The new Maserati Grecale has gone on sale in South Africa with the first units slated to arrive in mid-January 2023.
For anyone looking to get into the cheapest new Maserati, its base price comes in at R1,650,000 before options.
However, those who don’t want the hassle of custom-ordering a car and waiting it out for delivery are in luck.
Maserati South Africa has a few pre-specced units on their way to local showrooms, with these priced at R1.85 million for the entry-level GT , R2.15 million for the mid-range Modena, and R2.95 million for the top-end Trofeo.
We had a chance to get a closer look at the GT at the Grecale’s local launch.
Italian flair
The Grecale – which is pronounced with a hard c – is arguably the best-looking Maserati on the market if you don’t count the MC20. Its body seems more relaxed and stretched out in the metal than it does on a screen, and the interior is up-to-date and refreshing.
Its nose is quintessential Maserati, with a large slatted grille, air vents, slightly bulging LED eyes, and proud trident badge giving off an aggressive appeal. The gently sloping LED taillights make the rear seem slightly less angry than the front, though a dynamic-looking diffuser housing four tailpipes provides subtle hints that the SUV can misbehave should it want to.
The sides of the Grecale are akin to that of its larger sibling, the Levante, with flowing lines, three small vents, and the model designation creating an elegant appearance, pairing well with the 20-inch “Etere” alloys fitted to this particular GT.
The entry-level Maserati also boasts flush door handles which are much more stylish than its four-door siblings’ conventional grippers.
Out with the old
The cabin of the Grecale is a highly-modern affair, the most striking difference from the rest of the Maserati family being the central stack of screens.
The 12.3-inch media centre offers control over a vast array of features including smartphone mirroring apps, navigation, voice assistance, and vehicle settings; whereas the 8.8-inch one below gives authority over the dual-zone climate control, heated front seats and steering wheel, and drive modes.
In combination with the driver-configurable 12.3-inch gauge cluster, the SUV boasts a total of 33 inches of screen real estate inside the passenger compartment, more than any other Maserati.
Another unique trait of the Grecale is the gear-shift buttons.
Nestled between the two displays in the middle are four sleek buttons for park, reverse, neutral, and drive/manual, instead of a traditional centre-mounted lever.
From the inside, similar to the outside, there is also a more unusual door-opening mechanism than in most other cars in the form of a chrome-rimmed button that unlatches the door when pressed, and on the driver-side sun visor are three more integrated buttons that can be linked to your home’s garage and gate negating the need for a bulky fob that mostly just rolls around in the cabin.
Continuing the standout design elements of the new entry-level Maserati is a thoroughly-revised steering wheel with a circular centrepiece that looks better than ever.
The engine can now be turned on and off through an illuminated button at 8 o’clock and the various drive modes – Comfort, GT, Sport, Off-road, and Corsa (Trofeo-exclusive) – can be cycled through with another protruding controller on the other side, meaning the driver now has fewer reasons to take their hands off the wheel.
A digital clock on the dashboard that functions as a compass and a G-meter further reinforces the forward-looking persona of the Grecale, while the stylish leather seats with model-specific stitching and wooden panel inlays are typical of the marque’s premium heritage.
A high-quality Sonus Faber surround-sound system can be equipped, too, Maserati being the only manufacturer in the world currently making use of this particular brand of stereo.
We haven’t yet had a chance to drive the new Maserati, and it’s worth noting that every trim level sports its own powertrain.
With two mild-hybrid 2.0-litre configurations and one 3.0-litre, V6, even the slowest model dashes to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds and the quickest in 3.8.
On paper, and judging from our previous experiences with vehicles from the Italian automaker, the Grecale sounds like it’s going to be an exciting drive and we hope it lives up to the expectations.
With the new Maserati hitting the roads early next year, we aim to be one of the first in the driver’s seat to let you know what it can really do.
Maserati Grecale GT
Keyword: First look at the new Maserati Grecale in South Africa