it may have a reputation as a macho sporty Italian brand, but half the buyers of Maserati’s stylishly capable and comfortable new Grecale SUV are expected to be women.
Named after a Mediterranean wind, it has blown across to British shores and I’ve just been driving it here in Maserati’s fifth largest market.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the marque and the Grecale covers new ground for it, taking on the likes of the Porsche Macan, Range Rover Velar, Audi Q5 Sportback and BMW X4. It’s impressive, with a commanding view of the road and a smart interior.
Clutter is kept to a minimum thanks to control buttons for drive, park, and reverse set between two central dashboard touchscreens.
At launch there are three trim levels, all linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission but with prominent paddles near the steering wheel for manual override.
Girl power: Half the buyers for the new Grecale SUV are expected to be women
The entry level GT at £61,570 is powered by a 300hp 2-litre in-line four-cylinder mild hybrid petrol engine which propels it from rest to 62mph in 5.6 seconds up to top speed of 149 mph.
The sporty mid-range Modena, which I drove mainly, has the same engine set-up, but with enhanced trim and 330hp, 0-62mph in a sprightly 5.3 seconds, priced from £67,180.
I also took a shorter spin in the more powerful, 50kg heavier, top-range Trofeo model costing from £99,700 which features distinctive detailing and a 530hp 3-litre twin turbo V6 Nettuno petrol engine that propels the Grecale from 0 to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds and up to a top speed of 199 mph.
A fully electric Grecale called the Folgore — Italian for lightning — will launch here within the year following the arrival of a battery-powered GranTurismo Folgore.
Maserati says the 400v 105kWh high-energy battery equivalent to more than 500 hp will deliver a 310-mile range, and top speed above 125mph.
Maserati, which is now part of the giant Stellantis conglomerate, plans to be fully electric by 2030.
The entry level GT at £61,570 is powered by a 300hp 2-litre in-line four-cylinder mild hybrid petrol engine which propels it from rest to 62mph in 5.6 seconds
Clutter is kept to a minimum thanks to control buttons for drive, park, and reverse set between two central dashboard touchscreens
There are four main drive mode settings
At launch there are three trim levels, all linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission but with prominent paddles near the steering wheel for manual override
Whether for business, pleasure, stylish school runs and shopping trips, or a leisurely lunch with friends, prepare to see more Maserati Grecale in fashionable places
It’s a beauty without being too much of a beast
So what’s it like to drive?
Whether for business, pleasure, stylish school runs and shopping trips, or a leisurely lunch with friends, prepare to see more Maserati Grecale in fashionable places.
My Modena trim was fitted with nearly £20,000 of ‘extras’.
It’s a very engaging and yet refined drive with real road presence though without the growling exhaust roar associated with the sportiest Maseratis.
There are four main drive mode settings: Comfort for chilling and ambling around town and country, GT for grand touring on long journeys; Sport (my favourite) for more engaged driving on twisty or fast flowing roads, and off-road should you be doing a bit of grass and gravel travel for which the ride height also increases.
It’s a beauty without being too much of a beast.
By contrast the full-bodied range-topping Trofeo does incline more towards the beast. It’s great fun and a noticeable step up in power, but a tad over the top for school-run duties.
Dacia Jogger hybrid impressive
After road testing the 1-litre pure petrol version of the impressively flexible seven-seater Dacia Jogger, this week I had the chance to try out the frugal self-charging hybrid version set to account for more than a third (35 per cent) of sales — and it’s even more impressive, if a tad more expensive.
Impressive: The self-charging hybrid version of the Dacia Jogger
Riding on 16 in wheels and priced from £22,995, the capable TCe 140 self-charger links a 1.6 litre petrol engine with two electric motors and automatic six-speed gearbox
Riding on 16 in wheels and priced from £22,995, the capable TCe 140 self-charger links a 1.6 litre petrol engine with two electric motors and automatic six-speed gearbox to return 56.5mpg with 0 to 62mph acceleration in 10.1 seconds.
It comes with a clever patented roof rack system in which the bars running the length of the car can be swivelled to form supporting cross beams.
It’s highly afforable; even the top of the range model in Extreme trim with cedar green paint and copper detailing starts from £23,995.
Car row erupts
A long-simmering row affecting all of Europe finally erupted this week when car bosses met Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch.
At stake are millions of European motor industry jobs (including 800,000 in the UK) and higher car prices.
Row: At stake are millions of European motor industry jobs (including 800,000 in the UK) and higher car prices
A post-Brexit deal means that, from January, 45 per cent of a car’s content must be sourced in the EU or UK — or face a 10 per cent tax.
But batteries can make up half of a car’s value and most are imported from Asia.
Bosses warn that unless the deadline is moved to 2027, it will be uneconomical for them to make cars and factories risk closing.
- I’m honoured to be short-listed in six categories of the UK automotive journalism ‘Oscars’ organised by Newspress — for news, consumer issues, feature writing, technology, EV and editor of the year.
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