A California Dream on Wheels
The Maserati Grecale Trofeo stands as a thunderous statement of Italian automotive passion wrapped in a deceptively practical package. With 523bhp nestled beneath its bonnet and the heart of a supercar beating within, this machine transforms the school run into a Grand Prix qualifying lap.
Setting The Scene
Arriving at LAX after a long-haul flight, we were greeted by our chariot for the week—a gleaming Grecale Trofeo in Bianco Astro, its pearlescent finish shifting between pristine white and icy blue under the California sun. This striking SUV would be our companion for an ambitious journey from the urban sprawl of Los Angeles to the sun-baked desert of Palm Springs and the opulent streets of Beverly Hills.
The Grecale delivers a compelling contradiction—a family-friendly SUV that can dispatch 0-62mph in a breathtaking 3.8 seconds while cosseting its occupants in sumptuous Italian leather. As we navigated through the notorious LA traffic away from the airport, the vehicle immediately demonstrated its dual personality: a sophisticated cruiser for boulevard posing that transforms into a wild-eyed maniac when unleashed on open roads.
The heart of a supercar
The Grecale Trofeo’s main attraction sits under its bonnet: the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 Nettuno engine borrowed from the MC20 supercar. Producing a thumping 523bhp and 620Nm of torque, this mechanical masterpiece employs clever twin-chamber combustion technology that creates bigger bangs from a relatively modest capacity.
Escaping the congestion of Downtown LA, we found ourselves on the highway heading east toward Palm Springs. Floor the throttle on these arrow-straight desert roads, and the Grecale transforms from elegant Italian transport into something altogether more feral. The rear-biased all-wheel drive system momentarily allows the back end to step out before the electronics gather everything together, hurling you forward with supercar-like urgency.
What truly separates this engine from German rivals is its character. Rather than clinical precision, the Nettuno delivers Italian drama—starting with a rich burble at idle before building to a spine-tingling rasp at the 7,000rpm redline. Each upshift through the slick eight-speed automatic gearbox is accompanied by an authentic crack from the quad exhausts. Bystanders on Rodeo Drive turned to look, not because they saw the car, but because they heard it first.
Handling that defies physics
Our California odyssey took an exhilarating turn as we threaded the Grecale Trofeo through Mulholland Drive’s challenging corners. Here, the chassis somehow manages to disguise its considerable two-tonne heft. Based on a stretched version of the Giorgio platform that underpins the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the Grecale feels remarkably agile for its size.
The quick steering rack delivers surprising feedback for an SUV, allowing us to place this substantial vehicle with sports car precision. Selecting CORSA mode—exclusive to the Trofeo—sharpened everything further. The electronic safety nets loosened their grip, the suspension firmed up, and the gearbox held onto ratios longer, transforming an already engaging drive into something genuinely thrilling.
Even with its considerable performance credentials, the air suspension—standard on the Trofeo—offers adjustable ride height. This proved invaluable when we ventured onto unpaved desert tracks outside Palm Springs, raising the car by 30mm to tackle the rough terrain with confidence. The chassis may not match the Porsche Macan’s ultimate composure on twisting roads, but it makes up for it with character and driver engagement that’s becoming increasingly rare in modern performance SUVs.
Italian craftsmanship meets modern tech
We were immediately struck by an interior that blends traditional Italian craftsmanship with thoroughly modern technology. Four screens dominate the cabin—a digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch central infotainment display, an 8.8-inch comfort panel for climate controls, and a digital interpretation of Maserati’s iconic dash-mounted clock.
The Trofeo’s cabin exudes sporting intent with exposed 3D carbon fibre trim, perforated leather and chevron motifs that hint at the car’s dynamic potential. Those vast column-mounted shift paddles—finished in a satisfying brushed metal—felt genuinely special when firing through the ratios on canyon roads outside Los Angeles.
Every touch point speaks of quality, from the laser-cut metal grilles protecting the Sonus faber sound system’s speakers to the supple leather that wraps around the dashboard in Maserati’s signature double saddle stitching. This exceptional 21-speaker audio setup delivers 1,285 watts of audiophile-grade sound, which proved the perfect companion for cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway on our return journey from Palm Springs to Beverly Hills.
Practical indulgence
Despite its sporting credentials, the Grecale hasn’t forgotten its practical duties. The lengthened wheelbase compared to its Alfa Romeo cousin became apparent as we loaded our luggage at the airport—generous rear seat space, with head and legroom to spare for adult passengers. Without the mild-hybrid system found in lesser models, the Trofeo also offers a cavernous 570-litre boot—which easily swallowed our suitcases and the spoils from an impromptu shopping spree on Rodeo Drive.
The cabin proved a sanctuary during LA’s notorious traffic jams, with multiple driving modes allowing us to soften the suspension and relax the throttle response. In COMFORT mode, the Grecale settles into a refined cruise, isolating occupants from road noise and rough surfaces far better than its sporting pretensions might suggest.
The price of passion
At just under £100,000, the Grecale Trofeo commands a substantial premium over rivals like the BMW X3 M Competition, Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Porsche Macan GTS. Yet driving through Beverly Hills—where five-figure price premiums are discussed over breakfast—the Maserati’s exclusivity made perfect sense.
This vehicle goes beyond another German premium SUV; it’s a statement of individuality. The Trident badge carries a weight of history and emotion that transcends mere transportation. Yes, it’s expensive, but the combination of supercar-derived engine, genuine character and Italian craftsmanship delivers something increasingly rare in today’s homogenised automotive landscape: a car that makes you feel special every time you drive it.
Verdict
The Maserati Grecale Trofeo sits in a curious sweet spot—a genuinely practical family SUV that somehow maintains the soul and character we expect from the storied Italian brand.
Any minor foibles fade into insignificance when you’re hammering along the Pacific Coast Highway, sunlight dancing across that mesmerising Bianco Astro paintwork, with the Nettuno V6 singing along. In a world increasingly dominated by clinical automotive perfection, the Grecale Trofeo offers something more valuable—character, passion and the sense that you’re driving something genuinely special.
For those who find German performance SUVs too predictable and Japanese alternatives too anonymous, Maserati has created something genuinely compelling—a practical family chariot that never lets you forget it’s also a thoroughbred Italian performance car. The Grecale Trofeo certainly made our Californian adventure unforgettable—from the bustling streets of Downtown LA to the serene desert landscapes of Palm Springs and the glamour of Beverly Hills. It’s not just a great Maserati; it’s a great luxury performance car, full stop.
