MASERATI LEVANTE

SEEING the success of Porsche and Bentley SUVS has spurred other prestige makers to join the fray, and the Maserati Levante is one of the sportier arrivals.

Touches like the frameless doors and hand-made interior stick to Maserati tradition, while under the skin is a punchy 3.0-litre diesel and running gear that’s biased towards on-road performance. If the diesel doesn’t float your boat, a more potent petrol V6 Levante S is coming.

Price: £56,250 Our pick: 3.0 V6 Diesel (£56,250) Engine: 3.0-litre V6 diesel, 275bhp Transmission: 8-spd auto, permanent 4WD Top speed: 142mph Economy: 39.2mpg CO2: 189g/km