Maserati SUV: review, specifications and reviews

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Since 2016, the production of the first SUV of the Italian Maserati brand, the Maserati Levante, has started. A car of this magnitude was released by a company that previously specialized exclusively in the creation of exclusive business class cars and sports cars. The first Maserati SUV was introduced in early 2016 in Geneva, and the car was to be delivered to Russia in November of the same year.

Prospects and competitors

The Maserati off-road vehicle competes with cars from such well-known manufacturers as Porsche and Bentley, and in the future has every chance of becoming the most popular model of its brand. What do three world-famous firms, Porsche, Bentley and Maserati, seem to have in common? Their commonality now consists of elite jeeps: after all, each of these companies can be justifiably proud of at least one car in their respective ranges of prestige and quality.

Inside and out

Maserati Levante is style incarnate, to say the least. Elegance of the case, stunning shape and 8 points out of 10 to external beauty and grace. He is truly capable of attracting admiring glances on the road. However, the interior of the car is completely unable to compare with its brilliant appearance. For all its external luxury, the Levante seemed to have paid the price of sophistication of the interior. Aside from the leather upholstery and numerous embossed tridents on the seat headrests and steering wheel, the interior has nothing quite as expressive and stylish as the car's exterior.

The Maserati SUV is big and spacious, and it feels especially good from the inside. Thanks to the many ways to adjust the driver's seat and steering wheel, as well as the significant interior height of the body, anyone can feel great in it. The wide interior adds space and convenience, eliminating the possibility of accidental interference from the passenger sitting next to the driver. The frameless doors are particularly eye-catching as an absolute novelty for machines of this size.

Even weight distribution along the axles and a low center of gravity should also be attributed to the significant advantages of the Maserati SUV: in this parameter, the car was able to bypass many of its competitors.

Key Features

"Levante" is a jeep created according to a well-known formula. SUV "Maserati" is designedseats five, has an impressive wheelbase of about 3 meters, and its curb weight is just over two tons.

Regardless of the configuration, the Maserati Levante is equipped with the same 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 engine up to 345 hp. With. or even up to 425 liters. With. Models "Levante" and "Levante S" have a gasoline engine with direct injection, under the hood of "Levante Diesel" - a turbocharged diesel engine. The gearbox is a standard 8-speed automatic that uses all four wheels via Maserati's all-wheel drive system dubbed Q4.

The fastest modification, the Levante S, achieves a 0-60 mph time of just 5.2 seconds, the best ever. The other two variations, Levante and Levante Diesel, are 0.8 and 1.7 seconds behind, respectively.

Sport SUV

All Maserati Levante modifications are fast, but the Levante S is closest to the ideal that you would expect from a Maserati. "Levante S" is able to impress at least the ratio of its weight and the flat spatial orientation of the body.

The drive mode selector switches between different driving modes: manual, eco, sport, off-road and normal. As standard, the Levante is equipped with an adjustable suspension that can switch between five ride heights to increase ground clearance, overcome obstacles more easily or achieve moreaerodynamic shape. In the extreme, the Aero 2's low-drive setup lowers the Levante about an inch below normal to reduce wind resistance; high off-road modes can raise the Levante more than 2 inches in addition to 9.7 inches of ground clearance.

The sporty version is likely to become the most popular and, given the Maserati pedigree, it will be what many buyers expect from the brand's first SUV.

Opinions and test drive

To get a better idea of the car, it makes sense to analyze the reviews of those who had the opportunity to evaluate the novelty personally. According to some foreign road testers, the car does not fully deserve its high price, but it has many advantages.

Compared to many other cars, Maserati looks really luxurious. Leather seats and a top dash are standard, though you'll want to opt for the extended trim for full effect. Many of those who happened to be inside are advised to take a closer look at the details. You may notice that some elements of the interior trim look surprisingly cheap.

The media system is controversial. It is represented by an 8.4-inch touch screen, which is also equipped with a rotary controller. Usually this type of control is preferred, but this is already an outdated idea, and with a conventional touch screen there is much less hassle. In use, the system exhibitsitself as not the latest and may take some time to respond.

During the test drives, it was noticed that the cold engine knocks extremely and sounds more like a truck than a premium SUV. Several drivers reported this. According to them, after warming up the engine becomes noticeably quieter, but its vibration is felt on the control levers. A significant mass of the car also has a great influence on the control process. It is combined with an adjustable air suspension, but in tight corners it is not possible to keep the body in a straight position even while driving a sports modification. Moreover, this moment does not depend on the skill of the pilot, because almost everyone mentions it.

According to reviews, one can understand that the peculiarity of the control lies in its excessive lightness and low accuracy, which is why the SUV turns less effectively than the Porsche Cayenne or Macan. At the same time, many note that a car in motion always feels quite solid, so it does not isolate the driver and passengers from excessive shaking on pits and other road surface irregularities.

Despite this, the advantages of the car include excellent equipment, a stylish interior and a wide cabin.

There are also opposite opinions. Some road testers note that the dynamics are very good for such a large car, and the safety system is also commendable.

Cost

As you might expect, even the price of the base versionSUV "Maserati Levante" reaches significant heights. The price tag on a car can skyrocket depending on the options chosen, as there is a dizzying array of available options that the company provides. The price of the Maserati SUV is truly impressive:

• Maserati Levante - RUB 5,627,000;
• Maserati Levante S - RUB 7,190,000;
• Maserati Levante Diesel - RUB 5,460,000