2021 Maserati Levante Review

　　

2021 Maserati Levante Review

byRyan ZumMallenContributor

　　Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.

　　The Maserati Levante, the company's midsize luxury SUV, debuted for the 2017 model year. It has remained relatively unchanged since then, offering distinctive styling and the choice of a turbocharged V6 or a mighty turbocharged V8. It's a relatively rare and distinctive sight on the road, too, which could be a draw if you're tired of more conservatively styled German SUVs.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Maserati Levante 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$267/mo  for Levante Base

　　Levante Base

　　4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $77,890 MSRPGranSport 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $83,890 MSRPGranLusso 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $83,890 MSRPS 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $88,890 MSRPS GranSport 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $93,890 MSRPS GranLusso 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $93,890 MSRPGTS 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 8cyl Turbo 8A) - $125,490 MSRPTrofeo 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 8cyl Turbo 8A) - $152,690 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　For 2021, Maserati has revised the infotainment system with better graphics and sharpened up the look of the gauge cluster. Small improvements are always welcome, but the Levante faces off against a deep pool of rivals such as the Audi Q8, Mercedes-Benz GLE and Porsche Cayenne. Can the Maserati still hold its own? Read the categories of our Levante Expert Rating below to help you decide on which luxury SUV is best for you.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Levante drive? The Levante S, which is what we tested, puts a definitive emphasis on "sport," landing somewhere between pure luxury SUV models and the fire-breathing beasts from the BMW M and Mercedes-Benz AMG factories. Its turbo V6 engine makes healthy power — 0-60 mph takes 5 seconds flat — and sounds wonderful doing it, but the engine is a little slow to respond when driving in Normal mode.

　　The steering feels direct and precise, with the right amount of effort depending on speed. The Levante is quite fun on tight, twisty roads with its grippy tires, low body roll and torque-vectoring electronics, allowing it to make unnaturally sharp turns. But it wiggles and dances a bit through sweeping curves that aren't perfectly smooth, diminishing driving confidence.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Levante? The Levante's cabin masterfully keeps bad noise out and lets good noise in, but we weren't impressed by this SUV's ride quality. Even on its softest suspension setting, the Levante gets upset by small, sharp bumps. The optional 21-inch wheels share some blame here. The front seats are firm and comfortable, although smaller drivers might find them a bit too wide and without enough lateral support.

　　The climate control system keeps air temps in check, and the redundant functions found in both the touchscreen and the buttons below it are a nice touch. But the leather seats can get a little swampy without the ventilation option.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? Getting in and out of the Levante is a breeze, especially when it's equipped with the adjustable air suspension, which can lower the body nearly 2 inches. The wide-opening doors offer generous entry into the cabin, even into the rear seat. Once inside, there's comfortable space in nearly every seat. There's even enough room for three adults in the back, but keep your tallest friends out of the middle seat.

　　The driver can position the seat for maximum road visibility or for a low, sporty feel. Overall visibility is decent, with an unobstructed front view. But the rear window is slightly smaller than those in most SUVs, and the thick rear pillars compromise some of the rearward view.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The Levante is starting to show its age, especially when it comes to the infotainment system and controls. Compared to systems in other SUVs at this price point, the interface looks and feels behind the times. It's reasonably well laid out and responsive, but some of the climate settings are buried in submenus. That can be frustrating, especially if you like using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration. It also doesn't have as robust a features list as the competition from Germany.

　　The driver aids work well, though the Maserati is missing features such as a surround-view camera. Still, the adaptive cruise control is simple to use and operates smoothly, holding a tight gap between cars and maintaining a constant speed downhill.

　　

Storage

6.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The Levante comes up short on storage. Overall cargo space, at 20.5 cubic feet behind the second-row seats, is near the bottom of the class. The seats do fold, but they don't fold flat, and the sharp roofline and rear window make fitting taller items a bit of an issue. There's a good amount of space for smaller items thanks to a deep center console and a bit in front of the shifter. There are also four cupholders up front, which is unusual for a luxury SUV.

　　Installing a child safety seat can be problematic because of the tight rear seat, low roof and hidden safety-seat anchor points.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? With an EPA estimate of 16 mpg combined, the Levante S is thirstier than comparable sport-focused SUVs. Other six-cylinder-powered luxury SUVs typically have EPA estimates in the low 20s. But our test Levante surprised us by getting 19.3 mpg on our evaluation route, indicating the vehicle might do better in real-world driving.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Levante a good value? The Levante draws you in with its exotic Italian pedigree, and its competitive price may win you over. Our test car's near $100K price aligns nicely with most of the class, but its interior materials and build quality feel inferior to the rest. It's the most glaring example of cost-cutting in an otherwise compelling luxury SUV. The Levante's warranty is comparable to coverage provided by rivals.

　　

Wildcard

8.0/10

　　The Levante might not be the most comfortable cruiser, but it's hard to ignore the fun you can have with it on a twisty road. Some may find the Levante's styling uniquely aggressive and attractive, while others may think it resembles an Infiniti too much. Either way, Maserati has succeed in creating something that is distinctly different in character.

　　

Which Levante does zzdcar recommend?

Go for Levante S in GranLusso trim. You get more power and torque than the base model, and the optional package includes a number of interior upgrades, plus the full suite of safety equipment. However, if you're comfortable playing in six-figure territory, shoot for the turbocharged V8 in higher trims — it doesn't disappoint.

　　

2021 Maserati Levante models

The Maserati Levante is a luxury performance SUV available in four trims: base, S, GTS and Trofeo. The base and S versions are powered by a turbocharged V6 engine, while the GTS and Trofeo come with a turbocharged V8. All models are equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Highlight features include the following:

　　Base

　　The starter version of the Levante includes this standard equipment:

　　Turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine (345 horsepower, 369 lb-ft of torque) 19-inch wheels Adjustable air suspension (adjusts to improve handling and comfort and can raise or lower the ride height of the vehicle) Panoramic sunroof Power liftgate Power-adjustable, heated steering wheel Leather upholstery Power-adjustable, heated front seats Dual-zone automatic climate control Soft-close doorsStandard tech and driver aids include:

　　8.4-inch touchscreen with navigation Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration Eight-speaker sound system Front and rear parking sensors Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)S

　　Stepping up one level nets you the following features:

　　Upgraded V6 engine (424 hp, 428 lb-ft) Aluminum paddle shifters More powerful brakesThe Levante and Levante S are also available with two main packages:

　　GranLusso Adaptive headlights Leather and wood steering wheel Ventilated front seats Wood interior trim Premium leather upholstery 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system Hands-free liftgate Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Levante and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Lane keeping assist (steers the Levante back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) GranSport (includes some GranLusso equipment) The GranLusso's driver aids and sound system listed above 20-inch wheels Aluminum paddle shifters Sport front seats Upgraded leather upholstery GTS

　　The GTS is similarly equipped to the GranSport but has a turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 engine (550 hp, 538 lb-ft).

　　Trofeo

　　The top-line Trofeo builds off the GTS with:

　　Turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 engine (590 hp, 538 lb-ft) 22-inch wheels with performance tires Black appearance package Red-accented side vents Carbon-fiber interior trim 17-speaker sound system Dark exhaust tips

　　

2021 Levante Highlights

Type: SUVTrofeoSUV

　　Trim: BaseGranSportGranLussoSS GranLussoS GranSportGTSTrofeoBase

　　

Base MSRP	$77,890
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	17 MPG
Cost to Drive	$267/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	20.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles