• Cabin is finished in some lovely materials
• Some ergonomic challenges
• Gorgeous paddleshifters

How is the quality and layout?

The Maserati Grecale is comfortable and well-equipped, and comes across as a luxurious SUV rather than a sporting one. This, at least, is bang on the pace for the money and market sector it’s aimed at. Oddly, you get a transmission that’s controlled by five rather retro flush push buttons in the centre display where you’d expect the climate controls to be. They feel a bit cheap to touch, but once you’re used to them they aren’t a problem.

Consequently, its stylish and well-trimmed cabin is a very nice place to spend time in. Of particular note are the beautiful materials used throughout, and the stylish design – some of the controls are oddly dated, but overall, we like the ambience, which is more pleasing than its sometimes clinical rivals such as the Audi SQ5, Porsche Macan, Mercedes-AMG GLC and BMW X6.

Overall quality is better than expected, with the seats and principal touchpoints coming in for real praise – check out the solid-meyal paddle shifters for a good example. Material quality is a mixed bag, however. Some aspects of the Stelvio’s interior look and feel fantastic – the seats are great, for example, as is the steering wheel with its sculpted rim. Other items, such as the column stalks or central gear selector, feel decidedly low-rent.

Infotainment and tech

You get a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment system (which is the largest screen Maserati has fitted to one of its cars) and a digital climate control panel. It initially looks a little haphazard, but you soon work out its logic and find it’s quite simple to use.

Technology highlights include a customisable ambient lighting system and an extra multimedia screen for rear-seat passengers. Every Grecale also gets a 14-speaker Sonos stereo, but you can specify an optional 21-speaker setup if you fancy it.

The infotainment set-up is Google-enabled and works quickly and without fuss once you’re signed in and are familiar with how it functions. As you’d expect for this price, the Grecale comes with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a voice recognition system and over-the-air updates for the infotainment. The steering wheel also has a lot going on, with 30 separate buttons and controls coming off it, which is a bit much.The useful head-up display is an optional extra.

Comfort

• Front seats are brilliantly shaped
• …and trimmed in the best materials
• The rear is perfect for two

The front seats offer excellent long-distance comfort and support. Every seat facing we’ve sampled has been of the highest quality, which helps in making you feel at ease when you jump in.

In addition to this, there’s a great amount of adjustment – 10-way powered adjustment on the entry GT and 14-way adjustable sports seats on the Modena and Trofeo – and this is matched in the rear. Although this is a large car, it’s best for two in the rear thanks to the seat shaping and intrusive transmission tunnel in the floor.