Compare the2023 Audi SQ8VS 2023 Maserati Grecale

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi SQ8 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Maserati Grecale doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The SQ8 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Grecale doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the SQ8 Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Grecale doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The SQ8’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 SQ8 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 SQ8 has standard rear cross-path warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Maserati charges extra for Rear Cross Path on the Grecale.

Both the SQ8 and the Grecale have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

The Audi SQ8 weighs 811 to 974 pounds more than the Maserati Grecale. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the SQ8 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Grecale has not been tested, yet.

The SQ8’s corrosion warranty is 8 years and unlimited miles longer than the Grecale’s (12/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

There are almost 3 times as many Audi dealers as there are Maserati dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the SQ8’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Audi vehicles are better in initial quality than Maserati vehicles. With 16 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Audi higher than Maserati.

The SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 200 more horsepower (500 vs. 300) and 236 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 332) than the Grecale GT’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 175 more horsepower (500 vs. 325) and 236 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 332) than the Grecale Modena’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 457) than the Grecale Trofeo’s standard 3.0 turbo V6.

The SQ8 has 5.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Grecale (22.5 vs. 16.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the SQ8’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Grecale:

For better traction, the SQ8 has larger tires than the Grecale (285/45R21 vs. 235/55R19). The SQ8’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Grecale (285/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The SQ8’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grecale GT’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the SQ8 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Grecale GT. The SQ8’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the Grecale.

The SQ8 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Grecale; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The SQ8 Prestige offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Grecale doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the SQ8 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Grecale, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The SQ8 Prestige offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Maserati doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Grecale.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the SQ8’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the Grecale (117.9 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the SQ8 is 2.3 inches wider in the front than on the Grecale.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the SQ8’s rear seats recline. The Grecale’s rear seats don’t recline.

The SQ8 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Grecale (30.5 vs. 18.9 cubic feet).

The SQ8’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grecale’s (7700 vs. 5071 pounds).

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The SQ8 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Grecale doesn’t offer headlight washers.

A manual rear sunshade and power rear side window sunshades are optional in the SQ8 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Grecale doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The SQ8 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Grecale.

The SQ8 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Grecale.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi SQ8 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Grecale.

The SQ8 Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Grecale doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 outsold the Maserati Grecale by almost 18 to one during 2022.