The ZF eight-speed is a lovely gearbox, slurring changes when needed, kicking down fast when full power is required and responding quickly to the steering-wheel paddles. The Sport setting leaves it in a higher gear than you’d normally choose, but it’s ready for the call.
Will you notice the extra 30bhp of the Modena version? Probably not, but most folk will take it because more is more and the higher power doesn’t punish you too much at the pumps.
The Trofeo is the diva of the range –expensive, the V6 lovely to listen to, technically accomplished … and quite nice to hand back before you face the bills. And while it’s something of a dragster, when it comes to a corner, particularly a bumpy one, it reveals every single one of its extra 187kg over the weight of the Modena.
Like all of these high-riding SUVs, the Grecale has to satisfy the need to ride gently while giving the impression of cornering like a sports car, and the result of this moderation is seldom completely satisfactory.
With all-round independent suspension, Maserati has achieved a good compromise for the air-suspended cars, but a brilliant compromise for the standard steel suspension, which rides well, steers with precision and corners with lean but not sloppiness.
The standard chassis feels well balanced and surprisingly comfortable compared with Porsche’s Macan. This new Maserati, entering one of the most heavily competitive classes of car, feels like one of those left-field choices that turns out to be a surprisingly sound one.
You’ll have your own views on whether Maserati should be providing well-heeled families with SUVs such as this, but then you’d probably have to have the same opinion on Porsche and its equivalent as well.
As it stands, the Grecale is good-looking, with a fine combination (for the class) of ride and handling, while the overall dynamics are impressive. But this is an expensive car – prohibitively so if you dig deep into the options list – and you can have a desirable Porsche Macan with a V6 engine for less whether you buy it outright or take a PCP finance deal.
What’s more, as with any car, Maserati’s claims of great residual values (RV) are hot air until you sell your Grecale or realise the final value settlement after a three-year lease. It’s still a risk, but unlike in the past, the Grecale is slightly less of an affair of the heart and more one of the head.
The facts
Body style: Five-door family SUV
On sale: Summer 2023 (Folgore battery-electric version follows later this year)
How much? range £61,570 to £99,700 (£67,180 as tested)
How fast? 149mph, 0-62mph in 5.3sec
How economical? 30.7mpg to 32.5mpg (WLTP combined), 28.5mpg on test
Engine and gearbox: 1,995cc, four-cylinder turbo petrol with 48-volt mild hybrid system, eight-speed automatic gearbox, four-wheel drivepower/torque 325bhp @ 5,750rpm/332lb ft @ 2,000-5,000rpm
CO2 emissions: 199-210g/km WLTP
VED: £1,565 first year, £570 next five years, then £180
Warranty: 3 years/unlimited mileage
The rivals
Range Rover Velar S P250
from £53,735
Appears much larger than the Grecale, although it’s actually only 4,797mm long. Prices get pretty eye-watering as you go up the range and deeper into the options list, but this sleek and refined 4x4 is best enjoyed in this modest 2.0-litre, 248bhp turbo petrol form. It has a top speed of 135mph, with 0-62mph in 7.1sec, 30.1mpg and 214g/km of CO2.
Porsche Macan S
from £59,800
This rival from Stuttgart costs from £53,400, but the £60,000 S model is a fairer comparison. It punches out 375bhp which delivers a 161mph top speed, with 0-62mph in 4.8sec and a best economy of 25.4mpg, with 251g/km CO2 emissions. The interior exudes typical Porsche craftsmanship and solidity. Great handling, although the ride can be firm.
www.telegraph.co.uk
