Used 2019 Maserati Levante

Thanks to the addition of a potent 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine in the new Trofeo and GTS versions, the 2019 Maserati Levante has entered the realm of the supercar sport ute. The 550-horsepower Levante GTS sprints to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and has a top speed of 181 mph. The 590-horsepower Levante Trofeo ups the ante even more, hitting 60 in only 3.7 seconds and topping out at a scintillating 187 mph.

All the while, the 2019 Maserati Levante SUV remains practical and still somewhat exclusive, a good antidote for competitors such as the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and the new Jaguar F-Pace SVR. While this luxurious Italian SUV is aided in this pursuit by an abundance of luxury trappings and loads of high-tech equipment, it’s the phenomenal performance credentials that set Maserati’s SUV apart. There’s even a new GranSport model with styling influenced by the GTS and Trofeo models. For the record, the Levante and Levante S continue to be available, still powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 with 345 and 424 horsepower, respectively.

Contrary to what some people may think, the Maserati SUV doesn’t share a chassis with the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Rather, it’s based on the Ghibli sports sedan, which becomes obvious the moment you toss the Levante into a corner and feel it respond crisply, with good composure. The driver-adjustable Skyhook damping system and electrically assisted hydraulic steering give you a clear feel of the road, and the standard limited-slip rear differential ensures good acceleration out of corners.

More tall wagon than traditional SUV, the Levante takes corners more like a sports sedan than a sport ute, even though it weighs more than 4,500 pounds. The electronically controlled suspension also helps off-road, where the ride height can be raised via a button. At speed on the highway, the Levante automatically lowers itself for better aerodynamics and improved fuel efficiency.

For 2019, the Levante’s 5-seat interior is now graced with a more traditional electronic gearshift lever to control the 8-speed automatic transmission. What’s more, five different interiors are available. In base trim the leather can be black, beige or tan. In the GranSport, you can also get red leather, which is complemented by a specific stitching that carries over onto the Leatherette dash cover. The GranLusso model ups the luxury quotient with Ermenegildo Zegna silks (on the seats, door panels, headliner and sunshades), plus dash trim made of attractive open-pore wood.

A higher-quality single-stitched leather is used on the new Levante GTS’s seats, dash, center armrest and door panels. And it gets even better on the Trofeo flagship, whose sport seats are covered in a full-grain Piero Fiore natural leather available in black, red or tan, with “Trofeo” logos stitched into the headrests.

For the record, the Trofeo has carbon-fiber shift paddles, and its standard 1,280-watt Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound stereo system has 17 speakers.

While the V6-powered Maserati Levantes (apart from the GranSport) look the same as in 2018, the V8-powered 2019 models sport a revised front fascia and a splitter that improves airflow distribution. The V8 Levantes also look wider in back, thanks to a more prominent horizontal element and a lower air extractor that houses the exhaust tips.

The Levante GranSport, which has the front and rear styling of the V8-powered models, also has front and rear body inserts done in piano black, plus GranSport badges, red brake calipers and 20-inch wheels. The Nerissimo Package, with its body-color door handles and blacked-out exterior treatment featuring 21-inch dark gray wheels and other blacked-out accents, adds a menacing look.

ADAPTIVE LED MATRIX HEADLIGHTS
With these, a forward-facing front digital camera mounted behind the rearview mirror supports a “glare-free high-beam detection zone.” In other words: The Levante driver doesn’t need to shut off the high beams when approaching another vehicle because individual LEDs are automatically shut off (in the proper areas only) to prevent the blinding of oncoming drivers.

SKYHOOK SUSPENSION
The 2019 Maserati Levante’s driver-selectable suspension, with air springs, creates a remarkably good ride, be it on a racetrack or a bumpy dirt road. In addition to a Normal mode, the Levante has Sport and Off-road settings.

Two new colors are available on the V6-powered Levante for 2019: a Rosso Potente (red) and a Blu Nobile (blue). The new V8 models are available in seven new colors. While the base V6 Levante has 19-inch wheels, the GTS wears 20s while the Trofeo wears 22s, fitted with meaty 265/35ZR22 tires in front and 295/30ZR22s in back.

Other standard equipment for the 2019 Maserati Levante includes a 360-degree camera that makes it easy to maneuver this 5-seat SUV in tight parking lots. Bi-xenon headlights, all-wheel drive, adaptive air suspension and heated front seats also are standard, as are the Skyhook sport suspension and an 8.4-inch infotainment screen with navigation and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

One of the key options on the 2019 Levante is Maserati’s Driver Assistance Package, a $1,590 suite of safety enhancements that includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, emergency braking (with pedestrian protection) and Highway Assist, a “hands-on” system that will autonomously steer the vehicle on certain highways and limited-access freeways at speeds of up to 90 mph. The package also includes a blind-spot warning system, traffic-sign recognition and hill-descent control.

Additionally, there’s the $2,790 Nerissimo Package, whose liberal amount of blackened trim gives the Levante a wickedly aggressive look. Numerous other options are available on the 2019 Levante, many related to interior materials, sound systems and types of climate control.

The 2019 Maserati Levante is available with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 or a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8, each engine available in two states of tune. You can order the V6 with 345 (base) or 424 horsepower (S), and the V8 with 550 (GTS) or 590 (Trofeo). These powerplants, mounted well back in the chassis for excellent 50/50 weight balance, are made by Ferrari in Maranello, Italy. Both mount to an 8-speed automatic transmission. All Levantes, for the record, use a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system for a sportier driving experience.

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Levante, GranSport)
345 horsepower @ 5,750 rpm
369 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/21 mpg

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Levante S)
424 horsepower @ 5,750 rpm
428 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/21 mpg

3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (Levante GTS)
550 horsepower @ 6,250 rpm
538 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/18 mpg

3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (Levante Trofeo)
590 horsepower @ 6,250 rpm
538 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/18 mpg