Compare the2023 Lexus NXVS 2023 Maserati Grecale

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus NX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Maserati Grecale doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the NX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Grecale doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The NX’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Grecale.

The NX has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Grecale’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the NX has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Maserati charges extra for Rear Cross Path on the Grecale and the Grecale’s Rear Cross Path does not include automatic braking.

Both the NX and the Grecale have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the NX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Grecale has not been tested, yet.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the NX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Maserati covers the Grecale. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Grecale ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The NX’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the Grecale’s (6/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

There are over 2 times as many Lexus dealers as there are Maserati dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the NX’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Lexus NX’s reliability 32 points higher than the Grecale and the Lexus NX Hybrid is rated 54 points higher than the Grecale.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Maserati vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 98 more problems per 100 vehicles, Maserati is rated below average.

On the EPA test cycle the NX running on electricity gets better mileage than the Grecale:

On the EPA test cycle the NX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Grecale:

The NX 450h can travel with zero emissions for 37 miles. The Grecale can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus NX higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Maserati Grecale (5). This means the NX produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Grecale every 15,000 miles.

The NX offers an available continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Grecale doesn’t offer a CVT.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the NX can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Grecale doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For better maneuverability, the NX’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the Grecale’s (38 feet vs. 40.8 feet).

The Lexus NX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 650 pounds less than the Maserati Grecale.

The NX is 7.3 inches shorter than the Grecale, making the NX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the NX’s rear seats recline. The Grecale’s rear seats don’t recline.

The NX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Grecale (22.7 vs. 18.9 cubic feet).

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The NX offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Grecale doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The NX 350h/450h+’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Grecale doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The NX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Grecale doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® chose the Lexus NX 350h as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Lexus NX outsold the Maserati Grecale by over 93 to one during 2022.