Jeremy Clarkson reviews the Maserati Grecale — ‘It’s a long time since a car surprised me’

Posted by FlipStig1@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 45 comments

Maserati sent over one of their latest SUVs for Jeremy Clarkson to review. Given how much he has mentioned over the years that he’s not a fan of that vehicle type, it is a bit shocking that he made an exception for the Grecale. Here’s a preview:

“It’s been a long time since a car has surprised me, but this one did, chiefly because it’s just so damn comfortable. Like a Shackletons high-seat chair, it’s so easy to get in and out of, and then when you’re on the move it just glides. Various helmsmen in the specialist press have called it underdamped and say it’s a bit wayward if pushed. But it’s an SUV. Who’s ever going to push it? I just wafted about, deliberately driving over potholes to see if I could feel them, and I never could. I’d buy the Grecale for this reason alone.”

(Heads up, there might be a potential paywall encounter depending on how, when, and where you access the link.)

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EloeOmoe@reddit

granturismo

GT was a good car, it was the Ghibli that did them in.

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hi_im_bored13@reddit

GT was a good car it just overstayed its welcome

You cant really have a flagship luxury tourer that both exists new for $130k+ & has examples from the same generation selling for 1/10th that

In fairness ferrari took the 2nd gen platform from them in the split but what are they going to do about it

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EloeOmoe@reddit

Took the California and the Alfieri from them, IIRC.

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DaggumTarHeels@reddit

Alfieri

Yeah, this became the Roma.

The Alfieri concept: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maserati_Alfieri looks 10000X better IMO.

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Bamres@reddit

They should have done a Supra/i8 and gave them the Coupe

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kholin@reddit

My mom got one originally just off of MSRP, replaced it with another when the interior went to shit for 50K off of MSRP. Amazing cars for the price an the sound UGH....

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IAmWellBehaved@reddit

Honestly, I suspect that if they just had been a little prettier and much richer inside (not even techier), that would've gone a long way with those cars.

The pricing for what you get rests entirely too much on the Maserati name. Even the new Gran Turismo is nice and all, but that pricing is ridiculous next to a comparatively outdated 8-Series, etc.

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EloeOmoe@reddit

I think the price would have been a bit better to swallow had it kept a V8.

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R_V_Z@reddit

The Ghibli is a great car!*

* So long as it was a 1967-1973 model.

Poohs_Smart_Brother@reddit

I wasn't aware Clarkson still road tested and reviewed cars

rational_overthinker@reddit

Grecale is the depreciation KING 100K in 3 years, easy

Training-Expert5598@reddit

I mean, Jeremy is an old geezer now. It's not surprising he values comfort over performance at this point in his career and life. I can't argue with him, but I can imagine 20 other cars I'd rather have for less money and every one wouldn't have Maserati's infamous lack of reliability.

Rage_Your_Dream@reddit

If you value performance why would you buy an SUV anyway

5GCovidInjection@reddit

Cause I want something comfortable for the weekdays, and a separate non-SUV performance car for the weekends. Traffic is way too miserable to be spending it in an M2

FSCK_Fascists@reddit

was the surprise that it started?

mgobla@reddit

Such an underrated model, It's basically a bigger Alfa Stelvio (same platform, longer wheelbase) with more backseat space, a more upscale interior and optional air suspension. More reliable than the brand's reputation. You can get a base model, 2024 model year, clean title, under 40k miles for \~$30k (without air suspension). And the 2026 model year now uses the Nettuno V6 as base engine for the same price as the previous 4-cylinder.

Patient_Bet4635@reddit

Sounds like I'll be buying one in 2030

Bugeaters@reddit

I'll be in the market within the year and the base V6 Grecale surprisingly popped up on my radar. I am planning on downsizing from the X5. Unfortunately the X3 M50i was a big disappointment and I've yet to drive the newest SQ5 but it just seems a bit meh. These (grecales) are very intriguing if there are deals to be had

Davidclabarr@reddit

I absolutely loved my rental. They comped me it when I couldn’t get the GT500-H, and then I got the stang the next day. I think I had more fun in the Grecale

PrpleMnkyDshwsher@reddit

Not even the Clarkson circle jerk can overcome the Stelantis hate boner around here.

mellofello808@reddit

Archived version of article

https://archive.ph/tJkKR

French_Bill@reddit

Thank you!

turb0_encapsulator@reddit

i had a rental with the 4 cylinder and it was terrible. that probably hurts the car's image.

Sir_Sir_ExcuseMe_Sir@reddit

I disagree, I found it weirdly fun and charming as a rental

willpc14@reddit

Regardless, being in a rental fleet seems disastrous for a premium-luxury brand's image.

BigPK66@reddit

Quick google search and new ones are $90k+.. meanwhile 2023 models with under 15k miles are $31k

Weekly-Government350@reddit

ouch

Well, first of all, I didn’t even know it existed. It has been on sale for more than three years and I’d never even heard of it. The last time I looked, the Maserati SUV was called the Lavatory, or something like that anyway

Maserati makes some of the best cars on the market w/ some of the worst, if not the worst brand image for their class. Atp I don't think regardless of how good they make their cars they can come back from 15yrs of granturismo & 10yrs of Ghibli

But you have people here talking about how it doesn't compare to say even the base Macan & thats not right. Its a stellantis product though & that will never go over well here

only one thing sounds better than, “Shall we take the Maserati?” Which is, “Shall we take the Interceptor?”

So let’s talk about the pricing, perhaps the most surprising thing of all. The model I tested with lots of extras was £113,000 — much less than I’d guessed.

That being said I think Clarkson just hasn't driven many cars in this segment. That is exactly as much, if not a little more than I'd expect for the class, its come a very, very long way...