Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Maserati Perfects Alfa's FormulaTo this day, if you had to ask me to name the best-driving SUV in the world, it would be the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. There are better all-around vehicles, but for a single pleasurable drive, the Stelvio's pinpoint steering, gutsy engine, and car-like agility made it the most entertaining SUV I have ever reviewed. Granted, Ferrari has never handed me the keys to a Purosangue.Though I have called the Alfa the best-driving SUV of my journalistic career, I've also criticized it for having a lackluster interior, dated technology, and a torturous ride. That's why when I went out for my first drive in the 2026 Maserati Grecale Trofeo, I nearly cried tears of joy when I realized what this SUV represents; it's the second-generation Stelvio SV you don't have to wait for.Jared Rosenholtz/AutoblogView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile the next-generation Stelvio has reportedly been delayed, Maserati has picked up the torch and added some fuel to the fire. The Trofeo model packs a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged Nettuno V6 producing 523 horsepower, 18 more than the Stelvio QV. In our testing, the Grecale rocketed from zero to 60 mph in just 3.61 seconds, early matching Maserati's 3.6-second estimate.Jared Rosenholtz/AutoblogThe Nettuno engine is shared with the MC20 (now called the MCPura) supercar. It lacks the buzzy nature of the Alfa Romeo 2.9-liter, but it makes up for that with an improvement in smoothness and refinement. In fact, the whole car feels like a more mature Stelvio. The steering is still excellent, pinpoint like it was in the Alfa, and the adaptive air suspension with Skyhook performance electric damping helps the Grecale ride far more comfortably, fixing one of my biggest gripes with the Quadrifoglio.The Grecale also improves on the Stelvio's interior, which felt aged and chintzy. By comparison, Maserati packs its cabin with sumptuous leathers, high-quality stitching, and available matte carbon fiber. The Uconnect 5 technology feels like it belongs in a car from this decade, and it doesn't hamper your enjoyment of the car, even if some of the menus are shared with Dodge and Jeep.Jared Rosenholtz/AutoblogView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleGranTurismo Learns From The 911Along with the Grecale, I also had the chance to spend a few days driving the new GranTurismo Trofeo. This is fitting because the previous-generation GranCabrio MC was the first Maserati I ever reviewed; and it was a bitter disappointment. The 4.7-liter "Ferrari-derived" V8 sounded fine, but it wasn't particularly fast for the price, nor was the six-speed ZF transmission very capable of extracting the most performance out of the car. My complaints on that car's interior could be a separate article.Jared Rosenholtz/AutoblogView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementMaserati knew there is one thing it could not change with the successor: the styling. That outgoing GranTurismo/GranCabrio wasn't perfect, but it sure was pretty. Much like a Porsche 911, this new model takes an evolutionary approach, adopting the same overall shape, but embracing the same basic grille, headlights, and styling elements as the Grecale. It's fabulous.All the glowing praise I heaped on the Grecale applies here too. The Nettuno V6 is a powerhouse, leaving the old V8 gapped less like a Prancing Horse and more like a retired nag, hitting 60 mph in just 3.36 seconds in our testing.Jared Rosenholtz/AutoblogView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleThe Grecale Is The Better ValueIf I had only one complaint about the GranTurismo, it's only after glancing at its price tag. My tester carried a $166,000 starting price, which ballooned to $185,830 with options. That's not outrageous given the market for grand tourers from Aston Martin and Bentley, but it only made me realize that the Grecale is the superior value in Maserati's lineup.Jared Rosenholtz/AutoblogView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementI don't think many people will cross-shop a compact crossover with a four-seater coupe, but to me, both of these cars have the same ingredients. It's like pizza and spaghetti, the two have broadly the same ingredients (dough, tomato sauce, and cheese), but but with wildly different results. The GranTurismo and Grecale have the same engine, transmission, similar suspension, interior layouts, front end styling, and more. They simply come in different shapes.Granted, you won't get nearly as much attention in the Grecale, but that can be fixed by ordering the car in one of Maserati's many amazing Furoiserie colors. My Grecale tester came with a $117,500 starting price, and a more modest array of options kept it to a reasonable $121,380 as-tested price. For a more practical vehicle that drives better than any SUV I've ever tested, I think that's a superior value over the GranTurismo.Jared Rosenholtz/AutoblogView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleFolgore In A Bottle?Maserati did not have any of its Folgore electric models available for me to review, but I am excited to get some seat time in one of them. The Grecale Folgore seems decent with 542 hp and a 4.0-second 0-60 time, but it is limited with a 400-volt architecture and only goes 245 miles on a charge.2027 Maserati Grecale Folgore, 2027 Maserati GranCabrio Folgore, 2027 Maserati GranTurismo FolgoreMaseratiView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementI'm far more interested in the GranTurismo and GranCabrio Folgore models. The latter is the only electric convertible currently on sale in the US (unless you count the upcoming Jeep Recon) and with 751 hp on tap, they are quicker than their respective Trofeo models, hitting 60 mph in 2.6 seconds in coupe form and 2.7 seconds as a drop-top. A 233-mile range isn't impressive, but these are 800-volt cars that can charge at up to 270 kW, far higher than the Grecale's 150 kW peak.Despite the impressive performance, Maserati has seen a low take rate for its Folgore models. "We are not selling as much we would like because EV is a tough market for everybody. The residual value is probably the biggest constraint to people to buy electric," said Andrea Pallard, VP Global Maserati Communications during an interview at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.For Maserati to truly get customers interested in these models, I believe it needs to embrace simulated sounds and gears, like Hyundai and Porsche. Maserati has a deep catalog of engines it could replicate for simulated engines, making these Folgore models more exciting to drive."The ones who bought [a Folgore] are providing great feedback. Maybe not many people recognize it, but other do," Pollard added.What Else Does Maserati Need?In the time since I drove these two cars, Maserati has dropped some major news. The Grecale and GranTurismo lineups received a facelift for the 2027 model year, getting fresh styling, more power, improved electric range for Folgore models, and other changes. This update doesn't meaningfully change my feelings about either car, but it shows Maserati has learned not to let its cars languish on the market without meaningful updates.2027 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo, 2027 Maserati Grecale Trofeo, 2027 Maserati GranCabrio FolgoreMaseratiView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementMaserati has also hinted at the return of its sedan models and the return of the V8 engine, two additions that could help bring back customers that left the brand when the Ghibli and Quattroporte were discontinued.In my opinion, Maserati's core troubles are now more deep-seated than ever before. I made a ton of videos with the Grecale and GranTurismo, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a single one without a comment that mentions "depreciation." Any new luxury car will lose value, but this reputation has become so attached to the Maserati brand from the company's previous generation of vehicles, it may take more than few great models to escape.Maserati needs to take a firm stance on what kind of car company it wants to be: a low-volume exotic builder or a full model lineup Porsche rival. If it's the latter, bringing back sedans are a nice start, but Maserati needs a true sports car that not only challenges the 911, but spits cappuccino in its face. And though it may seem counterintuitive at this point, I know just where to find the technology to scare Porsche: Ferrari.FerrariView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementFerrari recently debuted a new kind of simulated manual transmission in its 12Cilindri, which operates by wire using a traditional gated box. Perhaps Ferrari will never let this technology move down market or its currently price prohibitive, but assuming it could be achieved, I would love to see a Maserati sports car in the low-$100,000 range with a similar feature. Maserati could even pair the idea to an EV with simulated sounds, beating other brands to the idea.After driving the Grecale and GranTurismo, I have drastically altered my opinion on Maserati. A brand I frankly believed was on a precipice of existence is now on a potential path to a turnaround. It won't be easy, but Maserati can return to its former glory if it can keep building cars that make me want to get out and drive just for the sake of it.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.