The Maserati Levante is the Italian brand’s first foray into the SUV segment. It’s a large SUV that’s going after the Range Rover Sport, Porsche Cayenne and the forthcoming Jaguar F-Pace, and was revealed at the Geneva motor show.
Maserati is playing up the SUV’s sporting credentials and claims the Levante has a drag coefficient of 0.31, putting it at the top of the class. To boost aerodynamics further, the Levante features an Air Shutter behind the concave grille, which is designed to control the amount of air making its way to the engine.
The Levante sits on an updated version of the platform used in the Ghibli and Quattroporte saloons.
All models come with standard air suspension, four-wheel drive and a torque vectoring system that’s designed to improve on-road handling as well as the Levante’s off-road ability.
Three engine options are available; two petrols and one diesel. All are 3.0-litre units. The range-topping petrol model is the 424bhp Levante S. It does 0-62mph in 5.2sec and has a top speed of 164mph. The less powerful petrol Levante produces 345bhp and reaches 62mph in 6.0sec and a top speed of 156mph.
Claimed official fuel economy figures for the petrol Levante models are 25.9mpg and 253g/km of CO2 for the Levante S and 26.4mpg and 249g/km of CO2 for the standard petrol Levante.
Diesel buyers get a 3.0-litre unit that produces 270bhp and 442lb ft of torque. It will get to 62mph in 6.9sec and reach a top speed of 143mph. Fuel economy figures for the diesel version are more impressive at 39.2mpg and 189g/km of CO2.
Whichever Levante model you choose, it’ll come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, four-wheel drive and air suspension as standard.
Inside, all models seat five and have a 580-litre boot. Equipment-wise, all versions get leather seats, an 8.4in touchscreen infotainment system, cruise control, hill descent control, climate control, alloy wheels (18in on the lower-powered petrol and the Levante diesel and 19in on the S version) and an electrically operated tailgate.
One notable piece of optional equipment is a tow bar, the first time Maserati has ever offered this item on its options list. The Levante will have a maximum towing capacity of 2700kg.
Official pricing has not been announced but it is expected the Levante to cost from around £60,000 when it arrives in the UK towards the end of the year. In Switzerland, one of the first markets to get the Levante, prices start at 75,900CHF, which translates to £54,121.
For more information see the Maserati UK website