Is the Maserati Grecale one of the best premium SUVs you can buy?

Maserati has turned slightly late to the mid-size SUV party but better late than never, eh? Meet the Grecale, named after a wind that blows around the Mediterranean Sea. The Grecale, specifically, is a north-easterly Mediterranean wind. This is not the first time Maserati has named a car after a wind with the Mistral (1963), Ghibli (1967), Bora (1971), Khamsin (1974), and Levante (2016) also being named after different winds.

We got the chance to lay our hands on the Grecale so make sure you check our Youtube video for an in-depth review.

From the outside, the Grecale resembles the Alfa Romeo Stelvio to some extent. The Stelvio, along with the BMW X3, and Porsche Macan are Maserati's chief rivals.

The mid-size SUV has sleek lines and Maserati’s iconic grille on the front. From the side, one can see the coupe-like silhouette of the Grecale to give it a distinct presence. 

The Grecale is available in three trims: GT, Modena, and Trofeo. Our personal choice would be the Modena with its 330 horsepower 4 cylinder engine mated to an  eight-speed transmission which should be more than plenty for the SUV. An all-electric version of the Grecale is also on the way.

Step inside and you will find a premium interior with lots of high end materials and a new interface which is touchscreen, of course. We found the rear seats to be quite spacious and the cargo space very impressive by usual mid-size SUV standards. 

Three driving modes are on offer - Comfort, GT and Sport - GT is the default mode when you enter the car which gives the best of both worlds. In Sport mode, the acceleration becomes more responsive and everything stiffens up.

During our tests, we found the Grecale’s suspension very smooth and comfortable and the handling very suitable for daily driving. The exhaust wasn’t as loud and sporty as we expected. A louder exhaust would’ve made it more involving. 

The Grecale starts at 369,000 AED and comes with a 3-year warranty and service included. For knowing all of the details of the Grecale, make sure you check our Youtube video.