The Levante is the first SUV that Maserati ever made, and for the majority of its lifespan, it was the only Maserati SUV you could buy. That changed this year when the all-new 2023 Maserati Grecale showed up. The Levante is the larger of the two offerings. It offers a luxe feel and a sporty driving experience, and its top-spec Trofeo model offers a rumbling twin-turbo V8 and plenty of power.
For 2023, the Levante will carry over unchanged. And while the Levante's elegant looks and potent powertrains make it an enticing option, the Italian SUV has stiff competition from a plethora of hot German rivals. The Porsche Cayenne, BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE all offer similar performance, with better build quality and no parts-bin items from cheaper American cars. Still, there is something unique and charming about a Maserati, and the Levante uses that to its full potential.
Edmunds Expert Rating
average
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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 strong power and sharp handling. It's a viable class competitor let down only by some obvious interior cost-cutting measures.
How does the Levante drive? The Levante 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 with the 424-hp version — 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.
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 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.
How’s the interior? Getting in and out of the Levante is a breeze. 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.
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. 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’s the fuel economy? With an EPA estimate of 16 mpg combined, the Levante 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.
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.
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.
The 2023 Maserati Levante is a luxury performance SUV available in four trims: GT, Modena, Modena S and Trofeo. The GT and Modena versions are powered by a turbocharged V6 engine, while the Modena S and Trofeo come with a powerful turbocharged V8. All models are equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Numerous appearance and tech options can be had on their own or as part of a package. Highlight features include the following:
GT
The starter version of the Levante includes this standard equipment:
- Twin turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine (345 horsepower, 369 lb-ft of torque)
- 20-inch wheels
- Adjustable air suspension (adjusts to improve handling and comfort and can raise or lower the ride height of the vehicle)
- Limited-slip differential (helps maximize available traction during hard acceleration)
- Panoramic sunroof
- Power liftgate with hands-free opening
- Power-adjustable, heated steering wheel
- Leather upholstery
- Power-adjustable, heated front seats
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- LED exterior lighting
Standard 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 (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
- Blind-spot warning (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
- Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Levante and the car in front)
- Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
- Lane keeping assistance (steers the Levante back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
- Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Levante and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
Modena
Stepping up one level nets you these features:
- More powerful V6 engine (424 hp, 428 lb-ft)
- Unique 20-inch wheels
- Bigger brakes
Modena S
Adds sportier styling, luxury and tech features by way of:
- Turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 engine (550 hp, 538 lb-ft)
- Gloss black 20-inch wheels
- Paddle shifters
- Fully adaptive LED headlights
- Black exterior trim
- Upgraded leather upholstery
- Sport front seats with added bolsters
- 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
Trofeo
Tops the Levante lineup with:
- More powerful 3.8-liter V8 (590 hp)
- 22-inch wheels with performance tires
- Black appearance package
- Unique hood design
- Red-accented side vents
- Carbon-fiber interior trim
- Power-adjustable pedals
- Ventilated front seats
- Synthetic suede headliner
- 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system
Many of the feature upgrades that are standard on the Trofeo, such as the ventilated front seats and the Bowers & Wilkins sound system, are optional on the other Levante trims.
