Compare the2024 Maserati GrecaleVS 2023 BMW X5

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Maserati Grecale are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X5 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Grecale and X5 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Grecale has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The X5’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Grecale. But it costs extra on the X5.

Both the Grecale and the X5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Maserati vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Maserati above average in initial quality. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

On the EPA test cycle the Grecale gets better mileage than the X5:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Grecale Trofeo’s fuel efficiency. The X5 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the Grecale and the X5 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Grecale’s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch for start/stop is only offered on the X5 M50i.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Maserati Grecale higher (5 out of 10) than the BMW X5 (3). This means the Grecale produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X5 every 15,000 miles.

The Grecale stops shorter than the X5:

The Grecale has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Grecale’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The X5 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Maserati Grecale may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 800 pounds less than the BMW X5.

The Grecale is 3.5 inches shorter than the X5, making the Grecale easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Maserati Grecale amounts to more than styling. The Grecale has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .326 Cd. That is significantly lower than the X5 (.36 to .38) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Grecale get better fuel mileage.

The Grecale’s optional liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

Standard Trailer Sway Mitigation on the Grecale uses the Electronic Stability Program sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Grecale’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The X5 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Grecale has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X5 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Grecale offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.