By William Byrd
I’ll say this up front: the 2026 Maserati Grecale Trofeo I’ve been driving costs $117,500 before you touch the options list. There are over 30 optional colors, 20 of which cost more than $10,000, with two quad coat colors ringing in at almost $19,000. This is information I think you should have upfront, before we go any further, because it is the kind of context that shapes everything that follows. The Grecale Trofeo is remarkable. Whether a compact crossover is worth this much money is a more complicated question, and I’ll try my best to answer it before we’re done.
2026 Maserati Grecale Overview
The 2026 Grecale lineup has simplified to just three trims, each built around a distinct powertrain philosophy. There are no more entry-level four-cylinder variants to fiddle with. Maserati has moved everything upmarket, with plenty of power on tap.
Grecale Modena — $84,500.
The entry point for 2026 is genuinely compelling. A 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 325 horsepower, paired to an eight-speed automatic with standard AWD. Adaptive dampers, a rear limited-slip differential, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control are all standard. The Modena is, for most people, plenty of Grecale. It covers everything you actually need and delivers the Italian character without requiring a second mortgage.
Grecale Folgore — $119,900
The all-electric variant with a dual-motor AWD setup. For buyers committed to going fully electric in a luxury compact SUV and who don’t want to hear a German accent when they talk about it, the Folgore is the unique option in the segment.
Grecale Trofeo — $117,500.
The car we’re driving here. The same 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 as the Modena, tuned considerably further: 523 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque. Zero to 60 in 3.6 seconds. A top speed of 177 mph. CORSA mode, which disables traction control and stability systems and turns the Trofeo into something genuinely entertaining. You’ll also get sport-tuned adaptive suspension, 21-inch wheels, Trofeo-specific exterior badging, a more aggressive front fascia, and standard 14-way sport power seats with driver memory. The Trofeo is not the practical choice. It is the memorable one.
As mentioned, Maserati’s Fuoriserie personalization program offers a staggering range of exterior paint choices. Our test car’s optional Nero Tempesta color was fine. Go with Rosso or something bright. Life is short.
2026 Maserati Grecale Trofeo: Inside & Out
The Grecale’s design follows Maserati’s philosophy of what they call visual longevity, the idea being that if you don’t chase current trends, you won’t fall out of fashion when those trends reverse. The result is a car that feels composed and distinctive if not head-turning. It earns a second look rather than demanding one.
The Trofeo gets some visual aggression to the standard Grecale: a more assertive front fascia, larger air intakes, 21-inch wheels, and Trofeo badging. It looks appropriately serious without being overwrought. I hate to keep beating a dead horse, but when you are spending north of $100,000 on a car that comes in shades named Giallo Modena and Blu Notte, the sensible choice is to stop being sensible about color. A more interesting hue would have given our Trofeo tester even more personality. Spec accordingly.
The Grecale Trofeo’s cabin makes a strong first impression. The seats are exceptional. You sink deeply into the bolsters, with excellent lumbar support, and the 14-way power adjustment actually covers the range of positions real human bodies need. My (new!) wife’s verdict after a long stretch on the highway was that her spine didn’t hurt. That is a meaningful endorsement and not a common one.
The three-screen setup consists of a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch central infotainment touchscreen, and an 8.8-inch lower display. The lower display, dedicated to climate, lighting, and comfort controls, is well-executed and provides quick access to HVAC controls. The main screen runs CarPlay over the full display while keeping Maserati’s native shortcut buttons along the side panel, which is exactly the right approach. You get full CarPlay immersion while still having fast access to the car’s own functions, without hunting through menus.
The lower climate screen is genuinely easy to use at a glance, which is not something you can say about every three-screen setup in this segment. The central screen is angled slightly toward the driver, which reduces the tacked-on effect that touchscreens so often carry. The far edge does require a modest reach, though.
The wireless charging pad has a non-skid surface that actually holds the phone in place under cornering. Most pads in this price range are smooth, this one has texture. It is a small thing that makes a consistent daily difference. Placement is excellent as well. It’s easy to reach, but out of the primary line of sight. If your phone runs hot while wireless charging (mine does), the adjacent surface is a natural spot for cooling.
The center console has a small carbon-fiber-lined compartment that opens with a satisfying click. It is not large enough to fit a current-generation phone, but a wallet, a key card, or anything small fits cleanly. It feels considered, which is what carbon fiber trim should feel like, rather than just decorative.
One note on audio controls: the Trofeo uses a haptic volume slider on the right side of the center stack rather than a traditional knob. It works, and the haptic feedback gives it some physicality, but a knob is still a knob. The steering wheel also has volume controls, located behind the wheel rather than on the face. If you have driven anything in the broader Stellantis family, including Jeep and Dodge products, you already know where to find it. If you haven’t, it takes a day to locate.
There is an analog clock display on the instrument cluster that can be switched to a G-meter readout, a compass, or a pedal activity indicator. The whole thing looks like a physical dial you could rotate; it would be satisfying to cycle through modes manually. Purely as a visual detail, it works well. A small addition that rewards attention.
Rear seat room is genuinely good for a compact SUV. The front seats have knee cutouts at the rear of the seatbacks, which create meaningful legroom for rear passengers even when the fronts are pushed back for taller drivers. I could sit comfortably behind my own driving position, which is the metric I use and is not always achievable in this footprint class.
2026 Maserati Grecale Trofeo On the Road
On the highway, the Trofeo is exceptional. The ride quality at speed is composed and confident, absorbing road surfaces without transmitting harshness to the cabin, and the seats make long-distance driving something to look forward to rather than endure. The Grecale Trofeo excels a grand touring machine in this mode.
Then you press CORSA.
CORSA disables the traction control and stability systems entirely. With 523 horsepower going through AWD, when those twin turbos fully spool, and the power arrives, there is a physical jolt across the car as it launches. Not a wallowing surge — a jolt, an immediate and slightly alarming transfer of forces that reminds you exactly how much energy is being deployed. You may not want to activate CORSA on a damp surface without knowing what you are doing. On a dry road, with some space, it is spectacular.
Body roll through corners is well controlled for a vehicle of this height and weight. The Trofeo feels smaller and lighter than it has any right to feel, which is the highest compliment you can pay a performance SUV. The chassis communicates what it is doing, the steering has appropriate weight, and the brakes are more than adequate to rein in the beefy powertrain.
For drivers who want the engagement of a manual without the full commitment, the paddle shifters allow manual gear selection. One caveat: pulling the paddle puts the car in manual mode temporarily, but it will revert to automatic after a period of inactivity. To keep it in manual mode, press the D/M button on the “gear button row”. However, if you set it to manual and park the car, it will remember your preference and return to manual mode the next time you pull out of the parking position. Love that.
Said gear selector buttons are positioned in the center stack between the two main screens, which is an unusual layout but one that works cleanly from a design perspective. It keeps the console uncluttered, and you would get used to it within a day or so. The start button and drive mode selector both live on the steering wheel. The drive mode selector lets you cycle through Normal, Sport, and CORSA.
The turn signal sound is routed through the speaker system rather than produced mechanically. The result is a tone that reads as slightly retro, almost arcade-like. It is different enough to notice and benign enough to live with.
A small ergonomic note: the sun visor on the driver’s side has its grab indentation only on the right side. Reaching across to drop it with your left hand is awkward. Even though much like the Dread Pirate Roberts, I am not left-handed, I do drive one-handed, with my right hand. So it was a little awkward to reach up and block out the afternoon sun.
Summary
Here is a number worth sitting with: in 2024, Maserati delivered 11,300 cars globally. Ferrari, for context, delivered 13,752. The Grecale is Maserati’s best-selling model, but you won’t see a ton on the road. Which means you are buying something a bit rarer than your neighbor’s Q5. You are buying a machine that, in CORSA mode, will remind you that 523 horsepower is not a number that exists primarily for bragging rights.
The Trofeo does something that genuinely good performance cars do: it has multiple personalities and shifts between them without drama. You can cruise it on the highway in near-silence, comfortable and composed, and your passenger’s spine will be fine. You can also press a button on the steering wheel and wake something up that feels considerably less polite. A car that does both of those things well, in the same package, at the same moment if you want it to, is genuinely rare.
If you have the means, I would certainly recommend picking one up. Go with a good color.
2026 Maserati Grecale Trofeo
Base MSRP: $117,500 | Engine: 3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 | Output: 523 hp / 457 lb-ft | 0-60: 3.8 sec | Top Speed: 177 mph | Transmission: 8-speed automatic | Drivetrain: AWD | Cargo: 20.1 cu ft
Jeff Glucker