Sexy alternative to the status quo
What is luxury without expression? Many automakers boast a wide variety of luxury cars, but few of them, especially utility vehicles, hit the right note in terms of personality and true desirability.
Sure, it’s cool to show off a new BMW or Porsche in your neighbourhood, because it shows the world that you’ve earned enough money (or made a good enough deal) to treat yourself to something nice, but it’s a pretty superficial statement if the vehicle doesn’t actually express who you are and how you feel.
It’s good then, that other, more passionate automakers such as Maserati are slowly coming out with sexy alternatives to the status quo.
The 2018 Maserati Levante not only looks expressive but drives that way, too. And beyond the stylish and technical bits, there’s also a lot of potential for driving joy.
Let’s start with the striking exterior design. It’s unmistakably a Maserati, which means it’s gorgeous and it can indeed sport porthole vents on its side fenders and get away with it. The long hood, scowl-like front end and wheel arches help draw eyes, and while some will decry the rear end of the car as being bland, it’s plenty serviceable, considering this is a crossover. The side profile is its defining characteristic, as the Levante sports a slick silhouette that is much less utilitarian looking than anything from Range Rover and less frumpy than the Porsche Cayenne.
Beyond the exterior The exterior is eye-catching enough to warrant the price tag and the interior leaves a great first impression too. Our GranLusso tester was outfitted with the optional super swanky Ermenegildo Zegna Silk upholstery to go along with bright brown leather.
GrandSport is the other trim level for the Levante and sadly doesn’t come with the same interior options.
There’s some wood trim to help class up the place, but, ultimately, this Levante offers a unique take on a cabin and is unlike anything I’ve seen in this class before. It’s also comfy — the seats offer support and are plush enough to handle a long road trip
Interior missteps There are a few hiccups with the interior, however, but most are forgivable. A lot of the switchgear and controls are similar to what you may find in other FCA cars, including Jeeps and Alfa Romeos. It detracts a bit from the uniqueness of the Levante, but it will only bother car geeks who have been in many other cars before and can somehow identify where a window or ignition switch came from.
Tech and features What’s far from frustrating is the “Maserati Touch Control Plus” infotainment system — while I made the comment about the switchgear being from other FCA products, that’s more than acceptable if it means the UConnect-based touchscreen infotainment system comes along for the ride. Quick to respond and easy to use with a lot of customizable settings, it’s a standout in the industry. The system has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, which should satisfy the connected crowd.
The Levante has a nearly never-ending list of features, such as heated and vented seats, a heated steering wheel, rainsensing wipers, power tailgate, and a panoramic sunroof, to name a few.
Ferrari influences There are a few buttons to help adjust the driving character of the car and you’ll want to change them up often, as the drive is one of the more involv- ing parts of the car. It’s a blast as soon as you trigger the pushbutton ignition and the engine boils over, bubbling and burbling with an intoxicating growl.
The Levante begs to be driven in sport mode so you can hear that Ferrari-made, 3.0-litre, turbocharged six-cylinder engine scream and shout Maserati’s distinct soundtrack through the specially tuned exhaust system.
Like the interior, it’s a unique experience, one that sets the car apart from others in its class.
The power delivery is satisfying, mainly due to the accompanying soundtrack.
In S guise, the engine makes 424 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque.
Depending on the mode, peak figures can arrive early at 1,750 r.p.m. in sport mode, or comes right after 4,500 r.p.m. in the normal mode.
Mated to the engine is an eight-speed transmission that’s plenty responsive and quick to change gears when needed.
SUV suspension and surprises On windy roads, it’s hard to ignore the size and weight of the car, so don’t expect an SUV to be a sports car, even if it has a Maserati badge, but it is surprisingly fun to drive, thanks to an engaging feel in almost every aspect of the car.
There’s a fancy suspension system called Skyhook, which sounds like it would have its own soundtrack as well, but it just works silently in the background, swapping between two settings.
On the open road, the car feels solid, confident and easy to drive, but make no mistake, it is a big car.
It starts at $95,100 for a base model, but Maserati buyers are probably not interested in such a vehicle. You can option out the car in every possible way, and each item on the list adds more bills to the bottom line.