The new Maserati Levante is here, and it has truly captured the hearts and attention of people from all different walks of life. From the consumer who always dreamed about owning a high-end luxury SUV, to the veteran car reviewer who has test driven and written about more cars than he can count in his lifetime; they all agree the Levante is something special. Even amongst fiercely intense competition from rivals like the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5, the Levante has managed to stand out. While this probably pissed off long-time luxury players in the high-end SUV game, Maserati is probably jumping with joy — and rightly so.
The popular magazine Maxim fell in love with the Maserati Levante after jumping behind the wheel of it, and has a long list of points that the editors and writers love about the Levante. Here are a few that I couldn’t agree with more.
Iconic Look
The main reason a Levante sticks out like a sore thumb on the road — in a good way — is because of its design. It doesn’t look like any other SUV out there. With a sweeping and elegant hood, low-cut and aerodynamic body, muscular curves, and a grille that is concave rather than convex, the Levante really has some head-turning power.
Not only that, but it’s the attention to detail this luxury SUV has received. The chrome slotted grille fits seamlessly together with the trident logo, and the headlights are just as sleek and sexy as the rest of the design, and the wheels — oh my god, the wheels!
On the backside, tapered D-pillars combine with the sharp cut of the hatch and the pronounced rear fender curves make it stand out even more, leaving onlookers with a lasting impression from every angle. A rare feat for any car.
A Ferrari Influenced Engine? Yes, Please!
When the editors at Maxim took the Levante for a test drive, they turned the key and knew they were in for something special. Even though I’ll never be lucky enough to take the Levante for a test drive myself, it doesn’t take one to know you’re in for a treat when Ferrari has been tasked with constructing the engine.
It’s a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 available in two different versions. The standard model puts out 345 horsepower, whereas the the range-topping S trim level puts out a massive 424 horsepower.
Plus, since it was designed by Ferrari, you can bet your ass this thing will sound beautiful when you turn the key.
Drop-Dead Gorgeous Interior Design
One thing I have a huge issue with when it comes to luxury models is the interior. It’s more about artistic flourish and practicality. For some reason, luxury automakers like to jazz it up with all sorts of lavish materials, but completely ignore the ergonomics.
While you’ll find plenty of genuine leather and wood trim around the inside of the Levante’s cabin, you’ll also find that more exotic and rare specimen — ergonomics — has made its home in the Levante. Impressive in terms of fit and finish, the controls are laid out for ease of access and use, and the front and second row seats look like they’re able to comfortably fit full-size adults. For once, this is an interior you’d expect to get for dishing out anywhere from the starting MSRP of $73,200, to the more expensive $106,000 – equipped with all the bells and whistles.
All-in-all, the Levante is truly an astounding high-end luxury SUV. There are plenty of other reasons why it impressed everyone, but these three are the ones that truly set the Levante apart from the rest of the competition.
