This car’s styling is fairly lust-worthy.
Craig Cole/Roadshow
The 2020 Maserati Levante is one thing of a bait and swap. It’s like paying for grand cru burgundy and getting a bottle of Boone’s Farm as a substitute. It lures you in with lusty styling, the promise of immediate movie star that comes with daily-driving an Italian unique and, after all, bonkers velocity, particularly in top-of-the-line Trofeo guise. This SUV actually delivers in these areas, although, sadly, the Levante falls quick in most others.
LikeChic Ferrari-sourced engineHandsome stylingBrand exclusivity
Don’t LikeSo-so driving dynamicsMediocre interiorWay overpriced
But let’s begin with the most effective a part of this eye-catching SUV: the powertrain. Behind its intimidating entrance finish is slightly gem of an engine, a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 purloined from Ferrari. Despite its relatively diminutive displacement, it is an absolute firecracker — hell, virtually a complete crate of dynamite. This engine punches far, far above its weight class, cranking out an astonishing 590 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque. And sure, all these ponies make the Levante Trofeo significantly fast, rocketing it from a relaxation to 60 mph in as little as 3.7 seconds.That efficiency is aided by a clean and responsive eight-speed automated transmission, which routes torque to the pavement by way of an all-wheel-drive system and a limited-slip differential for added surefootedness. As for gas consumption, anticipate 14 miles per gallon within the metropolis and 18 mpg on freeway drives. Combined, this SUV is rated at 15, a determine I managed to beat by 1 mpg in real-world driving.
2020 Maserati Levante Trofeo: Falling wanting expectations
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Not solely is that this Maserati’s V8 potent, it is mellifluous and silky clean, pulling with the linearity of a naturally aspirated engine. There aren’t any discernable hiccups, surges or sags because it goes about its enterprise. Vibration and harshness are almost nonexistent, too. Truly, this can be a beautiful powerplant. It’s only a disgrace the remainder of this car’s dynamics aren’t as nicely dialed in.The Levante’s steering has a pleasant little bit of heft, nevertheless it’s not notably crisp or fast. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio, a competing high-performance SUV from an Italian model (and Maserati’s company cousin), feels far livelier in your palms. This Maserati’s brakes are additionally form of bizarre. The car has loads of stopping energy, but the pedal is means too gentle underfoot and is usually a bit difficult to easily modulate. When it involves experience high quality, the Levante Trofeo is actually starchy, although not brutally so. In its softest setting, the air suspension system helps iron out roadway blemishes, however in the event you make it stiffer, the surfaces beneath your toes get broadcast in larger constancy, although, once more, this isn’t insufferable. Stylish 22-inch wheels wrapped in low-profile Continental SportContact 6 tires present loads of type and grip, although the Trofeo mannequin is potent sufficient to squawk these rubbers whenever you romp on the accelerator.
This Ferrari-sourced, turbocharged V8 is completely divine.
Craig Cole/Roadshow
Yes, the Levante seems nice, with these angular headlamps (that are of the LED selection and adaptive, too), broad hips and usually tasteful proportions, however its inside leaves a lot to be desired. The Trofeo mannequin examined right here options acres of beautiful leather-based all through the cabin, accentuated by vivid purple stitching. The headliner and roof pillars are additionally coated in wealthy Alcantara cloth, whereas the 12-way adjustable entrance chairs are decently snug and agency sufficient to be chiropractor-approved. The backseat is, surprisingly, lots spacious for even lanky adults. My tester can be fitted with 3D carbon-fiber trim that may be very cool and used tastefully all through the inside. Rather than being handled to a glass-like end, this carbon fiber has texture, a tactile really feel the place the fabric’s weave is uncovered, one thing that makes it really feel tremendous particular.
Maserati nailed the fundamentals with this inside, so what’s the issue? Well, in the event you look slightly nearer, whiffs of value chopping grow to be obvious. The Levante carries a premium price ticket (extra on that in a bit) and but its cabin is filled with mass-market Fiat-Chrysler controls, from the window switches to the turn-signal stalk to the starter button. There’s nothing inherently mistaken with these parts, they only belong in a Chrysler Pacifica, not a Maserati. Creaky local weather controls and wobbly trim on the middle console additional cheapen the expertise.Another space the place a number of pinched pennies are apparent is within the infotainment division. The Maserati Touch Control Plus (MTC+) system is mainly FCA Uconnect by one other identify. With an 8.4-inch touchscreen, it is simply as pleasant and responsive as what you get in, say, a Dodge Durango, nevertheless it options some Maserati graphics and a management knob on the middle console so you do not have to poke on the show in the event you do not wish to. Again, there’s nothing mistaken with this infotainment resolution, however should not a Maserati provide extra?Regrettably, this high-performance SUV’s inside is a combined bag.
Craig Cole/Roadshow
Like its brethren, MTC+ comes with an built-in navigation system in addition to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Naturally, the Levante gives loads of different tech, options like blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping help and a surround-view digital camera system. My tester can be fitted with a nifty characteristic known as Highway Assist, which is mainly adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go functionality in addition to lane centering. Unlike competing methods, this one consists of sensors within the steering wheel, so the car is aware of whether or not your palms are on the tiller or not. When engaged, Highway Assist does a superb job protecting the Levante in the midst of its lane, although it is not very clean, continually making little corrections, incessantly sawing on the steering wheel, which is bizarre and a bit disconcerting.An entry-level Maserati Levante begins at round $80,000, although even at that degree it feels fairly overpriced. The top-shelf Trofeo mannequin seen right here is almost twice as costly, trying out for $152,685, together with $1,495 in vacation spot charges. Sure, that substantial outlay will get you a good-looking car with stable dynamics and a pleasant Ferrari engine, however there are many different SUVs on the market which can be extra satisfying to drive and much cheaper. But even equally priced rivals just like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and BMW X5 M, or, hell, even the associated Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, which has related tech and switchgear, really feel far nicer. Unless you are lifeless set on getting a Maserati, you would be sensible to contemplate one other SUV.