Maserati clearly sees electrification as a big part of its future. Not only did the company join the Formula E race series in 2023 for Season 9, but it’s also introducing EVs across its range. At the new Misano-based Italian Formula E race, I got to try out the Maserati Grecale Folgore SUV, as well as experiencing the ferocious performance of the GranTurismo Folgore on track. Maserati was clearly trying to prove its cars are still racers in the electric era.
The new electric Maseratis are called Folgore because this is the Italian for “lightning” – a fast flash of electricity, which seems appropriate for a brand that owes its heritage to motor racing success. Like almost all performance car companies, however, Maserati has felt the need to join the SUV party, because this style of vehicle sells. An incredible 51% of cars sold in Europe in 2023 were SUVs, and in the US the figure was 46%. The SUV may be much maligned (and with good reason), but any manufacturer choosing not to include this format in its range does so at its peril, at least where financial health is concerned. The question is, has Maserati managed to maintain at least some of its racing DNA in this electric SUV?
Maserati Grecale Folgore: Italian Luxury
As cars of this genre go, the Grecale Folgore is quite a looker. Maserati has maintained the family image, with a sizeable grille on the front – which is clearly unnecessary in a car without a combustion engine radiator. The profile is nicely rounded, albeit close to being an exotic take on a Porsche Macan, which is also a similar size. Paint choices on show at the Italian event were subtle, classy, and all allegedly blue, including the greyish matte version I drove.
The interior is, unsurprisingly, sumptuous – this is an Italian luxury car, after all. The leather seats are supremely comfortable and the stitching on the dashboard perfectly appointed. The steering wheel feels like it was meant for your hands. The rear is decidedly roomy for adult passengers. You get a useful 535 liters of rear cargo space with the rear seats up, so the space is both luxurious and practical.
The Big Grecale Folgore Question: Does It Drive Like A Maserati?
The Grecale Folgore is a dual-motor car with two identical motors delivering 205kW (275hp), for 550hp in total and a whopping 820Nm of torque. This powers the car from 0 to 62mph in 4.1 seconds, which is about on par with a non-Plaid Tesla Model X, although BMW’s iX M60 is a bit quicker. Nevertheless, this is a very fast SUV, and more than speedy enough to get you into trouble. I managed to induce a little wiggle from the back end just hitting the accelerator too firmly when exiting a roundabout, although the traction control very quickly compensated.
While the performance specs are great on paper, where the Grecale Folgore really shines is how it handles. Weight distribution is close to perfect – 47.2/52.8 front to rear. Maserati has done an incredible job with the Grecale Folgore’s suspension setup, too. I was driving the car around mostly hilly roads in Italy, many of which did not have exactly perfect surfaces. Yet the Maserati ate up the bumps in the road almost as if they weren’t there. This kind of ride is normally delivered via soft suspension, but Maserati has managed to provide this comfort alongside precise steering and dependably flat cornering, despite the weight. The Grecale Folgore felt perfectly at home navigating windy Italian country roads with gusto. As SUVs go, the Grecale Folgore is incredibly fun to drive. The power and pliant handling provide much more sports appeal than a car this big and heavy should be expected to have.
Although the Grecale Folgore will be the bigger seller, the GranTurismo Folgore was Maserati’s first EV. I still haven’t driven the electric GranTurismo but was treated to a lap of the Misano circuit in one at the hands of an experienced racing driver. The car’s 760hp are ungodly, giving it a 0-62mph sprint of 2.7 seconds and 202mph top speed. Like the Tesla Model S Plaid, the GranTurismo makes you feel a bit faint when accelerating hard from a standing start, it’s so quick. If you want a true Maserati electric sports experience, the GranTurismo Folgore will be the way to go. But the Grecale Folgore provides a taste of this character in a much more practical package.
Maserati Grecale Folgore: Not Entirely Perfect
However, there are some areas where the Maserati Grecale Folgore is more mediocre. The battery is a sizeable 105kWh unit, with 95kWh usable. Despite this capacity, Maserati quotes a WLTP range of between 266 and 313 miles, which is a bit on the low side. Even the rated WLTP efficiency is just 2.6 miles per kWh. The electrical system is also just 400V, not the 800V one used in the GranTurismo Folgore. So the maximum DC charging rate is 150kW, which is a behind the best. However, you can still charge from 20% to 80% in 29 minutes, which will be adequate for long journeys, and 22kW AC charging is standard too.
There are some typically Italian niggles with the Grecale Folgore, as well. The paddles that adjust the electric motor regeneration level are just in front of the indicator stalk on the left and windscreen wiper stalk on the right. This means the two controls can get in the way of each other. On top of that, there are hidden buttons behind the steering wheel around this location. The ones on the left operate media controls and it was only by accident that I found them. Until this point, I couldn’t for the life of me work out how to turn down the music system.
Other aspects of the infotainment system are excellent, however. The Head-Up Display is quite minimalist but effective, and there’s traditional dashboard instrumentation that can reveal map snippets when navigating. Although the climate control is entirely screen-operated, Maserati has provided this via a separate 8.8-inch panel beneath the main central 12.3-inch display, so all the buttons for air temperature and fan speed are accessible all the time.
Performance and Luxury Worth Paying For
Unsurprisingly, the Maserati Grecale Folgore is not cheap. Starting at £109,905 ($137,000), its most obvious competitor is the Lotus Eletre, which has a cheaper entry-level price, but hits a similar cost in the middle of the range with the S. The Eletre is a longer, wider (but shorter) car. The Grecale Folgore is 125kg lighter but also less powerful. The Lotus, like the Maserati, manages to provide a comfy ride alongside driving dynamics that shouldn’t be possible for a large, heavy SUV.
So the Maserati Grecale Folgore has some strong competition from Lotus. But that means it’s in good company. You’re not going to see loads of either car on the road, with their six-figure prices. But if you want a luxurious vehicle that has some practicality and comfort for four adults, or five at a pinch, and you’re willing to pay for it, Maserati has you covered with the Grecale Folgore. And it delivers this alongside the driving enjoyment you expect from the Maserati brand.
