Maserati, a renowned Italian automaker has ventured into the world of SUVs for the first time with the launch of the Maserati Levante. It is really a big move from Maserati as everyone would have high levels of expectations when a world-famous carmaker produces their next best thing. It is not always possible to satisfy everyone, but even though it seems to be a bit late, it is better that they’ve followed suit with other companies.
Seeing the specs alone will make you feel that the Maserati Levante is here to compete. The Levante comes fitted with a 3.0 liter turbocharged V6 engine producing horsepower of upto 345 hp. The 5-seater SUV looks quite big in size when compared to other completive models and especially the bonnet that covers the vast area. The sporty driver seat is much higher than the other Maserati sports car models and if you have driven a Maserati before then you would be really amazed when you get in the Levante as it is quite a climb from the ground.
And by the looks of it, it certainly doesn’t look like a conventional SUV as it is either not too tall or bulky. But still, it is quite imposing with its large bonnet and the monstrous grille at the front. Once you get into the vehicle, you feel more of a Maserati sports version instead of an SUV. Even though the red leather looks a bit awkward in most of the SUVs, it somehow works here. The soft leather along with the cozy headrests almost feel like that you are seated in a comfortable lounge seat. The wood trims also seem to fall into place and look premium too. The finish is what makes the Maserati Levante stand out from the crowd.
The backseat is too low when compared to the front seats and taller persons might see some issues seating there. But other than that the back seat is spacious and feels like being seated in a cocoon. The Levante comes with a lot of features including standard traction, hill-hold assist, curtain bags on the sides, stability control along with a rear-view camera as well. The high-end version also features parking sensors in both front and rear along with blind spot monitoring. But still, we think the Maserati Levante lacks some safety features that are being offered by other competitors.
Overall, the Maserati’s attempt to enter the SUV market with a Levante is a good move and also a needed one. It is priced competitively and should certainly open a new group of buyers. And it still needs to go a long way to compete with its German rivals. But hardcore Maserati fans should definitely like everything inside the Levante.