You can’t get a spicy petrol-powered Porsche Macan anymore, so is the Maserati Grecale Trofeo the next best thing?
2025 Maserati Grecale Trofeo
Maserati has always been a relatively niche brand in Australia, notching enough interest to stay in market, but never enough to threaten big-name premium players.
In fact, last year, there were more Jaguars sold than Maseratis, so it truly is a rare sight on Aussie roads.
However, the Grecale – a mid-size premium SUV with a sporty bent – could change the perception of Maserati as it is the right shape and size to make inroads against the likes of the Merceds-Benz GLC coupe, BMW X4, and Audi Q5 Sportback.
Its biggest opportunity, however, especially in this top-spec Trofeo form, is with the demise of the petrol-powered Porsche Macan.
Can Maserati’s Grecale fill the voice vacated by Porsche and serve up the best of both worlds in a truly engaging driver’s car wrapped in the practical and premium SUV package?
How much is a Maserati Grecale?
Maserati’s Grecale is available in a few flavours in Australia, starting with the GT and Modena priced from $122,500 before on-road costs and $148,000 respectively.
However, the Grecale Trofeo I have on test rings the till up to a sizeable $179,900 – and justifiably so given the potent performance potential on offer.
Think of the Trofeo as the full-fat M version of the BMW X4 or the AMG-fettled GLC63 S E-Performance Coupe plug-in hybrid, which are $188,600 and $200,700, mind you.
And while the Trofeo is expensive, it also packs a powerful punch with 390kW/620Nm delivered from a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine shared with the MC20 supercar.
BMW’s X4? It makes 375kW/650Nm, also from a 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine, while the Mercedes contender uses a hybrid system to boost outputs to 500kW/1020Nm.
However, I’d argue the Maserati Grecale Trofeo is more of a natural match for the Porsche Macan Turbo, but not the current all-electric one.
The old Macan Turbo had a 324kW/550Nm output from a 2.9-litre turbo-petrol V6, was a wonderful steer, and – most importantly – rare.
This is exactly what the Maserati Grecale Trofeo aims to be – it’s not just your run-of-the-mill premium family SUV with a big engine, it also has the racing heritage and pedigree to back its lofty ambitions. IYKYK.
Whether it meets those expectations? You’ll find out in the driving section of this review.
For the spend, buyers are treated to luxury car staples such as a full-leather interior, LED headlights, an upmarket sound system, and variable driving modes.
Inside, you will find all the latest modern conveniences such as multi-zone climate control, keyless entry, and push-button start.
Unique to the Trofeo – aside from the engine – are 21-inch alloy wheels, an additional drive mode (Corsa or ‘race’ for the layperson), larger brakes, and adaptive air suspension, as well as a panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled front seats, tri-zone climate control, carbon-fibre interior trim, and a powered tailgate.
Our test car has also come with a number of options such as a heated steering wheel, red/black interior trim, and the Tech Assistance Pack that includes a head-up display, wearable key, and IR-protected windscreen.
All in, the options tallied up to $28,890, bringing up the price of this Grecale Trofeo to $208,790.
You will want for nothing in terms of equipment with the top-spec Maserati Grecale Trofeo, even without the options, but it’s great to have access to a broad range of customisation options.
| Key details | 2025 Maserati Grecale Trofeo |
| Price | $179,900 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Nero Tempesta |
| Options | FS sport premium drilled leather – $13,550 Heated leather steering wheel – $940 Tech assistance pack – $3650 – Head-up display – IR protected windscreen – Wearable key Roof rails in metallic finish – $1250 High premium sound system – $6500 Metallic paint – $3000 |
| Price as tested | $208,790 plus on-road costs |
| Rivals | BMW X4 | Mercedes-Benz GLC | Porsche Macan |
Maserati Grecale best deals
Find new and used Maserati Grecales for sale at Drive Marketplace, or find your nearest Maserati dealer here to check out the Grecale in the metal.
If you’re looking for more pricing, specifications, and latest offers on the Maserati Grecale range, click here.
How big is a Maserati Grecale?
Measuring 4859mm long, 1979mm wide, 1659mm tall, and with a 2901mm wheelbase, the Grecale Trofeo is sized well for a family SUV.
This keeps it in line with rivals from BMW, Audi, and Mercedes, with enough room to cart a family of four comfortably, including any prams and nappy bags in the boot – something I can attest to.
Up front space is great, despite the well-bolstered sports seats, and the fit and finish are excellent – even for a premium brand like Maserati.
All the touchpoints are soft and supple, and the steering wheel is an especially nice bit of kit.
However, not all key areas are like this, as the shifter buttons are a miss for me, not feeling tactile enough when pushed. Furthermore, the plastic trim housing them appears to also be quite thin – at least in the test car I had – which led to flexing in the centre console when selecting gear.
It’s also annoying to use when requiring a three-point turn as stopping, pushing a button, then stopping and pushing another button is harder than just keeping your hand over a shifter and moving the lever up and down as required.
But that’s really just a minor gripe.
At least storage solutions in the front are bountiful, with a deep door pocket, cupholders, a wireless smartphone charging tray, and cavernous underarm storage cubby, so there are plenty of options for emptying your pockets.
Move to the rear seats and that same high-quality cabin feel is continued, with all touchpoints suitable soft and premium feeling.
As I stated before, two car seats will not have a problem fitting, though you will have to be careful with spills and stains on the Alcantara trim.
Without the seats in place, adult occupants have ample room in the outboard positions, with my 185cm-tall frame fitting with plenty of head, leg, and shoulder room.
Storage options are also plentiful for rear passengers, with door pockets, backseat map pockets, and a fold-down centre armrest with two cupholders.
Popping the boot will reveal a 570-litre cavity, quite large for a car of this size, which – again – is more than enough for family detritus.
Fold those rear seats down and volume expands obviously – making the loading of larger objects from Ikea or Bunnings possible – but to what extent, Maserati has not confirmed.
| 2025 Maserati Grecale Trofeo | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 570L seats up |
| Length | 4859mm |
| Width | 1979mm |
| Height | 1659mm |
| Wheelbase | 2901mm |
Does the Maserati Grecale have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
The 2025 Maserati Grecale Trofeo has a nicely sized 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with functionality for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
There are also other features bundled into that infotainment software, such as in-built satellite navigation, digital radio, and Bluetooth audio streaming – all expected fare in this price bracket.
I will call out the Android-based software, though, which makes jumping from menu-to-menu feel snappy and responsive.
Backing up this infotainment screen is a separate 8.8-inch display use for climate controls and drive-mode settings.
I’ll admit, I was sceptical when I first sat in the Grecale as these screens from other brands have not been great in my experience, but in this Maserati it is implemented excellently.
Yes, it’s still kind of hard and annoying to finely adjust fan speed and temperature while on the move, but Maserati has added swipe controls (left and right, up and down) to adjust these functions easily.
Backing all this up is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, which offers a small degree of customisability and a clear, legible readout.
The Grecale also features Maserati Connect, which allows owners to control certain functions from their smartphone or smartwatch.
With Maserati Connect in play, functions include remote vehicle status monitoring, vehicle finder, emergency and roadside assist calling, theft alarm notification, and remote vehicle diagnostics.
Overall, the tech on offer in the Grecale feels cutting-edge and modern, without being too over-the-top and unintuitive to use.
Is the Maserati Grecale a safe car?
The Maserati Grecale has not been crash-tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, and therefore does not have an official safety rating.
However, the mechanically related Alfa Romeo Stelvio was awarded a five-star ANCAP rating from an examination conducted in 2017, which has since expired.
How much this applies to the Grecale, though, is unknown.
| 2025 Maserati Grecale | |
| ANCAP rating | Unrated |
What safety technology does the Maserati Grecale have?
Despite the lack of a crash-safety rating, Maserati still bundles a significant amount of advanced safety systems into the Grecale Trofeo.
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, and a driver fatigue monitor are all on offer here – and you’d hope so at this price point.
In my week with the car, I found all the safety systems to work as expected.
| At a glance | 2025 Maserati Grecale Trofeo | |
| Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) | Yes | Includes cyclist, pedestrian, and night-time awareness |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | Yes | Includes stop-and-go |
| Blind Spot Alert | Yes | Alert only |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Alert | Yes | Alert and assist functions |
| Lane Assistance | Yes | Lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centring assist |
| Road Sign Recognition | Yes | Includes speed limit assist |
| Driver Attention Warning | Yes | Includes fatigue monitor |
| Cameras & Sensors | Yes | Front and rear sensors, surround-view monitor |
How much does the Maserati Grecale cost to service?
Like all new Maseratis sold in Australia, the Grecale Trofeo comes with a three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which falls well short of the industry-leading 10-year assurance periods offered by Mitsubishi, Nissan, and MG.
It also falls short when compared to premium brand rivals such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi, which is five years/unlimited kilometres, but matches the warranty offered by Porsche.
Scheduled service intervals are every 15,000km or 12 months, whichever occurs first.
Maserati Australia has included a three-year service plan in the price of a Grecale Trofeo, meaning maintenance is covered for the warranty period. Without a service calculator tool, it is unclear how much maintenance will cost after three years/45,000km.
To insure the Maserati Grecale Trofeo, it will cost owners $4263 per annum based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
This makes it slightly cheaper to insure than a comparable Porsche model, but more than a BMW, Audi or Mercedes.
| At a glance | 2025 Maserati Grecale Trofeo |
| Warranty | Three years, unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Servicing costs | Free (3 years) |
Is the Maserati Grecale fuel-efficient?
On paper, the Maserati Grecale Trofeo will return a fuel consumption average of 11.2 litres per 100 kilometres, but I saw a higher reading in my week with the car.
With my driving mainly confined to inner-city commuting – dropping the kids to childcare and then into the office, as well as a few jaunts to some country back roads – I ended up on a 15.4L/100km average.
Of course, this being a premium performance SUV with 390kW/620Nm, you wouldn’t expect the fuel efficiency of a Toyota Corolla and it does require premium unleaded petrol.
| Fuel efficiency | 2025 Maserati Grecale Trofeo |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 11.2L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 15.4L/100km |
| Fuel type | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| Fuel tank size | 64L |
What is the Maserati Grecale like to drive?
A proper driver’s SUV might be something of an oxymoron. After all, the inherent characteristics of a high-riding model are at odds with some fundamentals that make a sporty car fun.
But lo and behold, Maserati has pulled it off.
And not only has Maserati done it, but I’d argue it’s one of the best-driving SUVs out there – and one still available with petrol power too.
Let’s start with the engine, which Maserati has dubbed Nettuno, but I’d argue it should be called neutrino because when the V6 is in its powerband, it’s like a bomb going off.
With 390kW and 620Nm on tap, the Grecale Trofeo is certainly not short of performance, and the best part is that it always feels like it is on song.
Paired to this engine, and sending drive to all four wheels, is an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission. That’s right, no dual-clutch automatic here in the sportiest Grecale, and thank goodness too because the transmission is great.
Able to accelerate from 0–100km/h in 3.8 seconds, the Trofeo’s transmission is smart enough to hold onto a gear when you want to give it the beans, and to switch ratios for smoother driving when you back off.
The five driving modes have a part to play here too, of course, with Comfort, GT, Sport, Off-Road, and Corsa available.
As expected, these will dial up and down the steering, throttle response, transmission aggression, and suspension accordingly, and each has enough variability so Comfort feels distinctly different from Sport.
The steering feels connected and compliant, with drivers able to dart around corners and bends with ease, while the suspension is more than up to task around town or on a country back road.
I have to say, the adaptive dampers are great, and it’s a genuine surprise that an SUV of this shape and size can handle sudden changes in direction without much body roll or unease.
And with more suspension travel, it can handle the day-to-day commute littered with speed humps and potholes without any issues, whereas something like a BMW M3 can feel too brittle and hardcore.
However, my favourite aspect of the driving experience has to be the exhaust because… it actually has one.
Having driven so many electric cars recently, I was pleasantly reminded how much a little aural sensation can bring to the driving experience, and how much a bit of pop and crackle on overrun can induce a smile.
Seriously, I get that EVs are faster than the Grecale Trofeo, and the likes of the new Porsche Macan and Audi Q6 e-tron are wonderful steers in their own right, but the Maserati has presence and charm.
These might be esoteric and intangible things when buying a car, but then again, this is a Maserati that you buy with your heart, not your head.
| Key details | 2025 Maserati Grecale Trofeo |
| Engine | 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol |
| Power | 390kW @ 6500rpm |
| Torque | 620Nm @ 3000–5500rpm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | 8-speed torque converter automatic |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 192.4kW/t |
| Weight (tare) | 2027kg |
| Spare tyre type | Tyre repair kit |
| Payload | 643kg |
| Towing rating | N/A |
| Turning circle | 12.4m |
Can a Maserati Grecale tow?
The Maserati Grecale Trofeo has not been rated to tow, and therefore does not have a tow rating either braked or unbraked.
However, keep in mind the Grecale’s 643kg payload capacity, which is more than enough for families and gear, but just be careful not to overload the vehicle.
Should I buy a Maserati Grecale?
The Maserati Grecale Trofeo might not blow your socks off straight away with some presentation shortcomings especially egregious on a premium brand.
Then you drive it, and everything clicks into place.
With a wonderful V6 engine and handling dynamics that would shame even the best hot hatches, the Grecale Trofeo is a genuine pleasure to drive.
Add that to the fact it is also a mid-size SUV with ample room for families and even prams, and the Grecale Trofeo might be all your motoring needs in one.
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