The Maserati Grecale has not long been with us, the Levante’s little brother, and we wanted to compare it with a well-established rival in the segment and which accounts for a large percentage of Porsche sales, the Macan. Which is better? I don’t wind up anymore and we’re going to find out…
Here is the comparison between the Maserati Grecale and the Porsche Macan, two Premium SUVs with clear sporting aspirations. The Italian arrives in its GT version, which is the access to the range, with its 300 CV. You already know that there is also a Modena variant with 330 CV and then there is a giant leap to the Trophy version, the most beast, with its 530 CV.
For its part, the Porsche Macan also attends the event in its access version, which is curiously the best-seller of the entire range. It delivers 265bhp, 35 less than the Grecale, which is also drawn from a two-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.
Are there differences in terms of pure benefits? Well, on paper, yes there are, especially because the Porsche not only has less power, it also has more weight and that weighs down when it comes to stepping on the accelerator.
We are talking about 1,940 kilos for the Macan, which is 1,870 for the Gracale GT, a 70-kilo difference that is not little, and that causes the Italian to be almost a second faster in the transition from 0 to 100 km/h and that he reaches a point also higher than 240 km/h of the Maserati (by 232 of the Porsche).
It is also surprising that the 2023 Porsche Macan is heavier than the new Maserati Grecale when it is somewhat smaller. The Italian measures 4.85 meters long, 1.95 wide and 1.67 high, while the German measures 4.73 meters long (12 cm less), 1.93 wide, two less and 1 .61 tall, six centimeters less.
As for design, since both models come in their entry versions, there isn’t much paraphernalia. With the Grecale you know right away that it’s a Maserati, with the huge concave grille and the trident in the center. Very elegant headlights, large air intakes and some ribs on the hood that give it a lot of muscle.
We have already seen a lot of the Macan and we have tested it a lot, so its visual impact is not as great as with the Maserati Grecale. In fact, remember that until not long there were even diesel versions. Porsche has been updating it over the years.
We are talking about the trunks, because they are family SUVs where the cargo volume is important. In this case you will also find differences and they are in favor of the Maserati: 535 liters for him, 77 less for the Macan, which is content with 458 liters. And that the Grecale hides behind the battery that feeds the 48-volt Mild Hybrid system.
The Grecale GT is more technological inside
Al Grecale, if we compare it with models of the brand not long ago, no more than three or four years old, we see that the new finishes have made a considerable leap. The visual invoice and the quality of the materials have nothing to do with it.
Mount up to five screens! One is for the instrumentation, another is for the center console, another is just below for the climate control, the fourth is the Head Up Display and the fifth is the small clock screen. And besides, the latter is amazing, because you can customize it a lot.
One thing I really like about this Maserati Grecale GT is that it offers a lot of information to the driver. And you can navigate through different menus and always find interesting options.
The Macan offers sublime build quality
I sit in the Porsche Macan and you immediately realize that the atmosphere changes, here the atmosphere is a little more sober and I don’t have the technological display of the Grecale.
But the fact that there is a greater absence of technology does not mean that I do not like this interior. It seems to me that it is very well finished and that the quality is even a little above the new Grecale GT. In other words: this Macan is very solidly built and feels like it will last 100 years without breaking.
At the wheel, the driving position is perfect and it is a sensation that is increased by the seats, which gather more back than those of the Grecale. By the way, the electric adjustment of the seats is standard in both, with 10 positions for the Grecale (8 for the Macan), although in the German, if you pay for them, you can get one with up to 14 adjustments.
Rear seats: the Maserati is looser
I move to the second row of the Grecale GT and there I find the same quality as in the front seats in terms of materials. Everything is taken care of to the millimeter so that the atmosphere is like what one expects from a luxury sports brand.
Space? For the occupants of the outer seats, there is as much as you want (comfort is less for the central seat), with centimeters to spare for the knees and the head (the huge wheelbase helps meet those standards).
There is a double air outlet, with independent temperature and air flow, and two USB sockets to connect your mobile devices. The Macan, for its part, is not as wide
Do you want to know how each one spends them on the asphalt? Well, don’t miss the video. In the end, both Premium SUVs are great rollers, although each one marks a different character that will make you decide on one or the other.
The Macan is undoubtedly the quintessential sports SUV, and lives up to the brand’s DNA, with unrivaled precise handling and poised cornering.
The Grecale GT on the other hand, aware of this, squeezes other talents to deal with it, such as a more balanced behavior (not so sporty), but more comfortable. You travel in luxury in this Maserati, with simpler suspensions, but they do their job very well. And spend less and earn the DGT ECO label, the icing on the cake for a great product.
