Driving Passion Assuaged Here
The 2023 Maserati Grecale luxury SUV comes in three models. The base GT ($63,500), the mid-level Modena ($72,900), and the Trofeo ($109,495). All offer different power choices with the Trofeo zipping to 60 miles per hour in about 3.6 seconds. Clean Fleet Report drove the 2023 Grecale Modena that offered plenty of power, style and class and for $30K less than the more powerful Trofeo. The Grecale is Maserati’s first entry in the super competitive premium compact SUV class, where it faces new and well-established competition. If driving is your passion, the 2023 Maserati Grecale Modena should be on your shopping list.
Italian Translation
Italian has a sexy and sensual nature to it, but instead of merely just enjoying the way it sounds it will be much better to also understand what those mellifluous words mean. Here are few translations for this 2023 Maserati Grecale Modena story.
- Maserati – This is the family name of the brothers who created the brand
- Grecale – The name for this SUV comes from a fierce northeast wind of the Mediterranean Sea (Maserati names many of its vehicles based on winds from the region)
- Modena – This is the hometown city of Maserati, located in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, where it’s headquartered and where the vehicles are built. Modena is also the name of a trim of many Maserati models, celebrating the hometown of the brand.
- Trofeo – Trofeo means “Trophy” in Italian and is the top of the line trim for many Maserati models
Italian Power
Clean Fleet Report drove the 2023 Grecale Modena with the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder mild hybrid that delivered 325 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. A mild hybrid has an electric motor that provides efficiency for the main gasoline engine by allowing the engine to be turned off whenever the car is coasting, braking or stopped, then quickly restarted once power is required. A big difference between a hybrid and mild hybrid is the latter does not have an electric-only mode of propulsion.
The 8-speed automatic has a manual shift mode, extra-large paddle shifters, and driver-selectable drive modes of Comfort, GT and Sport. Power is put evenly to all four wheels on an as-need basis for engaging response and strong, steady acceleration.
The EPA rates fuel economy at 22 mpg city/29 highway/25 combined while running on 91 octane. It was a challenge to not tromp on the accelerator, because this is a Maserati, of course, but in our 327 miles driving through Southern California we had a 100-mile all-freeway run at 65 mph deliver 30.6 mpg, with our overall economy coming in just above the EPA rating at 26.1 mpg. With 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds, there is surprising and pleasant efficiency and power from this 4,178-pound five-passenger SUV.
Going and Stopping
The Grecale Modena has strong acceleration that builds as you glide through the gears. The Comfort drive mode is best when already up to speed on the highway, as launching from stops produces turbo lag with the automatic getting to the higher gears quickly to maximize fuel economy. Sport mode raised the excitement. The turbo lag is reduced and the 332 lb.-ft. of torque produces an aggressive exhaust note with spirited acceleration. The transmission holds each gear at higher revs and the suspension stiffens. However, for around town Sport mode can get tiresome so the GT setting is a nice compromise between the other two. The accelerator pedal isn’t as touchy nor the crackling and popping of the exhaust note isn’t as dramatic as in Sport.
The staggered (255/40 front and 295/40 rear) Pirelli Scorpion Zero all-season tires, mounted on 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, provided excellent grip, even when pushing corners to their limit, which is what we assume the designers and engineers had in mind. There was acceptable body roll with ample warning when being pushed too far with a stiff suspension that was not harsh. Maybe switch to summer tires and really enjoy the twisties.
The electronically-assisted steering was direct, quick and sharp, and the ventilated disc brakes progressively provided a good feel with straight and true, no-fade stops. Complementing the 4-wheel disc brakes is regenerative braking with 4-Wheel ABS, brake assist, hill descent control, hill hold control and an electric parking brake. A common and helpful feature missing was auto hold where, when applied, the car is held without needing to press on the brake pedal. This is a fatigue-saving feature Maserati should consider adding to this otherwise fine car.
To sum-up the handling, the Grecale Modena was grippy, confident and predictable, even when exceeding the posted corner speed limit. The steering was quick enough to find a way out of a late turn-in without losing control.
A Welcoming Interior
Luxury and upscale? Check and check for the great looking and smelling 2023 Grecale Modena interior. The open pore wood trim, velour floor carpet, and leather almost everywhere are good places to start. The 12-way heated and ventilated power sport seats, carbon fiber, piano black, satin-finished accents and the analog center-dash clock added posh touches.
The 12.3-inch LCD touchscreen houses the navigation, and the Sonus Faber premium audio system sounds fabulous. The 800-watt, 14-speaker system has SiriusXM, AM/FM/HD radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and Alexa built-in. Through the Maserati Connected Services there are Bluetooth voice commands for the radio and telephone by just saying “Hey Maserati.” The lower 6.5-inch screen is where touch controls are found for the voice-activated dual zone automatic heating and ventilation system.
Access to the 40:20:40 folding rear seat was good, and head and legroom good for three adults. Air vents and ventilation controls are found in the rear of the center console, with cup holders in the fold down armrest.
Other interior features are wireless phone charging, Homelink, keyless entry with remote start, cargo area lighting, a locking glove box and a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel with controls for audio, telephone and smart cruise control. About those audio controls, which are buttons on the backside of the steering wheel. We prefer this placement on the cars we test, but in the case of the Grecale Modena, the paddle shifters are so large and so close to the steering wheel, the audio buttons were difficult to use, therefore defeating their convenient location. Maybe Maserati designers can take a look at this on the next refresh.
Safety / Warranty / Pricing
The Grecale Modena comes with an extensive standard list of advanced driver assistant systems, ADAS, including adaptive cruise control with lane keeping assist, full front, head, side and driver knee airbags. There is a surround view camera and front and rear parking sensors, blind spot detection and assist, forward collision warning with autonomous braking, pedestrian warning, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a security alarm.
Warranty
Basic: Four years / 50,000 miles
Drivetrain: Four years / 50,000 miles
Corrosion: Four years / 50,000 miles
Roadside Assistance: Four years / 50,000 miles
Pricing
Clean Fleet Report drove the 2023 Maserati Grecale Modena Mild Hybrid with a base price of $76,098, which includes the mandatory $1,198 delivery fee. With $11,900 in options, the MSRP came to $87,998.
Observations: 2023 Maserati Grecale Modena Mild Hybrid
The 2023 Grecale Modena is Maserati’s first entry in the super competitive premium compact SUV class, going up against the Genesis GV70 3.5T, Audi SQ5, Porsche Macan, Mercedes-Benz GLC 43, BMW X3 M40i, and sibling Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.
With a highly appointed interior, if driving is your passion, the 2023 Maserati Grecale Modena should be on your shopping list.
Make sure to opt-in to the Clean Fleet Report newsletter (top right of page) to be notified of all new stories and vehicle reviews.
Story and photos by John Faulkner.
