autoX Awards 2024: That the Italians know style is certainly not a revelation. That Maserati embodies this isn’t surprising either. That this is a stylish compact SUV – inside and out – is very clear. After all, that Trident on the bonnet has adorned some of the most stylish machines ever conceived.
This one, though, finds itself in a very competitive segment. And, with a price tag of ₹1.3 crores, it’s certainly not doing itself any favours. Nor is the fact that it’s come to the party with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder motor. Yes, it produces 325 horsepower, and, yes, it actually drives exceptionally well, but there’s simply no getting away from the fact that you’re paying almost a crore-and-a-half on-road for a car with a four-cylinder motor.
Forget about that for a second though, and you can revel in what is a very athletic SUV – one that’s spritely and fits the bill perfectly if you want a uniquely stylish SUV that has both kerb appeal as well as driving pleasure. Think of it that way and it actually makes a lot of sense. Especially when you consider that the cabin is covered in swathes of Italian leather, and the tech – thanks to the many touchscreens – is actually pretty good too.
Start to push it on track and it doesn’t go to pieces. On the contrary, the engine has some grunt, the chassis is athletic, and the adaptive dampers mean that it’s got not just plenty of roadholding but a lot of versatility too in terms of ride comfort. The biggest problem on track was that the speed warning, which comes up at both 80km/h and 120km/h, takes over the entire tach counter. So, if you’re attempting to monitor revs to change gears manually via the perfectly placed and well sized shift paddles, you’ll have to think again.
Also Read: Maserati GranTurismo Launched at Rs 2.72 Crore in India
Other than that, this is a car that looks and feels properly exotic. Shame about the price though. Well, unless you’re willing to pay the price for exclusivity. If that’s the case, you won’t be disappointed.
- Maserati Grecale (Lap Time: 1.10.02)
| PARAMETERS | POINTS | SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| QUALITY | 5 | 4 |
| COMFORT / SPACE | 5 | 3 |
| REFINEMENT | 5 | 4 |
| DESIGN | 5 | 3 |
| DRIVETRAIN | 5 | 4 |
| RIDE & HANDLING | 5 | 3.5 |
| PRACTICALITY | 5 | 3 |
| X FACTOR | 20 | 11 |
| LAP TIME | 15 | 9.7 |
| VALUE FOR MONEY | 30 | 8 |
| TOTAL | 100 | 53.2 |
autoX Awards << BACK
Write your Comment