Maserati Grecale Test Drive: Haute Couture on Wheels

Many of the color options are toned down, but for those who want to make a statement, it’s easy to project that this SUV means business. Buyers can customize the ultimate Grecale with Maserati’s Fuoriserie program that allows you to build your dream car. Even Barbie’s Dream Car is a Maserati, predictably decked out in bright pink with neon green trim and black gloss Barbie logos. Only two of these iconic Maseratis exist.

Related: Our 10 Favorite European Luxury SUVs, From Practical to Pricey

But back to our Giallo Yellow tester. Opening the beautifully built door, you’re welcomed by a sophisticated black leather interior tickled with matching Giallo Corse stitching and Maserati Trident embellishments. Bolstered seats stitched with chevron details and 14-way power adjustment beckon you to slide right in and make it purr (more about that later).

When you first slip behind the wheel, it feels like a combination of luxury refinement crossed with a sports car. The leather seats and steering wheel feel just right, and the combination of textiles and textures across the dash, door, and center console come together to continue the theme of luxury performance. The driver is not only comfortable but has access to every control within a short reach.

Start it up and the Grecale Trofeo introduces you to the first sounds of the twin-turbo V6. Like a symphonic interlude, nyou can sense that there is something more coming, but the interlude is both calming and exciting at the same time.

Kick it off with a roar that is punctuated by what we could eloquently call a throat-clearing bark, but some have jokingly called a fart. Either way, it’s undeniably playful to pounce down the road, it’s engine throaty and loud. It’s not for the quiet or timid. It looks good, and it sounds good, too.

To awaken it, shift into Sport mode or for more power, Corsa mode and the symphony starts to awaken. The throaty engine is ready in anticipation. Negotiating traffic is like conducting an orchestra, gestures that raise the tempo, articulation that guides the pulse of those around you. And the road ahead is yours and your foot gets heavy on the throttle, there’s a thunderous rendition of power. Purrs, growls and barks on command.

If you need just a bit more from the symphony, here’s a Maserati Grecale Trofeo Vibe Check playlist that (in my opinion) is the perfect accompaniment.

As a luxury performance SUV, the Maserati Grecale hits all the points, including a fully robust Sonus Faber 21-speaker sound system. You can listen all day long and it’ll hit all the happy notes. It was blissful.

The one sour note, however, was, as a driver with a disability, the paddle shifters. . They are positioned behind the steering wheel, a feature that is present in many vehicles. But in this particular case, they’re a little too close to the steering wheel. I have difficulty with finger dexterity and found that I often hit the paddles when I slid my fingers around the wheel. Drivers making quick hand motions may have the same experience; it’s something worth noting, especially if you love paddle shifting.

My dexterity struggles aside, when you want to put a smile on your face, shift from Comfort mode to one of the sportier modes like GT or Sport. The Grecale Trofeo is ready for action, and a few thrills, and the suspension and steering become more responsive, as does the 523-horsepower Nettuno V6.

The 8 speed transmission shifts even quicker and it’s said to be able to rocket from a standstill to 60 mph in a blistering 3.6 seconds.

This Maserati SUV also does surprisingly well when challenged with twisty, curvy roads. It’s amazing to take the same car you used to take the kids to school during the week on a fun weekend drive that is usually reserved for much smaller, dedicated sports cars.

For a beefy SUV, it feels really nimble as you navigate around corners. The suspension keeps everything well managed so you can stay focused on the road. The eager powertrain is ready to leap to the next corner, of course with an accompanying growl.

But most will be using this car for everyday commutes or errands, and it shines there as well. Switch to Comfort mode and the suspension and engine growl are both tamed. It absorbs potholes and speed bumps so you can enjoy the luxury of the well-appointed cabin and stereo.

• Its regal looks
• The 360 camera is SUPER helpful
• The trunk has a TON of room with lots of adjustable fixation points
• The double-decker multimedia display is snappy, responsive, and packed with functionality
• The adaptive air suspension and electronic damping created ideal riding conditions
• The dash is the perfect combo of manual touches and electronic conveniences
• Did I say its looks?

The Maserati Grecale Trofeo is such beautiful car, in fact, that I found myself unintentionally spying photo ops in the most random places. Buying avocados on the side of the road, I saw jolly yellow sunflowers bobbing in the wind that were just begging for a selfie with the Grecale.

Simply sitting in my driveway with the sun kissing its glossy, clean exterior (because you HAVE to keep a car like this clean), I couldn’t resist capturing a photo with a waving palm tree in the background.

It’s a beautiful machine that feels elevated and luxurious. Perhaps you should try it on for size and take it for a strut on the catwalk, er, road.

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