Written by Tim Pollard Published: 17 March 2024 Updated: 22 March 2024

Overview

The Maserati Grecale is a mid-sized luxury crossover which really puts the Sport into SUV: there’s a range of V6 petrol and mild hybrid engine options to cater for different budgets and thirsts – and new for 2024 is this: the new Grecale Folgore all-electric option.

It joins a growing band of electric SUVs, as manufacturers prioritise this popular segment. The nearest spiritual rival is the latest Porsche Macan Electric arriving simultaneously, but buyers in the market for an e-SUV should also consider the tried-and-tested Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes-Benz EQC and upcoming Audi Q6 E-Tron.

The Folgore launched in summer 2024 with a single version available in the UK, priced considerably above the competition. That RRP spiralling well into six figures is likely to stymie interest from more mainstream buyers. We suspect the electric Grecale could remain the preserve of motorists wanting to plug in, run a premium SUV and buy into the cachet of a luxurious badge like Maserati.

14

The Grecale Folgore will certainly turn heads – for its likely rarity, but also its design. This is a good-looking mid-sized SUV and feels every inch an expensive, classy family crossover. Read on to find out if it’s good enough to become one of the best electric SUVs

What’s it like inside?

Maserati brings a dose of Italianate charm to the interior. Materials used are generally of a high quality and the cabin design is slick and appealing. All UK Maserati Grecale Folgores come with leather as standard and buyers can upgrade the upholstery, at no extra cost, to a new sustainable material called Econyl, made from recycled fishing nets and other nylon products. Interestingly, Continental markets do this the other way round, offering Econyl as standard.

The new seating material looks and feels like neoprene, for a sporting touch inside. We worry that it may stain under the assault of family activities, but Maserati insists durability is as good as traditional leather.

14

Roominess is assured in both rows and it’s easy for the driver to get comfortable behind the multi-buttoned steering wheel. The view out is simple and unobstructed; the Grecale feels more right-sized than the larger Maserati Levante SUV and rarely feels daunting to manoeuvre around tight urban streets or car parks.

It’s a comfortable four-seater for four adults, with room for a smaller fifth passenger in the middle seat of the back row. Impressively, the electric model has an identical luggage capacity as its petrol siblings, with a 535-litre loadbay. The bootlid opens and closes at the touch of a button as standard and is a sensible size and shape for swallowing the detritus of family life.

Maserati Grecale Folgore power units

Read our main Maserati Grecale review to see what we make of the four-cylinder and V6 petrol models. Here we are focusing simply on the pure electric version.

The Folgore has a single drivetrain option: a twin-motor set-up, with a punchy 275hp motor powering each axle for a combined total of 550hp. As you might expect from that power output, this is a very powerful SUV and performance is commensurately rapid.

Maserati quotes 0-62mph in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it 4.1 seconds, making this heavy, 2.5-tonne SUV nearly as fast as a supercar from a decade ago. The more academic top speed is capped at 137mph to conserve battery life.

14

The Maserati Grecale Folgore might be expensive, but that lofty list price does at least guarantee a large battery for a decently long range between charges. The 105kWh battery fitted as standard is big enough for a 311-mile range on the standard WLTP cycle and in our experience we’d expect that to last well over 200 miles in real-world conditions.

What’s it like to drive?

The Maserati Grecale Folgore is a well judged electric car. The standard combustion-engine models drive well enough, but lack the incisive dynamic edge managed by the benchmark Porsche Macan. The new electric Maser seems to have extended the SUV’s capability, offering a smart balance between sporting endeavour, family-focused practicality and luxury grand-touring credentials.

Performance is predictably rapid if you stab the accelerator, the hefty crossover leaping forwards with no hesitation. It makes mincemeat of overtaking opportunities but, crucially, settles back to a refined lope when you’re just cruising along.

This is where the Folgore comes in to its own. The name means ‘lightning bolt’ in Italian, but really the electric Grecale’s charm comes as a family runabout with a focus on comfort and mile-munching. We drove cars equipped with the largest 21-inch wheels (smaller 19in and 20in rims are available) and were impressed by the plump ride quality. Comfort suffers a little over small ripples in the road, such as expansion joints on motorways, so our advice is to stick with a smaller wheel size to improve the calm onboard.

The standard air suspension can be adjusted by a button on the centre console: the best choice is GT mode, which sets up the suspension and drivetrain for more pampering comfort. Stick it in Sport, if you must, for a tauter driving experience, but this adapts the springs and dampers for a busier, less compromising footing.

Off-road mode is available, raising the ride height significantly. We doubt many Grecale owners will ever take their cars off the beaten track, but it’s useful if you have to cross a field at the local gymkhana or drive along a snowy track on your way to a ski chalet.

Kudos to the artificial (and mandatory) EV noise generated by the Maserati at low speeds. It’s one of the most natural soundtracks we’ve yet heard on an electric car. Just as well, since you can neither adjust its volume nor switch it off.

What models and trims are available?

Just one single model is available in the UK: the Maserati Grecale Folgore costing £109,905. That is a surprisingly steep price when the very latest Porsche Macan Electric launching at the same time costs from £69,800 for a less powerful entry model; even the brawniest Macan Turbo Electric with more power than the Maser costs £95k, underlining the Italian car’s steep price.

14

Thankfully, the Grecale Folgore comes absolutely loaded with standard equipment straight out of the box: 14-way electrically adjustable front seats, an excellent 14-speaker Sonus Faber stereo, adaptive cruise control, leather upholstery and heating for both rows of seats (the front pews are also ventilated for cooling in the summer).

Being a Maserati, you can naturally personalise your Grecale to a scarily high degree, culminating in some very special bespoke touches. Take for instance the Rame Folgore copper paint job, which looks stunning – but costs an equally shocking £15,120!

What else should I know?

Maserati is electrifying its range at surprising speed. The GranTurismo Folgore arrived last year to bring an EV option to its staple GT sports coupe, the Grecale Folgore is arriving in summer 2024 and next up is the GranCabrio Folgore convertible.

It’s an impressive roll-out and shows how seriously Maserati is taking its responsibility to clean up its act. Modena promises that there will be a fully electric option in each of its ranges by 2025 – ahead of a full switchover to pure electric models only by 2028, when the new Quattroporte sports limousine arrives as an EV-only four-door saloon.

Read on for our verdict on whether we think the new Folgore Grecale is worth buying over one of its more sober suited rivals.