The 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo looks the part. From any angle, on the move or at standstill, it’s a beautiful SUV. But, it has bigger fish to fry than simply winning the style game. Trent Nikolic straps into Maserati’s newest flagship SUV to find out just how competitive it will be in the fast, luxury SUV segment.
2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo
If you’re anything like me, you’re still questioning the legitimacy of fast SUVs. Maybe ‘legitimacy’ is the wrong word? Perhaps ‘necessity’ is more apt? In that, do we really need them?
Most of us have now begrudgingly accepted that sports car makers have permanently entered the ranks of SUV manufacturing. I write ‘most’ of us, because some strident fans still hate the whole idea. However, most of us, even the enthusiasts, have taken it as inevitable.
In fact, peek inside the garage of any house where a 911 lives, and you’re likely to see a Macan or Cayenne sharing garage space. So, it seems even buyers within the brands have accepted it, too, and we all know the story of the SUV saving the 911’s bacon of course. I’d still rather Ferrari and Lamborghini weren’t building SUVs, though…
However, fast SUVs, truly fast SUVs, are another step along the evolutionary path. Why does anyone need a fast SUV? Yes, I realise that in Australia, no one needs a fast anything, but a sports car or supercar is designed primarily to do one thing very well. Go fast. And, as a general rule, they undertake that task extremely well.
An SUV is, and perhaps always will be, the automotive equivalent of the Swiss Army knife, though. Already required to accommodate adults (or parents and kids) in comfort, carry their luggage, ride reasonably comfortably, deal with the daily grind, use as little fuel as possible to get the job done and deliver everyday practicality, a fast SUV has an added requirement.
It must be able to do all of that, and then tackle a twisty back road – or track day for that matter – with competence. There is effectively no other vehicle that needs to master as many broadly disparate talents (Range Rover Autobiography aside) than the fast SUV.
Even now, with the technological and engineering leaps, it seems like a bridge too far, and in the past we’ve found ourselves suggesting you buy a cheap daily driver and a sports car for the same money as one genuinely fast SUV. If you had 180 grand to spend, you can buy a formidable sports car for, say, $150K and use the money left over to buy your runaround. It isn’t as silly as the idea might seem.
There are exceptions, though – and the Porsche Macan has always been one of them. Cayenne is fast, but Macan is lighter, more nimble and sharper everywhere in terms of performance. Mercedes-Benz GLC63 AMG is another, as is the BMW X3 M Competition. And yet, in the face of newer competition, the Macan still sets the standard.
It’s this shootout that the Maserati Grecale comes sauntering into, Spaghetti Western style. Stylish, all the swagger and bravado, and an explosion of power under the skin, threatening to take the competition out with one dead-eye shot. Who’d have thought back in the glory days that Maserati and Porsche would be duking it out at dawn in an SUV shootout? Probably no one.
How much does the Maserati Grecale cost in Australia?
There’s no doubt the Grecale is a styling stunner. From any angle, this is a beautiful SUV with all the style and design subtlety we expect from an Italian manufacturer.
Out on the road, it cuts a sharp figure in any company, and will look just as much at home in a premium hotel valet as it will blasting along a country back road.
The 2023 Grecale range is simple, with three models to choose from depending on your budget. There’s no such thing as a ‘cheap’ Grecale, of course, and the range opens with the GT, which starts from $114,900 before on-road costs. Next, there’s the step up to the Modena, which asks for $135,900 before on-road costs.
Finally, there’s the Trofeo – Italian for Trophy – we’re testing here, which starts from $174,900 before on-road costs. What price a properly fast SUV then? $174,900 before on-road costs is the simple answer to that question.
There’s monster performance on offer too. A slightly detuned version of the MC20 Supercar’s engine to be precise, with a wet sump rather than dry sump design, and a deficit of 73kW. However, 390kW and 620Nm is a hefty delivery of power and torque to power a two-tonne SUV.
0–100km/h takes just 3.8 seconds – more on that later – and the family history that links it directly to the MC20 means the Grecale’s performance is nothing to be sneezed at. Top speed is limited to 285km/h.
You’re not just paying for the engine, though. The Trofeo gets other equipment additions, not just to deliver on the luxury the buyer will expect, but also to deal with the extra power and performance on offer. Trofeo therefore has bigger brakes, height-adjustable adaptive air suspension, an electronically locking rear diff, and four drive modes.
The ‘lesser’ Grecale models get three – Comfort, GT and Sport – but the Trofeo gets an added Corsa mode. It sharpens up throttle response along with gear shifts and braking response, while also tweaking the electronic traction and stability systems to allow the driver to control more of the action.
If you buy the entry-grade Maserati Grecale GT, standard features include 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights/tail-lights, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start and a quality, 14-speaker audio system. Step up to Trofeo, though, and you get 21-inch staggered wheels, 14-way adjustable front seats with memory and heating, a panoramic sunroof, carbon-fibre trim, premium leather trim, three-zone air conditioning and an electric tailgate.
Our tester is fitted with options including premium paint, the Tech Assistance Pack, black brake calipers, and an even punchier premium audio system. You can see the pricing breakdown with those options added in the table below.
| Key details | 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo |
| Price | $174,900 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Grigio Lava |
| Options | Tech Assistance Pack – $3290 – Head-up display – IR protection windscreen – Wireless phone charging Premium audio system – $5950 Metallic paint – $2150 Black brake calipers – $650 |
| Price as tested | $186,940 plus on-road costs |
| Drive-away price | N/A |
| Rivals | Porsche Macan GTS | BMW X3 M | Mercedes-Benz GLC63 AMG |
How much space does the Maserati Grecale have inside?
Grecale Trofeo’s cabin, and the execution of it, is fantastic. Luxury buyers with deep pockets expect luxury cabins, and the Grecale’s is spot on in that regard. The lashings of red leather make an immediate impact when you open the door and there has been attention lavished on every detail.
It’s not just beautifully designed, though, it’s also beautifully appointed and trimmed. That’s the case no matter where you look throughout the cabin too.
That signature Italian design flair mixes with attention to detail and high-end craftsmanship to deliver a beautiful experience whether you’re the driver or passenger. Even sportier aspects of the cabin like the carbon-fibre trim is tastefully executed and doesn’t look like Maserati is trying too hard. The large glass sunroof, the electric door latches, the sculpting of the seats, and the touch points inside the cabin, are all exceptional.
Crucially, for the medium SUV buyer, it’s as functional as it is beautiful. It feels like a special place to be, but it also works for daily duties in terms of all the smaller items we carry around whether we need them or not. With four screens inside the cabin, positioning them smartly is key, and Maserati has done just that in terms of accessing and using the screens to command the things you need.
Grecale has more length in the wheelbase than Macan, and as such, the second row is more spacious and comfortable, especially for adults. Think of it as a four-seater, though, because the hump that runs through the centre of the floor takes up some leg space. Kids will be fine in the middle of the second row, taller adults, not so much.
Those two outboard seats are heated, and there’s a fold-down centre armrest. Two USB charge ports and ventilation will keep back seat passengers happy.
The second-row seatbacks fold down in a 60:40 split and access an effective 535-litre luggage compartment, which will easily work for the modern family in terms of the school run or weekend sports activities. If you’ve got two hefty prams, for example, you might have some space issues, but you’ll otherwise be sorted.
| 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 535L seats up |
| Length | 4859mm |
| Width | 1979mm |
| Height | 1659mm |
| Wheelbase | 2901mm |
Does the Maserati Grecale have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
If you love screens, you’ll love the Grecale Trofeo, which features three digital interfaces (four, if you count the clock) in its impressive technological arsenal. The centrepiece is the 12.3-inch touchscreen that hosts Maserati’s infotainment system, and it works well.
The system is equipped with the usual array of features you’d expect in a vehicle costing as much as the Trofeo, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB+, proprietary satellite navigation, and Bluetooth connectivity. It runs an Android-based operating system complete with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant that tries its best to implement your voice commands. I’m still not a fan of voice functionality in any car, and generally avoid it once I’ve tried it a few times to test it.
The screen itself is neatly integrated into the dash, blending down into another – smaller – screen. This one measures 8.8 inches and it primarily hosts the Grecale’s climate-control functions. While we would normally cry foul at the lack of physical switchgear, especially for climate functionality, having a dedicated screen does alleviate the problem of having to scroll, prod, and dig through menus to effect any changes. It’s a thoughtfully laid out screen, with all key functions easily identifiable and usable.
The 12.3-inch digital instrument display is configurable to suit, with traditional-looking dials augmented by a range of driving and trip data. It can also show route guidance with simple but effective mapping projected between regular driving info such as speed and engine revolutions.
An optional head-up display – as fitted to our test car as part of the Tech Assistance Pack – adds another layer of information for the driver, projecting data such as speed directly onto the windscreen and in the line of sight.
The wireless charging pad in our tester (also part of the Tech Assistance Pack) keeps your smartphone powered or you can, if you prefer, use one of the two USB plugs up front – one older-style USB-A and another contemporary USB-C. Two more USB plugs are in the second row – again, Maserati has hedged its bets with one of each.
Is the Maserati Grecale a safe car?
The Maserati Grecale has not been crash-tested by Australia’s safety body ANCAP. Nor has Euro NCAP – ANCAP’s European counterpart – put the Grecale to the test.
| 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo | |
| ANCAP rating | Untested |
What safety technology does the Maserati Grecale have?
Despite the fact that it’s untested, the Maserati Grecale is nevertheless fitted with a comprehensive suite of safety technology that comes standard across the range.
Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, tyre pressure monitoring, driver attention alert, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function are all standard. Six airbags are also standard.
How much does the Maserati Grecale cost to maintain?
We’d like to see a longer warranty than the three years/unlimited kilometres that the Grecale range is covered by at the moment. An extension out to five years would be more in line with the rest of the market now in Australia.
Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, and over the first three years, those services will cost $3361. If the Trofeo were mine, I’d also be booking in for an interim oil and filter change between services, just for added safety, even though it’s not recommended. I’ve got family members doing it between services for Kias, for example.
The Grecale Trofeo will cost a hefty $5884.27 per annum to comprehensively insure based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
| At a glance | 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo |
| Warranty | Three years, unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Servicing costs | $3361 (3 years) |
Is the Maserati Grecale fuel-efficient?
I was surprised by how fuel-efficient the Grecale was in the real world. Maserati claims 11.2L per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle, which for a powertrain this formidable is more than acceptable. We covered more than 550km in the Grecale during our testing and the average was 13.5L/100km. Given there was plenty of fun had during that time, 13.5L/100km is quite palatable.
It does require premium fuel, and has a 64L tank, so you can expect a cruising range around the 450km mark with a safety buffer around town. On the highway, the live reading was regularly sitting below 10L/100km, meaning it will settle into an efficient cruise once you’re out on the open road.
Fuel Consumption – brought to you by bp
| Fuel Useage | Fuel Stats |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 11.2L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 13.5L/100km |
| Fuel type | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| Fuel tank size | 64L |
What is the Maserati Grecale like to drive?
Run through the numbers and it’s impossible not to be impressed by the Grecale’s theoretical machismo. The 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged engine hammers out 390kW at 6500rpm and 620Nm between 3000 and 5500rpm, despite Maserati referring to it as ‘detuned’.
The good news is that machismo doesn’t stay theoretical – it translates to on-road, real-world performance. An excellent eight-speed sports automatic works its magic with the engine, along with a competent AWD system.
If Grecale has any intention of going head-to-head with the best, it’s here in the drivetrain where that magic must happen. Tipping the scales at 2027kg, the Grecale Trofeo isn’t exactly a lightweight, but the snorting power it generates negates that to the tune of 192kW per tonne. Impressive.
With peak torque available from 3000rpm, the Grecale crawls effortlessly around town, right up to highway speed. Even in Comfort or GT mode, overtaking and quick moves from 40 or 60km/h up to 100km/h are almost comically effortless. You get the sense, from the second you hear the V6 burble into life, that there is serious performance on offer here.
You don’t quite forget that the Grecale is an SUV, but that reality is less noticeable than any other I have driven. This isn’t a sports car, but man it blurs the boundaries in impressive fashion. The default driving mode when you push the steering-wheel-mounted starter button is GT, and it’s a tune that works really well on our crappy road surfaces.
The quality of the bump absorption around town in GT mode is excellent. A number of Drive testers noted the same quality of ride. You could use Comfort mode if you want to, but you don’t need it unless you’re on an awful stretch of road. That ride quality comes despite the whopping 21-inch rims and thin Bridgestone Potenza Sport tyres – 255/40 R21 front and 295/35 R21 rear.
Skip Sport and move over to Corsa – specific to Trofeo – and you’re met with a rock-hard, track-ready suspension set-up. In other words, Corsa delivers the intent you’d expect and probably demand. Corsa isn’t the drive mode for regular roads, but you’ll be able to embarrass plenty of sports cars on-track if you take your Grecale Trofeo there.
If you’re on-track, flat-out in Corsa mode, I suspect the Grecale Trofeo is a weapon. Against the claim of 3.8 seconds, we rolled off back-to-back 3.9-second runs to 100km/h letting the Grecale shift gears for itself. It’s rapid, make no mistake about that. The cracking rifle shot on gearshifts is a reminder of the supercar that lurks beneath the skin.
The excellent all-wheel-drive system has the ability to channel the drive where it wants to, up to fully rear-wheel drive, but you’d have to be switched on to feel what’s happening and when, and the electronic rear diff does its thing seamlessly as well. There’s a general smoothness to everything the powertrain does, regardless how hard you’re asking the Grecale Trofeo to work.
Insulation in the cabin is also excellent, leaning more toward luxury than outright sports performance, which fits nicely with the luxury ethos of the Grecale Trofeo. It’s an SUV that is never far from either cosseting luxury or outright performance, depending on the mood you’re in, and how much you want to hook in.
That it does two distinctly different jobs as effortlessly as it does is genuinely impressive, and that it can deliver one without sacrificing the other is testament to the engineering that Maserati has put into this SUV.
| Key details | 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo |
| Engine | 3.0-litre V6 twin petrol |
| Power | 390kW @ 6500rpm |
| Torque | 620Nm @ 3000–5500rpm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Eight-speed torque converter automatic |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 192kW/t |
| Weight (tare) | 2027kg |
| Spare tyre type | Tyre repair kit |
| Turning circle | 12.4m |
Should I buy a Maserati Grecale?
I wasn’t expecting to drive the 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo and discover that we have a segment-busting contender on our hands. And yet, in isolation, this Italian SUV has what it takes to give the Porsche Macan an almighty headache.
The Grecale Trofeo looks sensational, its engine is as much at home in an SUV as it is in the supercar that donated it, and the chassis is absolutely superb. Both in terms of ride and handling. This is a fantastic performance SUV that is brutally capable on any road.
A comparison test awaits to see if Porsche finally has the battle on its hands we suspect it might. Plenty have tried, but it seems Maserati has delivered.
How do I buy a Maserati Grecale – next steps?
Luxury ownership obviously doesn’t come cheap, but it also doesn’t come immediately. In other words, chances are you’re going to have to place an order and wait a few months for your Grecale Trofeo to arrive. Especially if you want to order one of the special optional colours. The model range is simple, and as far as performance flagships go, you won’t find me trying to talk you out of buying the Trofeo specification.
If you don’t have the budget to stretch to the Trofeo, of course, you can still opt for the GT or Modena, which sit below it in terms of power and cost. The Grecale is, intrinsically, an excellent chassis and in turn SUV.
The next steps on the purchase journey are to check the Maserati website for stock of your preferred Trofeo variant and to place your order, where you can customise to your heart’s content. You can also find Maseratis for sale at Drive.com.au/cars-for-sale.
If you want to stay up to date on the latest Maserati news, you’ll find all the latest news here.
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