Compare the2024 Maserati GrecaleVS 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Both the Grecale and Atlas Cross Sport 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 Atlas Cross Sport’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.

The Maserati Grecale has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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

The Grecale’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Grecale and the Atlas Cross Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s redline is at 6800 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The Grecale has a 5800 RPM redline.

The battery on the Grecale is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Grecale’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Atlas Cross Sport’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Maserati above average in initial quality. With 67 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is rated below average.

The Grecale GT’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 27 more horsepower (296 vs. 269) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 273) than the Atlas Cross Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Grecale Modena’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 56 more horsepower (325 vs. 269) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 273) than the Atlas Cross Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Grecale Trofeo’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 254 more horsepower (523 vs. 269) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (457 vs. 273) than the Atlas Cross Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Grecale gets better mileage than the Atlas Cross Sport:

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

Regenerative brakes improve the Grecale GT/Modena’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

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

The Grecale Trofeo’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Grecale stops shorter than the Atlas Cross Sport:

The Grecale GT’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Atlas Cross Sport SE’s standard 60 series tires. The Grecale’s optional 255/40R21 front and 295/35R21 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Grecale GT has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Atlas Cross Sport SE.

The Grecale has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Atlas Cross Sport’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Grecale offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Atlas Cross Sport’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

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 Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For greater off-road capability the Grecale Trofeo has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Atlas Cross Sport (7.9 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Grecale to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Grecale’s minimum ground clearance is 1.7 inches higher than on the Atlas Cross Sport (8 vs. 6.3 inches).

The Grecale is 4.7 inches shorter than the Atlas Cross Sport 4Motion, 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 lower than the Atlas Cross Sport (.34 to .36) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Grecale get better fuel mileage.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Grecale’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Grecale’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Atlas Cross Sport’s (5071 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is only 5000 pounds. The Grecale offers up to a 5516 lbs. towing capacity.

The engine in the Grecale is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Atlas Cross Sport. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Grecale’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Atlas Cross Sport does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Grecale offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Atlas Cross Sport only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Grecale’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Atlas Cross Sport has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.