The Maserati Grecale is another level of luxury
Ever since I heard that the infamously unsatisfiable Bono, who could never quite seem to find what he was looking for, drove a Maserati, I've wanted to drive one.
I mean, if a multi-millionaire who could have the choice of any car he wants, chose this brand, they must be doing something right, yes?
So when Maserati offered me the chance to test their compact SUV, the Grecale, I leapt at the chance quicker than Bono could stage dive.
My wife and I had booked a weekend away at a hotel spa in the New Forest and this was the perfect opportunity to test out if its Italian swagger was on par with its SUV practicality.
The short answer is yes, and then some.
From the moment you get behind the wheel of the Grecale you are submerged in an overwhelming feeling of self-indulgence. The car tells everyone else you don't know on the road that you have class without you having to utter a word. You feel like you have arrived before you set off.
Whether crusing down the open motorway or meandering around the tight, winding country lanes of Hampshire, you have a feeling that you deserve this level of elegance in your life.
Sleek from every angle, the Grecale is handsome from the outside in every curve, but also beautiful on the inside. There's a trio of screens - a 12.3-inch digital cluster, a 12.3-inch central touchscreen and an 8.8-inch comfort display, not to mention the heads up display - which makes you feel you are as much an orchestra conductor as navigator.
Maserati offers you the choice of the petrol-powered Modena or the fully electric Folgore (0-62mph in four seconds... up there with Ferrari) thanks to its 550hp and dual motors.
The Grecale feels alert, and planted, in the centre of every road - Sport mode noticaby glueing you to the curves, but if you are somewhere as pretty as the New Forest, you will simply want to glide past the scenes serenely. Prices start at around £60,000 for the entry-level GT mild-hybrid, but higher trims will set you back more than £100,000.
I tested the petrol edition, but the electric Folgore will let you recharge from 20 % to 80 % in just 29 minutes using 150 kW DC fast charging, with a range of 311 miles, enough for you to drive from London to Cardiff and back on a single charge.
The amount of boot space in the Grecale varies depending on the model. The Trofeo offers 570 litres, while other versions (such as the GT, Modena, and Folgore models) provide an ample 535 litres, on par with rivals. This is enough space for things like golf clubs or a double buggy, but also there's a low loading sill and useful features like curry hooks, a cargo net, and a 12v socket
The only minore quibble I would have - and this would affect other cars not just the Grecale - is that we completely lost the satnav GPS signal in the outback wilderness of the New Forest, albeit not that far from London. After a weekend of our laziness at our spa retreat, we didn't really want to leave, but once we had made that decision, we could have done with knowing which direction we needed to be heading in to get out of there on the right road.
But the Grecale is pure luxury. Really as much as a statement as a means of travel. Renfinement and flair are in abundance as much as every day practicality and cutting edge tech.
I want one. And I now know in life, if I am ever unsure, I should ask myself, WWBD?
What Would Bono Do?