If you’re shopping the premium compact luxury performance SUV segment, the choices are plentiful – and overwhelmingly German. But step outside the comfort zone of the Porsche Macan, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Audi Q5 options, and there’s a compelling Italian alternative for buyers craving everyday usability with a genuine exotic character. The Maserati Grecale Trofeo delivers exactly that, blending performance pedigree with unmistakable Italiano flair – that’s all the rage just now thanks to the Winter Olympics.
With the days of sloppy and wobbly handling SUVs long gone, the opportunity for pumped-up performance and handling has served up a gem of a car that flies under the radar in terms of its looks. But this classy-looking number hides a big punch in the twin-turbo, 3.0-liter V6 engine that also powers its MC12-derived MCPura, harnessed by an all-wheel-drive transmission that includes an electronic limited-slip differential to ensure dynamic traction.
Slightly down-tuned to 523 horsepower for its role as a front-engined ‘puller’ as opposed to mid-engined supercar ‘pusher’, it still provides a 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds that rivals many sporty cars and a top speed of 177 mph. The ingenious Nettuno V6 engine has substantial range, from happily puttering along on the highway at 70mph to as much wastegate-chattering theatrics as you’d care for in Corsa mode.
We last tested one in 2023, and our most recent Grecale experience was the all-electric Folgore. Now, while that packs over 550 horsepower from its dual-motor powertrain, it just doesn’t quite deliver the ICE-motivated raw wallop that the Trofeo is capable of in Sport or Corsa drive modes. It also weighs a whopping 5,500 lbs, compared to the Trofeo's 4,600 lbs. And its lack of a gearbox also misses the drama of the controlled explosion that occurs every time the Trofeo upshifts on the redline, which is enormous fun.
The Grecale is built on the Giorgio platform, as per the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, which provides a solid foundation for its performance-oriented nature. Its nameplate is derived from the Mediterranean wind, Gregale, which is fitting as it doesn’t take long to feel the rush of air when you unleash its V6-powered chops with the windows down.
My tester came in Blu Modena with a premium black/grey leather interior, retailing at $121,380 which included 21-inch forged Matte Crio rims and red brake calipers, a tech assistance package, a 14-speaker Sonus Faber Premium Audio System, and the only real giveaway to its performance intent: Trofeo badges in black chrome with red surround.
And this is where this car flourishes for me. Its styling is understated, it doesn’t shout at you, its grille – carrying the iconic Trident emblem – doesn’t look like it was designed to swallow a shoal of herring, and its sculpted lines feel more flowing than a Macan, for instance.
Inside the luxuriously-appointed cockpit, you get a 12.3-inch digital TFT instrument cluster that alters depending on drive mode, plus dual 12-inch and 8.8-inch Maserati ‘Intelligent Assistant’ screens – between them are the buttons for operating the transmission, which always makes me question where they are when I get in. The start/off button and drive modes are on the steering wheel, but the huge flappy paddles to manually operate the eight-speed gearbox obscures easy use of the indicator/wiper stalks. And the volume control for the entertainment system is positioned as far away as possible from the driver, and feels tacky to operate when you do reach across.
For the purposes of this test, my voyage is a fitting one: From home in Miami Beach to the fabulous Cars on 5th show in Naples, on the opposite side of Florida. This means traversing the state much like one does when going from one side of Italy to the other, and is achieved in a couple of hours. For the boring bit – the Alligator Alley dual carriageway – I’m content to stay in Comfort Mode, and enjoy the ride of the suspension in its softest setting, and can relax in the knowledge there’s easily enough range in this tank to get there and back without stopping (unlike the Folgore, where I’d be searching out a charging point in Naples).
If I came upon a knot of traffic, usually caused by outside lane amblers, I can slip into GT mode and add some performance to blip past them with ease, thanks to its added torque. And at each end of the journey, on the city streets, it’s fun to slip into Sport or Corsa mode, and enjoy some aggressive short blasts, and Naples even boasts some roundabouts to whirl around.
Steering feel changes depending on what drive mode you opt for, and barring a penchant for understeer (well, all the weight is at the front, so what do you expect?) it was otherwise keenly poised with a fine weight. The Grecale’s ride quality soaked up the bumps of Alligator Alley’s bridges, and coped well with switching lanes across the ruts as this road seems to be permanently getting re-laid overnight in single-lane patches.
Although this was a solo trip, there’s plenty of space in the back for a pair of full-size humans and decent trunk area. I can see why the Grecale, and its now-discontinued (and much missed, bring it back!) Levante big brother, are so popular in South Florida – they offer similar pure practicality, yet look so damn classy when parked next to their segment rivals. Arriving at the upscale Bellasera Hotel in Naples, the Grecale received some admiring glances from the car park clientele and valets.
Yes, you’ll pay more for a Grecale Trofeo than a Macan GTS or X3 M40i – and on a spreadsheet, the Germans will likely make more sense. They’ll hold their value better, and their engineering is ruthlessly efficient. But cars like this shouldn’t be bought with spreadsheets in mind. If you value character over clinical precision and want a high-performing SUV that feels special every time you drive it, the Grecale Trofeo delivers something its rivals simply can’t: soul.
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Images: Charles Bradley & Maserati
