2020 Maserati Levante Review

Name: 2020 Maserati Levante Review
Brand: Maserati

Maserati Levante GTS 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

Maserati Levante Trofeo 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

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The Levante is the first SUV from Italian carmaker Maserati. Named after a Mediterranean wind that's said to change from mild to gale-force in an instant, the Levante delivers with a twin-turbo V6. A spacious cabin and modern technology make it a viable class competitor let down only by some obvious interior cost-cutting measures. On a twisty road, it can make you smile.

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2020 Maserati Levante Review

byDan Frio^{Reviews Editor
Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to Edmunds, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.}

Pros

Design differentiates it from the sea of look-alike crossovers
Turbocharged V6 and V8 engines provide quick acceleration
Suspension enhances ride comfort and handling around turns
Highly customizable interior

Cons

Some downmarket buttons and switches
Short on cargo space

What's new

Minor revisions to feature availability
Part of the first Levante generation introduced for 2017

Overview

Lamborghini is the latest, and possibly least likely, Italian exotic-carmaker to jump into the SUV fray, but Maserati beat it by a few years. The 2020 Maserati Levante SUV marks the model's third year of production for a brand known more for its big GT (grand touring) machines such as the Quattroporte.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 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 $4.31 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$304/mo

$247/mo

Avg. Large SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

The Levante brings classic Maserati character to the world of midsize luxury SUVs with distinctive design and thoroughbred twin-turbo engine power derived from its Ferrari roots. Its broad range of custom options, from the color of its brake calipers to a variety of interior leathers and materials, also give the Levante a more personal touch.

For 2020, the Levante carries over largely unchanged. But some now-common driver assistance features become standard equipment on more models, and a panoramic sunroof and heated steering wheel are added to all trim levels across the board.

The Levante blends exotic Italian style with power and exceptional handling; it's more of a high-riding sports car than an SUV. But a closer look reveals some cost-cutting measures, specifically inside the car. Fuel economy is also disappointing, even for this normally less-than-efficient class. But these aren't reasons enough to overlook the exotic pedigree of this SUV. The Levante's exclusivity, panache and strong performance continue to separate it from the crowd.

Notably, we picked the 2020 Maserati Levante Trofeo as one of Edmunds' Fastest SUVs for 2019.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds 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

7.6

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the Levante drive? The Levante S 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 may 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 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

9.0/10

How’s the tech? From its useful onboard navigation to the depth of its voice recognition system, the Levante's tech is impressive. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard with the 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and the optional Harman Kardon audio system fills the cabin with lush sound. Voice controls are among some of the better we've tested. You can use voice commands to request specific radio stations, search for typical points of interest, and even set the climate control.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? Overall, the Levante offers solid utility. The rear seats fold flat, and there's a cargo pass-through in the middle of the rear seats for longer items (skis or 2-by-4s, for example). But in overall cargo space, it comes up short of its peers. Still, there's plenty of small-item storage space, including a deep armrest bin that can hold large water bottles as well as room for a couple of phones and a wallet in front of the gearshift.

The Levante doesn't make any special accommodations for car seats. The car seat anchors have no easy-access ports and are squeezed between the seat bottoms and back cushions. At least loading a car seat in back isn't too hard thanks to large door openings.

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

How’s the fuel economy? With an EPA-estimated rating of 16 mpg combined, the Levante is marginally thirstier than comparable sport-focused SUVs. A comparable BMW X6 gets 19 mpg combined; a Jaguar F-Pace does it 1 mpg better. But the Levante surprised us on our 116-mile evaluation loop by beating its highway average at 19.3 mpg. That doesn't happen often.

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 may not be the most comfortable cruiser, but it's hard to ignore the fun you can have with it on a twisty road. While not as polished as the Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5, it certainly wouldn't fall behind the group. 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 Edmunds recommend?

With luxury cars such as the Levante, it's all about excess. We suggest going all-in with one of the V8-equipped models, such as the 550-hp engine in the Maserati Levante GTS. There's more power available in the Trofeo trim, but the GTS is equipped with most of the same features for quite a bit less money. If you want to keep the Levante a more sensible five-figure purchase, the Levante S in GranLusso trim is hard to beat.

2020 Maserati Levante models

The 2020 Maserati Levante comes in four variants that are defined by power output. The base Levante and the Levante S use a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that makes 345 horsepower in base trim and 424 hp in S trim. The Levante GTS and the Levante Trofeo come with a turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 that generates 550 hp and 590 hp, respectively.

Regardless of output, each model comes with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, which Maserati calls Q4.

The base Levante comes with top features that include an adjustable air suspension, a power liftgate, leather upholstery, an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, a navigation system, and safety features such as a rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, and front and rear parking sensors.

The base Levante also offers the GranLusso or GranSport option groups; both packages cost the same. The GranLusso adds luxury features such as premium leather and a panoramic sunroof, and the GranSport furnishes sporty features such as shift paddles and sport-oriented front seats. The GranLusso and the GranSport also come with the Driver Assistance package that adds a variety of driver safety aids including adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist.

The Levante S builds on the base model's features with larger brakes, a panoramic sunroof and extended leather options. A handful of option packages for base and S trims offer many features that come standard on Levante GTS and Trofeo trims, including LED headlights and the Driver Assistance package. Features exclusive to these two top trims include advanced sport driving modes and various leather and wood trim upgrades.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 Maserati Levante.

5 (69%)

4 (12%)

3 (2%)

2 (13%)

1 (4%)

4.3

48 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Luv my Levante S

DW, 01/01/2017

2017 Maserati Levante S 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)

Levante has it all, looks, performance and comfort. The growl of the engine puts a smirk on your face that will make you take the long way home.

Exotic SUV?

Danno1, 02/17/2018

2018 Maserati Levante S 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)

I have had my Levante for one month. My last car (Jaguar XFR) is a great comparison for someone who needs an SUV but wants the performance of a sports car. The answer is yes and no. It's not a sports car, BUT, you get the thrill of one. Firstly, the reviews you read are usually about the base Levante. Which is crap. The S is a real Maserati though.You shouldn't buy this car if all you … care about is cargo space, tech, finish etc...etc... You only buy this SUV if you want a thrilling ride because you care about the engine. I've never owned a maserati before, but I can tell you the following: This car is more thrilling than a 510hp Jag. It's all in the exhaust and Ferrari engine combination. Somehow it works better than the Ghibli and the Quattroporte (I test drove both) because it's an SUV. So.... Positives... after about three hours you learn how the car performs, and using the best in class (by far) paddles, and/or the sports mode, you learn that this car is a real Massa, and a cousin of Ferrari. This is where this car begins and ends. I test drove the Macan GTS (amazing) and the Cayenne S (fine) and they were both great, with better finish to interior* and tighter handling, and at around the same price. But here's the thing, neither had any personality whatsoever compared to the Levante S. The handling was tight and controlled but boring. I'm no race driver, but I understand my cars, and the Levante S is an exotic amongst SUVs because of the engine, handling and exhuast note. You'll need to pay a LOT more on insurance for a Levante because it really is an exotic. The negatives on this car are that every reviewer has mentioned that it shares buttons with jeep etc. but I've never known anyone who shops for this car who's even sat in a Jeep. Anyway I can tell you that the tech. is fine (compared to a 2016 mercedes e400 cabrio that my wife drives) and the interior looks more luxurious than any porsche, but to touch, porsche wins. Here's the thing, if you want a luxury suv but don't care about performance, than forget this car. If you want performance AND luxury, the only cars better than this are the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and/or maybe cayenne GTS. The thing is, they just don't have the exotic feel of this car. This is a drivers car, not a driver's, partner's car. 3000 revs and the exhaust expoldes like a Ferarri engine should, and it will blow you away. Now another downside. Maserati after sales are [non-permissible content removed]. Another one, it's insurance group is the same as Ferrari, Lambo, Aston etc. even for a V6 production SUV so be warned. It's worth it, but be warned, you're not buying a Lexus. Oh and it drinks gas like CRAZY.

Buyers be ware 2018 Maserati Levante

Paul, 03/21/2019

2018 Maserati Levante 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)

Buyers be ware 2018 Maserati Levante If you are thinking of buying or leasing a Maserati read this first This is a 4 month review, I wanted to drive the car for a while before giving my opinion of the car and of my experiences to fellow car enthusiast who might be in the market for a sports SUV. The buying experience was as good and easy as expected from a dealership of this caliper. … Helpful sales staff, water espresso, the works. The Levante: The car started falling apart the first week of ownership. Plastic windshield molding literally came out and started flapping about the first time I got on a freeway. On top of that the USB port didn’t work at all. Being disappointed I took the car back to the dealership and the sales person drove with me to service and told me that all will be taken care of. The service dept. gave me a loaner and I didn’t hear from them for 4 days. Finally I called. They told me they were waiting for parts for the stereo system. It had to be completely replaced because of a short in the USB port. When I picked up the car one of my rims and tire was damaged. It had a 3 inch gash. Of course service manager said that it wasn’t them, but agreed to fix the rim only not willing to change a brand new but damaged tire. 3 days later molding popped out again and I was right back again. I have since made 6 more trips to service department for various noise/parts reasons. Service manager refuses to fix factory defective brakes. Brakes make a lot of grinding/squealing noise when braking. Service department is not what you would expect at a Ferrari. Its 10x10 ft room with a kitchen, sofa, tv and a coffee machine and it doubles for employee break room. Also Ferrari service doesn’t have any loaners. One of the times I was there I had to rent from Enterprise and now they broke it off with rental companies and it has became impossible to get a loaner. Service manager tells you to expect a call when loaner will become available and weeks go by without a phone call. Ferrari service center in long island gets 1 star at best. Cons: 1. Noisy/squeaky brakes (factory defect) 2. 1 second delayed acceleration (better in sport mode) 3. Transmission gear shifter constantly gets stock and is very hard to get into the right driving mode. Pops into Reverse instead of Park or N instead of drive. 4. Infotainment screen auto dimming and brightness adjustment for day/night doesn’t work 5. Standard speakers produce very plain and empty sound especially at low-mid volume, not very loud at full volume. 6. For the exterior size of the car the interior accommodations are very tight and trunk is smaller than most sedans. 7. Very poor communication and customer service Long island Ferrari/ Maserati Service center 8. Eats a lot of gas, even in eco-mode (ICE MODE) 350 miles per 20 gallon tank Pros: 1. Air suspension provides a better ride quality on New York roads. 2. Infotainment system is lag free well thought out. Easy to use while driving. My advice is stay away from Maserati cars and especially from NY Long island branch.

Italian delight!

Erick Grana, 03/04/2017

2017 Maserati Levante S 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)

I have owned my Levante for 2 months now and I really love it. It is a great car and I get compliments all the time about its looks. Not having owned an Italian car before, it took me a while to get used to some of the quirky design features. Sometimes you wonder what were those Italian designers thinking. Like for example: there are no controls for the phone or the stereo on the …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Maserati Levante, so we've included reviews for other years of the Levante since its last redesign.

See all 48 reviews of the Maserati Levante

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2020 Levante Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$77,500
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	17 MPG
Cost to Drive	$304/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	20.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Levante models:

Active Blind Spot Assist: Automatically applies the brakes selectively to keep you from changing lanes when it senses a vehicle in your blind spot.
Highway Assist: Keeps pace with the traffic ahead by automatically speeding up or slowing down.
Traffic Sign Recognition: Looks for and displays pertinent traffic sign information on the gauge cluster.

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2020 Maserati Levante Review

2020 Maserati Levante Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 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 $4.31 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Levante does Edmunds recommend?

2020 Maserati Levante models

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 Maserati Levante.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Luv my Levante S

Exotic SUV?

Buyers be ware 2018 Maserati Levante

Italian delight!

2020 Levante Highlights

Safety

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2020 Maserati Levante Review

2020 Maserati Levante Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 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 $4.31 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Levante does Edmunds recommend?

2020 Maserati Levante models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Luv my Levante S

Exotic SUV?

Buyers be ware 2018 Maserati Levante

Italian delight!

2020 Levante Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2020 Maserati Levante info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Maserati

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Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 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 $4.31 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}