2024 Maserati Grecale

Maserati has an eclectic lineup. Its SUVs are positioned as alternatives to Audi, BMW, and Porsche for luxury car buyers, while the MC20 and GT2 Stradale are low-volume supercars that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. In between those, there’s the Quattroporte sedan, GranTurismo coupe, and GranCabrio convertible, cars that any Beverly Hills or Miami hotspot would valet out front. In the past, many Maserati vehicles had engines co-developed with Ferrari, but that partnership is no longer. Consumer Reports has only tested the Grecale, an SUV that competes with similarly sized models from Audi, BMW, and Porsche. We enjoyed its sports-car engine note and agile handling, but ended up aggravated by its many quirks.

The Grecale SUV is positioned between its Stellantis cousin, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, and the Maserati Levante. Based on the Stelvio, the Grecale competes with the Porsche Macan and Jaguar F-Pace with a combination of elegance, athleticism and performance. Even with the base engine, the Grecale feels quick and the sonorous exhaust sound adds to its character. The taut suspension makes this SUV agile and stable in corners. The ride has an underlying firmness but it's steady and composed. The cabin is luxurious with suede, matte wood and chrome touches, and the trademark clock is prominent. The infotainment is a version of Chrysler Uconnect and is straight forward but the gear selector is very unintuitive. AEB with pedestrian detection and AEB highway are standard, but BSW and RCTW are optional.