Don’t Spend $20,000 More on the Maserati Grecale Over the 2023 Acura RDX
The Maserati Grecale is an appealing pick if you want a luxury SUV. That is if you can afford it. Interestingly, the Acura RDX has much of what the Italian model touts but at a much lower price. Is Maserati’s first crossover worth a huge chunk of change, or should you save $20,000 and go with the RDX instead? Let’s compare the two and find out.
Is the Maserati Grecale worth the price?
Maserati starts the Grecale at around $63,500. That’s $20,000 over the 2023 Acura RDX price. The two SUVs are similar in quality and other areas, including their base powertrains.
Regarding performance, the Maserati Grecale offers a couple of options. First, the hybrid setup, including a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, produces 296 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. This combination allows the SUV to get 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The upgraded Trofeo trim packs a 3.0-liter V6 harnessing 523 hp. This model gets an estimated 18 mpg on city streets and 25 mpg on highways.
Meanwhile, Acura starts the RDX at $41,750. It offers only one engine option, a 2.0-liter turbo-four making 272 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. With a 10-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, the RDX achieves an estimated 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The AWD model gets about 1 mpg less.
The most significant difference between the two SUVs is the sticker price. Spending $20,000 more for the Maserati Grecale doesn’t make much sense unless you’re dead set on the Italian nameplate.
What are the Maserati Grecale’s strengths?
To be fair, we admit the Maserati SUV is impressive. The Grecale excels in ride quality and handling, easily tackling various surfaces. It takes turns without problems and has responsive steering.
Regarding the interior, the Maserati crossover provides high-quality materials and sophisticated styling. With padded leather seating coverings, metallic trimmings, and wood accents, the Grecale boasts a luxurious cabin.
Its cargo space isn’t inadequate for a small SUV. The 20.1 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats is enough for everyday items. However, a few other models in this class offer greater cargo capacity.
Tech highlights include a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and an 8.8-inch infotainment screen with crisp graphics and responsive touch capability. In addition, the controls are easy to use as well. Buyers can also add a 6.5-inch touchscreen in the rear seat area, an appealing option for families with young children.
What do you get for the Acura RDX price tag?
The reliable Acura RDX is much cheaper than the Grecale, but that doesn’t mean it lacks quality or features. Indeed, it offers the same or better than the Maserati. The 2023 RDX’s cabin has high-quality materials, including leatherette sport seats and brushed aluminum trim. It also has two screens — a 10.2-inch infotainment display and a 7.0-inch instrument cluster.
The cabin provides ample room for passengers and storage. Cargo capacity behind the rear seats is 29.5 cubic feet, significantly more than the Grecale and some other rivals. With the rear seatbacks folded, the RDX provides a maximum of 58.9 cubic feet. Plus, it has underfloor storage space in the cargo area to stash smaller items.
Another area where the RDX excels is its long list of standard features compared to the Grecale, which offers only a few. The Acura compact SUV includes blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control among its many advanced driver-assistance systems.
Both models are high-quality SUVs, but is the Grecale really worth $20,000 over the Acura RDX price? We don’t think so unless you want the Maserati name and higher car payments.
