Maserati has finally done what every enthusiast has been yelling at their screen about since the Grecale launched: it put a proper V6 in the most attainable version of its compact SUV. Instead of asking buyers to pay extra just to escape a four-cylinder, the brand has reshuffled the lineup so the six is now the default flavor. The move instantly changes the Grecale’s character from stylish commuter to something that actually feels worthy of the trident on the grille.
It is not just a bigger engine for the sake of a spec sheet, either. The new setup borrows heavily from Maserati’s supercar hardware, adds real power and sound, and tightens the focus of the range for North America. The result is that the cheapest Grecale finally drives like the luxury performance crossover it always pretended to be.
From mild four to Nettuno muscle
The big news is that the old turbo four-cylinder is gone from the core Grecale lineup, replaced by a twin-turbo V6 that traces its roots to the brand’s halo supercar. Reporting on the 2026 update confirms that the previous mild-hybrid four has been dropped and a detuned version of the Nettuno V6 now serves as the base engine, a change that instantly gives the SUV a more authentic Maserati feel and makes the six the centerpiece rather than an optional upgrade for a niche of buyers. In other words, the company has stopped apologizing for its entry model and started leaning into the powertrain that actually sells the dream of Italian performance, with the Maserati Grecale Modena and embraces the twin-turbo layout.
Under the hood, the hardware is not just marketing fluff. Maserati’s own specs for the Grecale Modena list a 3.0 L V6 with an 88 mm Bore, delivering Max power of 385 HP and Max torque of 368 lb-ft, with that Max torque available from 2000 to 3750 rpm, which is exactly the kind of broad plateau that makes a heavy crossover feel eager in everyday driving. Those figures put clear distance between the Grecale and the typical luxury compact SUV that still leans on smaller four-cylinder units, and they also align the Modena with the brand’s wider push to make its combustion models feel more special, as highlighted in the official Engine breakdown for the model.
A tighter North American lineup with real attitude
The powertrain shift is part of a broader cleanup of the Grecale range in North America, where Maserati has trimmed the clutter and centered the SUV around this new six-cylinder heart. Company materials describe a New Grecale SUV trim tailored specifically for North American buyers, with a 3.0L twin-turbo Nettun V6 that uses technology derived from Formula 1, a detail that matters because it signals Maserati wants even its family hauler to trade on the same engineering story as its flagship MC20. By simplifying the offerings and making the six standard, the brand is betting that customers in this region care more about character and performance than about chasing the lowest possible entry price, a strategy spelled out in the New Grecale SUV announcement.
Independent coverage backs up that this is not just a minor spec tweak but a full reset of the Grecale’s positioning. Reports on the 2026 model year explain that the Maserati Grecale Drops the Turbo Four and Standardizes a Version of the MC20 Supercar’s V-6, framing the change as a deliberate move to align the SUV with the brand’s most exotic product rather than with mainstream crossovers. That Version of the MC20 Supercar’s V-6 connection is the kind of talking point that resonates in showrooms and on social feeds, and it helps justify a pricing structure that no longer leans on a bargain-basement four-cylinder to lure shoppers, as detailed in the Maserati Grecale Drops coverage.
Sound, feel, and the “cheapest” Grecale that finally fits the badge
On the road, early impressions suggest the new setup delivers more than just numbers on a spec sheet. A walkaround and drive of the 2026 Maserati Grala Moa V6 highlights a new Nuno V6 engine with 60 extra horsepower compared with the outgoing four-cylinder configuration, along with a new louder exhaust that gives the SUV the kind of soundtrack buyers expect when they sign up for an Italian badge. That 60 figure is not trivial in a segment where incremental gains are the norm, and paired with the more vocal exhaust tuning it turns the Grecale from a quiet status symbol into something that actually encourages drivers to explore the upper half of the tach, as seen in the Maserati Grala Moa video overview.
Another look at the 2026 Maserati Gracali V6 reinforces that this update is as much about presence as it is about raw speed. Commentary on the refreshed model points to better styling, a louder exhaust, and a bigger nutuno engine, all wrapped into what is described as the new 2026 Maserati Gracali V6 getting an upgraded V configuration that finally matches its visual drama. That combination of sharper looks and a more serious powertrain helps the Grecale stand out in a crowded field of anonymous crossovers, and it underlines Maserati’s decision to stop treating the six as a niche upgrade and instead make it the core of the lineup, a shift captured in the Maserati Gracali walkaround.
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