Introduction to the 2025 Maserati Grecale Folgore
The Maserati Grecale was always meant to be a catalyst for Maserati’s growth. With a smarter interior than the larger Levante that preceded it, smart looks and a strong, high-performance Trofeo model, it was a step in the right direction, but it was outclassed by its main rivals. Sales were predictably slow, but Maserati will be hoping the new, all-electric Grecale will change the car’s fortunes.
Like every other electric Maserati, this one is called the Folgore, which means ‘lightning’ in Italian, and it’ll have to be quick if it wants to steal a march on the new, all-electric Porsche Macan with which it must compete. That’s a tough ask, but Maserati seems to think the Grecale Folgore represents a viable alternative to the German brands that dominate the market. Will we agree?
Pros & Cons of the 2025 Maserati Grecale Folgore
Pros: Smart-looking SUV, decent range, quiet and refined
Cons: Lacklustre handling, uncomfortable ride, not on sale in Ireland
Exterior & Design of the 2025 Maserati Grecale Folgore
• Design is similar to that of other Grecales
• Folgore gets copper-coloured lettering and accents
• Retains Maserati’s typical design features
Unlike the electric Macan, which is completely different from the petrol-powered SUV of the same name, the Grecale Folgore sits on pretty much the same underpinnings as its combustion-engined siblings. That means the size is unaltered, leaving the Grecale Folgore measuring:
Length: 4,865mm
Width: 1,948mm
Height: 1,651mm
Wheelbase: 2,903mm
With any electric car, Maserati immediately faces a conundrum. The radiator grille is central to the brand’s design language, yet it’s an aerodynamically messy and essentially unnecessary feature on an electric vehicle. So, Maserati has improvised a solution, putting glossy black strakes on a grille panel that’s significantly less open than that of the standard Grecale, allowing the airflow to be cleaned up somewhat, while still retaining the Grecale’s body shape and the Maserati hallmarks.
Yes, the grille is a bit different, and the three ‘air vents’ on the wings are lights, rather than real vents, but it looks much the same as the petrol-powered cars. The best way of discerning one from the other is actually the rear bumper, which has been redesigned because there’s no need for exhausts.
But we’re fairly content to see so few changes, because the Grecale - whether powered by petrol or electricity - is an attractive car. If we’re being hyper-critical, it’s perhaps a bit too doe-eyed, but it’s still easy on the eye overall. We reckon it’s more attractive than the new Macan.
Interior, Practicality, Tech & Comfort of the 2025 Maserati Grecale Folgore
• Folgore gets same modern, high-tech cabin as other Grecales
• More sustainable upholstery optional
• Plenty of cabin and boot space
Just like every other version of the Grecale, the Folgore comes with a modern and high-tech cabin that’s awash with screens. Not only do you get a touchscreen infotainment system, but there’s another touchscreen below that for climate control and other functions. Both are joined by a digital instrument cluster and a digital clock, which sits in the centre of the dash and can perform various functions.
The technology is generally fairly good - certainly, it’s much better than the touchscreens in Maseratis of a few years back - but it is far from perfect. The displays are pretty crisp, but the menus aren’t always that easy to navigate and some of the icons are a bit ambiguous. The one that opens the glovebox, for example, has an icon that looks nothing like a glovebox. I guess an owner will soon learn their way around it.
The configurable driver display has its up- and downsides, too, with an attractive design but a lack of functionality compared with the BMW X3’s screens, or even those of the Porsche Macan. But it’s easy to read, and that’s the most important thing.
Whatever, the Grecale is a technological step forward for Maserati, and it has seen quality improve, too. The plastics are generally much better than they have traditionally been in Maseratis, and the other materials - leather, wood and fabric - all feel better than they did in, say, the Levante. More sustainable materials are available in the Folgore, too, in a bid to satisfy the eco-conscious customers, while the way in which the whole car has been stuck together feels much better than in older models.
There are, however, some exceptions to that. The buttons that are used for drive selection feel a bit ropey, and they often require more than one press to go into reverse or forward. All of which can get a bit embarrassing when you’re trying to park your shiny new Maserati in a supermarket car park.
At least there’s plenty of room for carrying your shopping on your return to the car. The 535-litre boot is exactly the same size as that of a 2.0-litre mild-hybrid Grecale (albeit slightly smaller than the luggage bay in a purely petrol-powered Trofeo), and it’s more than big enough for most occasions.
And cabin space is good, too, with bags of rear legroom on show. Headroom is a little less generous for those in the back, but only exceptionally tall rear-seat passengers will notice.
Performance of the 2025 Maserati Grecale Folgore
• Almost as fast as high-performance Trofeo
• Twin-motor power provides all-wheel drive
• Suspension not as resolved as we’d like
Under the skin, the Folgore version of the Grecale has a 105kWh battery (of which 97kWh is usable) and two electric motors. That means the car has all-wheel drive and a massive 557hp, which allows it to get from 0-100km/h in around four seconds. It’s only fractionally slower than the lighter Grecale Trofeo - the high-performance option in the Grecale range - which ekes 530hp from its 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine.
All that means the Grecale Folgore is closely matched with the electric Porsche Macan 4S, in terms of power output, rather than the rear-wheel-drive base car, and it has comparable straight-line speed. But in terms of ride and handling, the Porsche is not just out of the Maserati’s league - it’s playing a totally different game.
Maserati has clearly tried to make the Folgore more comfortable than other Grecale models, which we have criticised for an irritating fidgetiness you get from their rear suspension. It leaves the 2.0-litre petrol-powered cars in particular feeling unsettled and awkward over some road surfaces. But the attempt to improve things in the Folgore have only made it worse.
The ride is, initially, quite soft, and that’s nice when you’re exiting the dealership car park and navigating its speed humps. But after that, it becomes a liability. Despite the softness, the car sags into potholes and struggles to regain its composure, and when the speed builds, things don’t improve. On faster roads, you’re not only being battered by small imperfections in the surface, but the body control is almost non-existent, so your head is being wobbled about on your shoulders like some kind of nodding dog. It’s very odd.
And it means the handling is impacted, too. The Grecale’s steering has never been that great, and that trend continues with the electric model, which still has overly light steering which has a weirdly elastic feel to it. That, combined with the lack of body control, means you have very little confidence in the Grecale’s competence, and it doesn’t really reward you for grabbing it by the scruff of the neck, despite the fact grip is ample and it clings on pretty well in the corners.
At least it’s reasonably quiet, although some owners will bemoan the inability to turn off the synthesised motor noise that’s fed into the cabin through the sound system. It isn’t too intrusive, but it feels a bit unnatural, and it can drone a little when you’re simply maintaining a constant speed, which seems unnecessary.
Range, Battery & Charging of the 2025 Maserati Grecale Folgore
• Sole battery option for 500km range
• DC charging at up to 150kW
• Our test returned 340km over mixed roads
The Grecale might not have the most aerodynamic shape of any electric SUV out there, but the battery, of 97kWh usable capacity, remember, is a decent size. It’s very slightly larger than the battery in a Macan 4S, although the Porsche offers a little more range on the official economy test.
Where the official figures suggest the Grecale manages 500km before it needs plugging in again, the Porsche officially offers up to 606km on a single charge. And though neither figure is realistic, our test on a broad range of road types suggested the Folgore would manage about 340km before needing to be charged up.
That isn’t terrible considering we were driving the car in winter (albeit on a bright, sunny day) and road-testing isn’t always conducive to efficiency, but it’s hardly remarkable. And nor are the Folgore’s charging credentials.
Unlike the new GranTurismo and GranCabrio Folgore models, which use an 800-volt electric architecture, the Grecale Folgore has 400-volt technology, and that means it won’t charge quite as quickly. Still, 150kW DC charging isn’t to be sniffed at, and it’s enough to top up 100km of official range in nine minutes at maximum charge speed.
And with the ability to charge at 22kW on a three-phase AC supply, the Grecale can make good use of a workplace charge point or kerbside AC charger.
Running Costs of the 2025 Maserati Grecale Folgore
• One of the cheapest Maseratis to run
• Not the most efficient electric SUV
• Reliability is an unknown quantity
Generally speaking, electric vehicles tend to be cheaper to run than their petrol- or diesel-powered equivalents, because electricity - or at least domestic electricity - is cheaper than petrol or diesel. Obviously, the cost savings will depend on how much you pay for electricity and whether you can charge at home, but there’s no doubt the Folgore is the cheapest Grecale to own. And, indeed, one of the cheapest Maseratis to run, alongside the GranTurismo Folgore and GranCabrio Folgore.
Assuming you regularly charge the battery at home, using cheap-rate electricity, you will find the Grecale outrageously inexpensive for a 557hp Maserati, although the reliability of the car will be a concern for some.
Maserati doesn’t have the greatest reputation on that front and the Folgore models haven’t had time to build any kind of reputation of their own. But these days, a lot of the technology is shared with the likes of Peugeot and Citroen, which have a somewhat better reliability record, and it’s worth noting that the hardware in an electric powertrain should be more reliable than that of an internal-combustion engine, simply because there are fewer moving parts.
Irish Pricing & Rivals of the 2025 Maserati Grecale Folgore
• Not officially available in Ireland
• Can be imported from Charles Hurst in Belfast
• The Porsche Macan is more affordable
Maserati officially has no presence in this country, so you’ll have to head to Belfast to find your nearest dealership, run by Charles Hurst. There, the Grecale Folgore is a very expensive thing indeed, estimated to cost about €135,000 registered in Ireland.
The entry-level electric Porsche Macan starts at €88,746, and the Macan 4S comes in at just over €100,000. And there’s a Porsche dealer in Dublin to make the process of buying those easy.
That said, the Grecale Folgore is well equipped. You get full leather, the digital instrument display and two-screen infotainment system as standard, along with 20-inch alloys, a Sonus Faber premium sound system and wood trim, as well as three-zone climate control, wireless phone charging and heated and ventilated front seats. A heated windscreen, heated rear seats and power-operated tailgate are all thrown in, too.
Verdict - Should You Buy the 2025 Maserati Grecale Folgore?
Maserati has made the unfortunate mistake of launching the Grecale Folgore at almost exactly the same moment as the new, all-electric Porsche Macan, and so comparisons are inevitable. And the fact of the matter is the Maserati just doesn’t stack up alongside its German rival. Perhaps it’s a little easier on the eye than the Macan, but it doesn’t have the range, road manners, handling or precision of the Porsche. Never mind the price gap.
That isn’t too much of a criticism per se - ride notwithstanding, the Grecale Folgore is not a dreadful car - but the Porsche and even the Audi Q6 e-tron are just so good that it doesn’t stand a chance. Factor in the need to import a Grecale Folgore, and there seems to be little point in choosing the Italian SUV over any of its rivals, even if you adore the looks. There just isn’t quite enough substance to back up the style.
FAQs About the 2025 Maserati Grecale Folgore
Does the Maserati Grecale Folgore have a ‘frunk’?
No, the Folgore only has a conventional boot at the rear, but it is quite large, measuring 535 litres.
How many child seats fit in a Maserati Grecale Folgore?
The Grecale Folgore has two ISOFIX child-seat mounting points on the rear seats, but there’s no ISOFIX point in the front passenger seat.
How safe is the Maserati Grecale Folgore?
We don’t really know for sure, because European independent safety organisation Euro NCAP has not yet put the Grecale through its process. However, it’s based on the same basic underpinnings as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, which performed admirably and achieved a five-star rating, so we’re expecting the Grecale to be just as safe.
Want to know more about the Maserati Grecale Folgore?
If there’s anything else you’d like to know about the Grecale Folgore, or any other Maserati, why not head to our Ask Us Anything page? There, you can post any questions you may have, and our team of experts will set about answering them for you, completely free of charge.
