Come out fighting

IT MAY HAVE YOUTH ON ITS SIDE, BUT CAN THE MASERATI GRECALE REALLY LAY A GLOVE ON THE SEGMENT BENCHMARK?

- JEZ SPINKS

THE MASERATI Grecale’s mission, which it has chosen to accept, is simple: steal Porsche Macan buyers. Zuffenhausen’s midsized luxury sports SUV has been a predictable success since it debuted in 2014 as a twin to the Audi Q5 and a smaller sibling to its transformational big brother, the Cayenne.

As with the Macan, the Grecale broadens its appeal with a spread of pricing and a choice of combustion engines (while both will offer fully electric versions from 2024). The drivetrain you can get for your outlay differs quite markedly, however, as evidenced by our test cars.

Although we had the most expensive turbocharged four-cylinder models from each respective line-up, the Grecale Modena costs from $128,000 to the Macan T’s $98,700. (There’s also more than $20K’s difference between the base models.)

The Maserati’s 242kW/450Nm four-pot does offer more power, more torque, and adds mild-hybrid tech, yet for $119,000 you can have a Macan S powered by a 280kW/520Nm twin-turbo V6.

Dimensional differences between the Italian and German SUVs also can’t be discounted. At 4.85 metres long, the Grecale occupies an extra 12cm of longitudinal space. It’s also wider (by 5cm) and taller (by 6.5cm). A wheelbase that puts an extra nine centimetres between the front and rear axles to be even longer than the Cayenne’s brings one of the biggest differences between the rivals.

The Grecale’s rear legroom is far more generous than the Macan’s, with all-round space and supportive outboard seats confirming the Maser as the clear pick for adult passengers. Luggage capacity is also about 10 percent greater – 535 litres to the Porsche’s 488L boot.