Some car tests start with enthusiasm. And then there's Jeremy Clarkson's. In the columns of Sunday Times, the famous British journalist admits: he had absolutely no expectations of this Italian SUV. Worse still, he didn't even know it existed.
A Maserati... under the radar
This is probably the most surprising confession in this test. Jeremy Clarkson, one of the world's best-known motoring journalists, discovers the Grecale almost by accident. The model had been on the market for over three years. But in his mind, the SUV Maserati remains the Levante, which he renames with his usual sense of humor: the Lavatory.
This lack of awareness speaks volumes about the Grecale's positioning. An Italian premium SUV, but discreet, almost invisible in a saturated segment. And when the car finally arrives at home, first impressions don't help.
According to Clarkson, the design is too banal. Too similar to all modern SUVs. He even goes so far as to say that he could have mistaken it for a Toyota. A harsh judgment, especially for a brand he considers «the king of Italian automobiles», even more prestigious than Ferrari.
Doubts... even before turning the key
Skepticism doesn't stop at design. Clarkson also questions Maserati's technical choices. Why use a V6 derived from the MC20 rather than the much-loved Alfa Romeo? A decision he suspects was dictated more by internal reasons than by automotive passion (editor's note: these are the same engines, the Nettuno V6 is an improved version of the Alfa Romeo V6). And then there's the color. An “egg” yellow billed at nearly £4,000, which he considers simply ridiculous in real life. All the ingredients for a disastrous test drive. But what happened next changed all that.
«It's been a long time since a car surprised me».»
From the very first kilometers, the tone changes. Radically, in fact. Clarkson admits: it's been a long time since a car surprised him. And the Maserati Grecale succeeds, mainly for one unexpected reason: its comfort. The Italian SUV impresses with its smoothness. It absorbs road imperfections with disconcerting ease. Clarkson even recounts deliberately driving over potholes... without ever feeling them. In his opinion, this behavior is akin to that of a Rolls-Royce. Not exactly what you'd expect from a Maserati. And yet it is.
Power, silence and grand touring
Under the hood, however, the Grecale Trofeo is no slouch. Its twin-turbo V6 develops 530 hp and a top speed of 285 km/h. A direct descendant of the MC20 supercar, the engine may have been slightly toned down, but it's still spectacular. Yet Clarkson insists that the engine is surprisingly quiet. Even under hard acceleration, the noise remains contained, with the exception of a few exhaust vocalisations. A contrast that further enhances the overall feeling of comfort. For him, offering an electric version seems almost pointless, given how quiet the internal combustion version already is.
A real Maserati... at last?
Another pleasant surprise is the interior. Often criticized in the past, the quality of finish here seems to be on the mark. Clarkson emphasizes a well-assembled, elegant cabin with ample space for passengers and luggage.
But not everything is perfect. He points out a few irritants, notably the Fiat 500 door buttons, the driving aids and the ergonomics of the dual-touch screen. But there's nothing really prohibitive.
Price is the final surprise
Expecting a very high price tag, Clarkson discovers a more affordable price than expected. The well-equipped model he tested came in at around £113,000. But hybrid versions start at under £60,000. A positioning he finds surprisingly competitive with the competition.
The trial ends as it began: with a surprise. At a luncheon with friends, Clarkson dreads reactions to the bright yellow color of his Grecale. But against all expectations, his host raves about the hue.
Before you know why: he owns... JCB (a brand of construction equipment). A perfect wink to conclude a test that constantly caught Clarkson off-guard. In the end, despite his initial doubts, the verdict is clear: the Maserati Grecale is a success. And above all, a car capable of still surprising... even someone who thought they'd seen it all.
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