2021 Maserati Levante Trofeo
2021 Maserati Levante Trofeo Review
- Quick acceleration
- Stable and lively handling
- Not your typical German luxury SUV
- Some downmarket buttons and switches
- Short on cargo space
- Updated driver display and infotainment screens
- Part of the first Levante generation introduced for 2017
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.
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.
Our verdict | |
The Maserati Levante has a lot going for it, especially in its top-level Trofeo trim — No. 1 is its potent turbocharged V8. It sounds great, looks good and is fun to drive without being punishing around town. But the Levante suffers from a smallish interior and some downmarket controls. | |
How does the Levante drive? | |
Only in a class of performance SUVs does a 0-60 mph time of 4.0 seconds seem slow. While it's not quite as quick as the class leaders, the Levante Trofeo is legitimately quick. It's what you get when you stuff a 550-horsepower V8 under the hood of a midsize SUV. Nothing else in this class sounds so sweet at full throttle. It handles well, too, at least for a vehicle this big and heavy. The Levante feels lively and responsive on the road, with quick steering that's just heavy enough to feel substantial without feeling tiresome. The transmission is smooth and quick and always seems to be in the right gear. And despite all the power, the Levante feels comfortable and relaxed when you're driving around town. | |
How comfortable is the Levante? | |
The Levante Trofeo's ride is firm but not backbreaking like the ride of some competitors. But the seats are a disappointment. While they look fantastic and have some very soft and premium-feeling leather, they don't offer much in the way of adjustment. The cushion is too firm, and the seatback doesn't have enough lumbar support. The side bolsters, despite the sporty appearance, are too wide and don't do a great job of keeping you in place on winding roads. They can get stifling on hot days too. | |
How’s the interior? | |
Some of the Levante's controls are oddly placed and behind the times. There are some controls relegated to the infotainment screen that would work much better as actual buttons. Controls with physical buttons help, but you do have to take your eyes off the road to see some of them. Passenger space is adequate up front, but the rear seat is tight for adults, with less headroom and legroom than we expect from an SUV like this. Visibility is mostly good, though the small rear window runs counter to the SUV body. The Levante has blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors and a decent camera, though, so backing up isn't really an issue. | |
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. | |
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. | |
How economical is the Levante? | |
The EPA estimates the Levante Trofeo gets 16 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That's near the bottom of the class. On our highway-biased 115-mile evaluation route, we managed to get 18.3 mpg, a good showing considering what's under the hood. | |
Is the Levante a good value? | |
The Levante is such a mixed bag of parts. The leather is some of the best you'll find in any car at any price point, and the sporty steering wheel and large, column-mounted shift paddles make it feel premium and sporty. Then you go to roll down the windows and you'll find switches straight off a Dodge. Maserati's four-year/50,000-mile basic and powertrain warranties are average for the class. You also get four years/50,000 miles of roadside assistance but, unlike some of the class leaders, Maserati doesn't include any scheduled maintenance. | |
Wildcard | |
The Levante has sharp styling that's not too flashy. It stands out from the crowd more than most of its German rivals. But you can't talk about the Levante Trofeo without talking about this engine. It makes all the right noises, with a distinctly Italian exhaust note and a deep well of power that thrills without feeling hairy. It's fun to drive, too, though it doesn't feel quite as sharp or engaging as something like a Porsche Cayenne or Lamborghini Urus. | |
Which Levante does Edmunds recommend?
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:
2021 Maserati Levante Trofeo pricing
in Ashburn, VA
Safety
Our experts’ favorite Levante safety features:
- Active Blind Spot Assist
- Automatically applies the brakes selectively to keep you from changing lanes when it senses a vehicle in your blind spot.
- Active Driving Assist
- Keeps pace with the traffic ahead by automatically speeding up or slowing down and helps keep the Trofeo within its lane.
- Traffic Sign Recognition
- Looks for and displays pertinent traffic sign information on the gauge cluster.
Maserati Levante vs. the competition
2021 Maserati Levante
2021 Audi Q8
Maserati Levante vs. Audi Q8
The Audi Q8 is a fastback-style SUV that doesn't sacrifice as much practicality as you might expect. There's plenty of room for passengers, and cargo space is decent. Some models feel downright opulent, and others are extremely sporty. The larger problems are limited visibility and a hate-it-or-love-it touchscreen. The Levante is more fun to drive too.
Maserati Levante vs. Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Believe it or not, the Levante has decent off-road prowess. But the Range Rover Sport has it beat on account of its Land Rover roots, and its stately design may appeal more to luxury SUV traditionalists. There are also a number of powertrains on tap, including a plug-in hybrid with EV range.
Maserati Levante vs. Porsche Cayenne
The Cayenne remains the best tightrope-walker among luxury performance SUVs. All models are a thrill to drive, even with the base engine, and the interior feels premium from all angles. The Levante is more rare, but the Cayenne wins out with its wider range of models and available features.
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FAQ
Is the Maserati Levante a good car?
What's new in the 2021 Maserati Levante?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Maserati Levante:
- Updated driver display and infotainment screens
- Part of the first Levante generation introduced for 2017
Is the Maserati Levante reliable?
Is the 2021 Maserati Levante a good car?
How much should I pay for a 2021 Maserati Levante?
The least-expensive 2021 Maserati Levante is the 2021 Maserati Levante Trofeo 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 8cyl Turbo 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $152,690.
Other versions include:
- Trofeo 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 8cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $152,690