Customization is all the rage right now, but choosing can be seriously confusing. In our configurator challenge we leave them drive Team loosely on a manufacturer’s website to create their ideal combination for a specific model.

This week’s challenge features the new mid-size SUV Maserati Grecale, which is set to launch locally in three different model variants.

The Maserati Grecale will be the most affordable model in the Italian automaker’s local offering, while offering a range of customization options that… drive Team has shown below.

Tell us what your ideal Maserati Grecale would look like in the comments below (build yours here) and the cars we should configure next.

There are some pretty impressive colors and configurations out there for the Grecale, and while I’m sure we’ll see our fair share of black-on-black on the road, I felt a fierce Italian needed a little more panache.

I started with Grecale GT with basic trim in the stunning Verde Smeraldo green, part of the Fuoriserie range. To knock it out of the park, I paired this with the white asymmetric decal set, which delivers an offset swath of “Bianco” across the hood and right side of the car.

It includes a rather over-the-top trident logo motif on the roof…but maybe don’t look too closely. You can’t combine this with the panoramic roof (which would remove the giant trident) unfortunately, but you can add roof rails and even a Maserati cargo box for a little extra.

The wheels jumped a size higher than the gloss black 20-inch Etere items, and I went with red brake calipers because you kinda have to.

Inside, I’ve continued the white theme by adding ghiacco leather (ice) and shiny carbon fiber trim.

There’s a dash of Black-Pack on the outside and some technical inclusions on the inside, just to ensure there’s never been an identical spec Grecale in the supermarket car park.

Although I don’t like drinking red wine, I do like a Shiraz shade. So the Grecale’s Bordeaux Pontevecchio exterior color – from Maserati’s Fuoroserie custom color list – is the only expensive red I need in my life.

I would have liked to have doubled down with burgundy brake calipers and interior trim, but that wasn’t an option, so I played it safe with black painted brake calipers, black ‘Nero’ seats with red stitching and high-gloss piano black trim along the dash.

I love the eye-catching Maserati logo, so of course I had to have it sewn onto the seats in red. And when I buy a Maserati, I go all out and get the Trofeo mark, of course.

The entry-level four-cylinder Maserati Grecale would be quick enough for road use, but the idea of ​​a big SUV with a supercar engine (granted, that 390kW Nettuno twin-turbo V6 would have been developed for either car…) is too appealing to pass on the top of the range Trofeo.

I went for the hero color featured in all the Grecale Trofeo press images, Giallo Corse (racing yellow)… for the cool sum of $48,500, which is the equivalent of two new Toyota Yaris hatchbacks. Ouch.

Complementing the exterior color – which gives new meaning to the term ‘premium paintwork’ – includes standard black leather seats with red stitching, red brake calipers, 21-inch “Crio” alloy wheels and 3D carbon fiber interior inserts, all included in the base list price.

But I haven’t stopped ticking boxes. In addition to the paint, I have the $7,050 ADAS Level 2 package (traffic sign recognition and semi-autonomous driving technology), the $5,950 Sonus Faber “High Premium” sound system with 21 speakers, and the $3,290 Tech Assistance Pack (head-up display) selected , cellphone charging), $2100 front seat vents, and $700 metallic sport pedals.

It’s a shame you still need traffic sign recognition and a wireless phone charger for a $170,000 luxury SUV in 2023 when they’re going to be built into mass-market family cars for a third of the price. But at this price point and at the end of the market they are a must have so I ticked the boxes.

The final price for my Maserati Grecale Trofeo configuration is $232,590 plus road expenses — or probably more than $250,000 for the drive. That includes $67,590 worth of options (although the yellow color makes up for a lot of that).

Maserati is to Ferrari what Tudor is to Rolex. They may not be the first choice of a dream car or a teenager’s flagship, but they’re often favored by people who want a touch more anonymity than the other Italian supercar brands – or a touch more character than the German offerings.

Which brings us to the Maserati Grecale, which argues very convincingly against models like the Porsche Macan, BMW X3 M and Mercedes-AMG GLC.

Of course, I’d pick the Grecale Trofeo, which borrows the MC20’s 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 – albeit with slightly less power. Still, 390 kW is a good number for a daily driver. A solid white Bianco paint job is classy for such a machine (black would also be acceptable), with optional 21-inch forged Pegaso wheels in gloss black and red brake calipers to match the interior.

An interior in a combination of red and black that gets even better with the Tech Assistance package, the ADAS driver assistance package and some other extras such as a premium sound system, heated and ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel. No, Grecale isn’t the obvious choice, but it could be just the right one.

There are so many different ways to configure a Grecale, but I envision mine as some sort of modern grand tourer, in which case the Grecale GT is the perfect place to start.

Verde Royale is the color of choice, along with chrome window and tailgate trim and matte gray brake calipers. There’s something of a heritage twist at play here, so the chestnut-colored leather and open-pore Radica wood paneling help channel the retro look.

While the 20-inch Etere forged alloy wheels (and their trident design) are borrowed from the Modena trim, they shouldn’t detract too much from touring comfort over the standard 19s.

Other cross-continental touches on my build include the 21-speaker Sonus Faber audio upgrade, interior ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and matrix headlights.

While the lure of the Grecale Trofeo is tantalizing, the 221kW/450Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre engine in the GT should still hit the right spot. Not to mention that some of the more tan and wood-colored options are barred from the more powerful engines, but the leather-lined luxury experience is a key element of the GT that makes it the one for me.

I chose Blu Royale for my Maserati Grecale because I like color names with the letter ‘e’ ending in the wrong word and because I’m old and stuffy.

Standard 21-inch wheels wrap yellow calipers, which I think contrast nicely with the exterior color. Inside it’s black leather with yellow contrast stitching to match the brake calipers. Interior carbon fiber accents complete the boy racer look.

I chose the Modena trim because I don’t think I need the extra horsepower of the Trofeo.

Because I love green, I chose the brand’s Verde Smeraldo Metallic – a special color from the Fuoriserie paint palette.

Forged 21s were chosen for the wheels and a carbon-copper twill interior with black leather. Simple and yet outstanding!

I went for the Azzuro Astro Matte exterior with an ice leather interior. Carbon fiber bodywork, roof rails and summer tires with yellow calipers complement the luxe beach aesthetic.

Azzurro means “the light blue color” or “color of the sky”. So if I hit the gas pedal at 8am on a Monday morning, I can pretend I’m flying to a dreamy coastal adventure instead of to the office. Bellissimo.

As great as a nearly 400kW SUV sounds in my head, that’s a lot more power than I’ll ever use, so I went with the understated Grecale Modena variant. Interestingly, this model class also allows for a wider range of color combinations and wheel options.

I drew on Maserati’s bespoke Fuoriserie color palette for the gorgeous blue Maserati hue across my Grecale’s exterior. It already looks great on my computer screen, but once it’s in the metal I picture it as an eye-catcher. Wheels are the standard 20-inch forged Etere units, reminiscent of Maserati’s old trident motif synonymous with the brand. I also have a set of blue calipers underneath to match the exterior color.

Inside the cabin, I opted for Rosso leather with a chevron pattern and trident headrest prints. There’s also 3D-effect carbon-print trim, a 21-speaker sound system, stainless steel pedals, a sunroof, and a set of roof rails.