Even a brand like Maserati isn’t immune from the SUV and crossover trend. The Italian luxury automaker, whose lineup was primarily dominated by sports sedans and grand tourers, now has two SUVs in its lineup. Enter the Maserati Grecale, which is their smallest SUV yet.

By small, it isn’t exactly what you would consider as tiny. It’s in the same size bracket as a Porsche Macan or BMW X3, which is currently one of the hottest segments in the luxury car market right now. For perspective, the best-selling BMW in the United States is now the X3, a title it snatched from the 3 Series, and this perfectly reflects the increased interest in SUVs. But this is Maserati, and performance runs in the Italian manufacturer’s veins. While all Grecale trims offer plenty of performance, the Trofeo variant is the model you’re probably interested in if you want the fastest Grecale you could buy.

What’s New for the 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo?

The Maserati Grecale rides on the FCA Giorgio platform, which is also shared with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The Grecale will be the last car from the Stellantis group of automakers that will utilize this platform due to it being less flexible in accommodating a range of electrified powertrains. However, the Grecale will also be available as a fully-electric Folgore version.

Nevertheless, what we have here today is the Grecale Trofeo, which is the sportiest and most potent in the Grecale range. You can easily tell the Trofeo model apart from other trims due to its more aggressive bodywork, particularly the sportier front bumpers with larger air intakes, larger rear diffuser, beefier brakes, 1.34-inch wider rear track, just to name a few.

Pros and Cons

2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo Trims

2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo Exterior

Dimensions

Exterior Colors

2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo Performance

Engine and Transmission

Handling and Driving Impressions

Riding on the same platform as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, we won’t be surprised if the Maserati Grecale will be just as sporty to drive, with sharp steering and excellent body control. As this is the Trofeo trim, this also comes with other upgrades such as six-piston and four-piston Brembo brake calipers at the front and rear, respectively, and a Corsa driving mode that’s unique to the Trofeo. The Trofeo also comes with air suspension as standard, whereas other variants have this as an optional extra.

The Grecale Trofeo is powered by the Nettuno twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 gasoline engine from the MC20 sports car. This engine produces 523 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque and is enough for a 0-60 mph time in just 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 177 mph. In the case of the Grecale, the engine has a wet sump instead of the MC20’s dry sump, and it also comes with cylinder deactivation, wherein the right bank of the V6 can be deactivated under light loads. It therefore can run with just three cylinders for better efficiency.

2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo Gas Mileage

2023 Maserati Grecale Interior

Seating and Interior Space

Interior Colors and Materials

The 2023 Maserati Grecale has been graced with the brand’s most modern interior aesthetic yet. Interior quality and layout haven’t been a strong suit for the Italian luxury brand, but it seems they’ve hit their stride with the Grecale. As with every Maserati, the interior is wrapped with lashings of leather and various metals or wood, depending on your preferences. The luxury SUV will arrive this fall 2022, and more information regarding its interior colors and trim choices will be released by then.

2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo Trunk and Cargo Space

The Maserati Grecale Trofeo surprisingly has the most spacious trunk in its range. This is probably due to the fact that the four-cylinder models are mild hybrids, and therefore come with a battery that eats into trunk space. With the Grecale Trofeo, you are offered with 20 cubic feet of space, which is two more than the four-cylinder GT and Modena trims.

2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo Infotainment and Features

Infotainment

The 2023 Maserati Grecale utilizes the brand’s latest Maserati Intelligent Assistant (MIA) infotainment system that’s operated via two screens. The main one is a 12.3-inch touch screen—which is the largest in any Maserati to date—and a secondary angled 8.8-inch screen for the climate controls and other vehicle functions. Yes, this is one of those new vehicles that have unfortunately ditched hard buttons in favor of touch screens.

The Maserati Grecale Trofeo also comes with a fully digital gauge cluster, and if those aren’t enough screens for you, you’d be happy to know that the analog clock is also now a screen. Also known as the digital smartwatch, the fourth screen not only showcases the clock but also has the ability to display a G-force meter, among other vehicle information.

2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo Problems and Reliability

Warranty

Each new Maserati comes with a transferrable 4-year/50,000-mile warranty, whichever comes first, and this also applies to the drivetrain, corrosion, and complimentary roadside assistance. Maserati, however, has a spotty record in terms of reliability. This is where you might want to consider their extended warranty, which is available in two versions.

The Full Coverage Plan extends your vehicle's warranty by up to two years from when your standard warranty ends (six years in total). The warranty’s mileage limit is also extended by up to 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, of course. There's also a Powertrain Limited Plan, which adds another one year or 100,000 miles to your vehicle’s standard powertrain warranty (five years in total). Pricing varies across all dealers.

2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo Safety

The 2023 Maserati Grecale has not yet been rated by the NHTSA, as this car has not yet been released for sale in the United States. We’ll update this section once the vehicle has been evaluated for its safety credentials.

Key Safety Features

On top of the usual suite of airbags, electronic stability control, and other mandatory safety features nowadays, the 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo also comes with features such as a 360-degree camera, radar-guided adaptive cruise control, active lane keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitor, automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, just to name a few.

Verdict: Is the 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo a Good Car?

The 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo has been late to the party when it comes to the compact luxury SUV segment. In a segment that’s already dominated by the likes of the Porsche Macan, the Grecale needs to offer more than just style, performance, and Italian heritage in order to become successful.

The Grecale does pull off being a stylish and luxurious SUV well, but it faces extremely stiff competition from its German competitors who have already established a solid foothold in this segment. However, what we’re talking about here is the Trofeo model, and it does stand out in its segment with its twin-turbo V-6 powertrain that’s derived from the MC20. While it doesn’t have the substance of the Germans, it might just prove to be a more emotionally-driven Italian luxury SUV.

What’s the Price of the 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo

Unfortunately, full pricing for the entire Maserati Grecale range has not yet been revealed. The only information we know is that the range will kick off with the base GT at under $65,000, which makes this one of the priciest compact luxury SUVs in its class. For this high-performance Trofeo model, we expect it to be priced at around $85,000, and this does not yet consider any potential pricey options you might want to add.

2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo Models

- Grecale Trofeo

Additional Packages

- TBA

What new 2023 Maserati Grecale Should I Buy?

The range kicks off with the Grecale GT, which Maserati says will start at under $65,000. Given that the GT and Modena share the same powertrains, we would recommend just sticking to this trim and then adding a few optional extras to make it more attractive or high-tech. We still have no full information on available optional packages, so stay tuned to this section as we continually update this when more information comes in.

But if you have the cash and money is no object for you, then you should just splurge right away towards the Grecale Trofeo. This high-performance compact luxury SUV offers the flair that its German rivals don’t possess, mainly thanks to its excellent powertrain that’s been derived from the MC20.

2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo Comparisons

2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo vs 2022 Porsche Macan GTS

The GTS now serves as the peak of the Macan range until the all-electric version arrives. The Macan GTS is nearly everyone's pick for a compact luxury SUV that handles with the typical Porsche level of handling precision that's unmatched in its class. It's not as powerful nor as quick as the Grecale Trofeo, but in the handling department, the Macan GTS is hard to beat. Since it is also less powerful, it also has a lower entry price.

Read our review of the 2022 Porsche Macan

2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo vs 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio gets the title of the best-sounding high-performance compact luxury SUV in its class, and it also has the performance to match its growl. With 505 horsepower on tap, it may not outmuscle the Grecale Trofeo, but both have the same manufacturer claimed 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds. Both high-performance luxury SUVs have also been bred with the level of passion that Italian performance cars are known for, so It'd be interesting to see how these two vehicles fare on track and in the real world.

Read our review of the 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio