen—which is the largest in any Maserati to date. There’s also a secondary angled 8.8-inch screen for the climate and other vehicle functions. Unfortunately, Maserati’s designers significantly reduced the amount of hard interior buttons, which often makes interacting with the vehicle more distracting.

The Maserati Grecale Trofeo also comes with a fully digital gauge cluster. And if you’re a fan of Maserati’s signature analog clock, then you’d be sad to know that it’s now a color screen as well. Also known as the digital smartwatch, the fourth screen not only displays the time, but it can also act as the G-force meter, among other vehicle information.

2023 Maserati Grecale Problems and Reliability

Warranty

Each new Maserati comes with a transferrable 4-year/50,000-mile warranty, whichever comes first, and this also applies to the drivetrain, corrosion, and the complimentary roadside assistance. Maserati, however, has a spotty record in terms of reliability. This is where you might want to consider their extended warranty, which is available in two versions.

The Full Coverage Plan extends your vehicle's warranty by up to two years from when your standard warranty ends (six years in total). The warranty’s mileage limit is also extended by up to 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, of course. There's also a Powertrain Limited Plan, which adds another one year or 100,000 miles to your vehicle’s standard powertrain warranty (five years in total). Pricing varies across all dealers.

2023 Maserati Grecale Safety

Since this car is still too new and is still being homologated for the North American market, the Maserati Grecale has not yet been officially rated by the NHTSA. Stay tuned to this page if you want to keep yourselves updated regarding some of the Grecale’s critical information.

Key Safety Features

The 2023 Maserati Grecale range comes with features such as a 360-degree camera, radar-guided adaptive cruise control, active lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitor, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, just to name a few. Do note, however, that some of these features aren’t offered as standard, and are instead part of an optional package. More information will be released as the Grecale’s on-sale date draws nearer.

Verdict: Is the 2023 Maserati Grecale a Good Car?

If you want a luxury compact crossover SUV that has the flair of the Trident badge, then the Maserati Grecale serves as a more emotionally-appealing choice compared to the more sensible and straightforward German competition. It’s one of the most expensive on the lot, but for those who want to stand out in a sea of German competitors, the Grecale should definitely be on your shortlist.

What’s the Price of the 2023 Maserati Grecale

Unfortunately, full pricing for the entire Maserati Grecale range has not yet been revealed. The only information we know is that the range will kick off with the base GT at under $65,000, which makes this one of the priciest compact luxury SUVs in its class.

2023 Maserati Grecale Models

- Grecale GT

- Grecale Modena

Additional Packages

- TBA

What new 2023 Maserati Grecale Should I Buy?

The range kicks off with the Grecale GT, which Maserati says will start at under $65,000. Given that the GT and Modena share the same powertrains, we would recommend just sticking to this trim and then adding a few optional extras to make it more attractive or high-tech. For most people, the GT’s 296-horsepower engine should be more than enough, but if you want a bit more power, you can then splurge for the 325-horsepower Modena trim.

If you want the ultimate Grecale, then you might as well splurge for the top-trim Trofeo model, which we have a separate review of. Additionally, the electric Folgore trim is coming out a few years from now, and it should be worth considering if you’re into the idea of a Maserati that’s powered by electrons.

2023 Maserati Grecale Comparisons

2023 Maserati Grecale vs 2022 Porsche Macan

The Macan is expected to be the sportier of the two vehicles, as typical of every Porsche. It's a much more precise machine, albeit one that's a bit less emotional compared to the Grecale. Still, if the kind of luxury crossover SUV that you want is the sportiest out there, then there's nothing else quite like the Porsche Macan.

Read our review of the 2022 Porsche Macan.

2023 Maserati Grecale vs 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Sharing the same platform as the Grecale, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a much more raw machine compared to its Maserati sibling. It's also much more affordable, too, with a starting price that's nearly $20,000 less than the base Grecale GT. But where the Grecale excels in luxury and craftsmanship is where the Stelvio falls short. Not surprising again, because the Stelvio is a much older car with a lower starting price as well.

Read our review of the 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio.