Used 2022 Maserati Levante

It’s cliche to say it, but it’s true: The Maserati Levante is the Maserati of SUVs. The Levante takes the iconic aesthetics and performance of the Maserati brand and packages them as a midsize luxury SUV with a measure of family-friendly practicality. This SUV is powered by your choice of two Ferrari-derived turbocharged engines, giving it a supercar-like character. It’s expensive and not very fuel-efficient, but the Levante will be one of the fastest and most stylish rides in the school pickup line.

You probably won’t be surprised to hear that the Maserati Levante is not the most practical or value-conscious choice in its segment. While you could argue it’s the most practical vehicle in the Maserati lineup, most class rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, BMW X5, Audi Q8, and even the Porsche Cayenne deliver more bang for the buck. However, the look, sound, and overall personality of the Levante aren’t quite like any other SUV.

The world of luxury SUVs has gotten pretty crowded, but the Maserati Levante is one entry that really stands out.

The Maserati Levante may be part of the Stellantis family, but this is no Jeep. Its architecture is similar to the Maserati Ghibli sedan, which means it has real athleticism at its core. This is a well-tuned chassis that’s complemented well by either a turbocharged V6 or turbocharged V8.

There’s no boring Levante, but we recommend going with the highest level of performance that your budget will allow. Every step you move up the model range brings more power and more excitement. We especially enjoy the raucous V8 and the magnificent sounds it makes.

The standard Q4 all-wheel-drive system has a bias to the rear wheels, but it can send up to 50% of the power to the front wheels. Off-roading isn’t the primary function of the Levante, but it can hold its own off the pavement thanks to an off-road mode and the standard Skyhook adaptive suspension system, which can raise the Levante’s ground clearance.

The interior of the Maserati Levante is luxurious and full of premium materials like available Zegna silk and Pieno Fiore leather, but frankly, it’s not as nice as its lofty price tag suggests. There’s some apparent parts-bin sharing with cheaper Stellantis products here and there. Don’t get us wrong — it’s a luxurious SUV — but it might not be what you expect for an SUV that can go well into 6-digit pricing territory.

The front seats are plenty roomy, but the back seats are a little tight for a midsize SUV. You can comfortably fit two average-sized adults in the back, but most rivals in this class are roomier. The same goes for the cargo area, which is among the smallest in this class.

The Levante is instantly recognizable as a Maserati. That’s partially because of the liberal use of the distinctive trident emblem sprinkled around the exterior. In front, a concave grille is flanked by a handsome light signature that creates an exotic look. Elegant body lines give way to a sloping roofline, giving the Levante a sporty profile.

You have many options for customizing the look of your Levante. There are several wheel options, and you can even choose between five different colors for the brake calipers. You can also select whether you prefer traditional chrome trim or the darker Nerissimo appearance package.

The Levante is on the larger side of the midsize luxury SUV class. Its dimensions are similar to the Audi Q8, and it’s a little bigger than the Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5, and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class.

FERRARI-DERIVED ENGINES
The available turbocharged V6 and V8 engines bring this Maserati SUV to life with satisfying power and an intoxicating exhaust note.

SKYHOOK SUSPENSION
This adaptive performance suspension uses electronic damping control to optimize on-road performance, off-road capability, and it can even lower the Levante for better aerodynamics on the highway.

The base GT trim of the Maserati Levante is well-appointed with plenty of standard features. The standard powertrain is a turbocharged V6 with an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Other standard features include Skyhook performance suspension, an active air suspension with five ride heights and an Easy Entry Mode, Sport Mode, Off-Road mode, a limited-slip differential, a dual-pane sunroof, leather seats, heater, power-adjustable front seats, a memory driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel, 20-inch wheels, and an analog clock.

The Maserati Intelligent Assistant infotainment system uses an 8.4-inch screen loaded with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and navigation. This is very similar to the Uconnect system found in other Stellantis vehicles, which is a good thing.

Standard safety tech includes front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and a backup camera.

Upgrading to the Modena trim adds a more sporting nature to the Levante. For starters, it comes with a performance upgrade with the V6 under the hood, making more power and torque than the GT model. Other upgrades include sportier front and rear fascias, piano black exterior trim, staggered wheels, and upgraded brakes with painted calipers.

The Modena S model comes with the significant upgrade of the turbocharged V8 engine plus many more features like paddle shifters, adaptive full LED matrix headlights, the Nerissimo appearance package, upgraded full-leather upholstery, sport seats, sport pedals, Harman/Kardon premium audio, and many more safety tech features including full-speed adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, automatic emergency braking, and traffic sign assist. Most of these features are optional on the lower trims.

Finally, the Levante hits its peak performance in the Trofeo model. On top of the V8 making an extra 40 horsepower compared to the Modena S, other upgrades include a Corsa drive mode, a unique appearance package, carbon fiber interior trim, Pieno Fiore leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, an Alcantara headliner, 22-inch staggered wheels, soft close doors, power rear side sunshades, and Bowers & Wilkins 17-speaker premium audio.

There are many option packages and individual options you can add to personalize your Levante. For example, you can have Zegna silk and leather upholstery, Zegna Pelletessuta leather upholstery, various appearance packages, multiple wood and carbon fiber interior trims, 4-zone climate control, and much more.

The Maserati Levante is powered by your choice of either a turbocharged V6 or turbocharged V8. Both engines have two different tunings available. The base GT model is the mildest in the lineup but still has plenty of muscle. The Modena trim is more sport-oriented and uses a more aggressive tuning of the V6 engine.

Enter the mighty turbocharged V8 with the Modena S model producing over 500 horsepower. If you’re looking for peak performance in a Maserati SUV, you’ll want the Trofeo model, which adds an extra 40 horsepower over the Modena S.

While performance is a strength for the Levante, you pay for it with poor fuel economy, even from the base model.

Every Levante uses an 8-speed automatic transmission and the Q4 all-wheel-drive system with active torque control.

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (GT)
345 horsepower @ 5,750 rpm
369 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-4,750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/22 mpg

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Modena)
424 horsepower @ 5,750 rpm
428 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000-4,750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/22 mpg

3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (Modena S)
550 horsepower @ 6,250 rpm
538 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/20 mpg

3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (Trofeo)
590 horsepower @ 6,250 rpm
538 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/20 mpg