Maserati Levante S 2018 review
Content
- Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
- How practical is the interior space? 7/10
- Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10
- What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 10/10
- How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
- What is it like to drive? 9/10
- What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10
- How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 6/10
- Verdict
- Has Maserati been successful this time around with the Levante? Or do you prefer Porker, AMG or Rangie?
Everyone does this - they make SUVs. It's all because of you. Yes you.
Our tastes have changed, we have abandoned sedans, sports cars and hatchbacks. We want SUVs, and automakers have had to adapt or risk their survival. Even Maserati. And in early 2017, the legendary Italian brand introduced its first SUV, the Levante, in Australia.
The problem is that it was a diesel and it wasn't well received. The sound was not a Maserati, but… diesel.
Now Maserati has released the 2018 Levante, and while you can still get a diesel, the star of the show is the Levante S, which has a Ferrari-made twin-turbo V6 on its nose.
So, is this the Levante we've been waiting for?
I took a deep breath and tested it at launch in Australia to find out.
| Maserati Levante 2018: (base) | |
|---|---|
| Safety Rating | - |
| engine's type | 3.0 L turbo |
| fuel type | Diesel |
| Fuel efficiency | 7.2l / 100km |
| Landing | 5 Places |
| Price from | $104,700 |
Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
The Levante looks exactly what a Maserati SUV should look like – that signature wide grille adorned with a trident badge, blade-like headlights and taillights that also exude family flair, a long bonnet and cabin rear profile, air vents that dot the front end . wheel arch to those massive thighs in the back.
The Levante S is 5003mm long, 2158mm wide (including mirrors) and 1679mm wide. In the morning when he gets out of the shower and gets on the scale, he looks down and sees 2109 kg.
The Levante is a formidable SUV and if it was my money I would definitely go for the GranSport package because it further enhances the "I'm going to eat you" look thanks to the black grille trim, 21" wheels that match those guards perfectly (19ths look too small).
I wasn't a big fan of Maserati interiors in the past because they seemed frilly, with too much fabric, texture and detail that felt out of place - maybe it's just me, but since the Ghibli came along, cockpits have become distant. better in my eyes.
The extra carbon inserts didn't overdo it.
The cockpit of the Levante S is luxurious, elegant and well put together. I love the leather upholstery in the S GranSport, our variant had carbon fiber inserts that weren't exaggerated.
For me, simplifying things a bit is something you might not notice unless you have a Jeep. You see, Maserati is owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, as is Jeep - and while the Levante is based on the Ghibli platform, not Jeep, there are interior elements it shares with Jeep. Display screen, climate control switches, power window buttons, start button... There's nothing wrong with that - it's just hard to "unsee".
How practical is the interior space? 7/10
There are some surprises. Good and not so good. First, about the good - the glove box on the center console under the armrest is huge - you can put two regular-sized bottles in it while standing. There's also storage space in front of the shifter, two more cup holders in the front, two more in the back, and bottle holders in all doors.
The trunk has a capacity of 580 liters, which is neither the largest nor the smallest. But the legroom of the rear passengers is not a very pleasant surprise - I can only sit behind my driver's seat. Of course, my height is 191 cm, but I sat in small SUVs with a lot of space.
The rear is limited too, but that's because of the sunroof, which lowers the height of the ceiling. I can still sit up straight, but I can only stick my arm through the gap between my head and the roof.
From the front, you won't notice any of these problems: just like in a sports car, priority is given to the front passengers - and above all to the person in the driver's seat.
Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10
The Levante S is priced at $169,990 and the Levante Turbo Diesel has retained its 139,990 $2017 price it started at at the beginning of XNUMX.
Standard S features include leather upholstery, heated and power front seats, 8.4-inch touchscreen with surround view camera, satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, bi- xenon headlights and 20-inch alloy wheels.
Be aware that the Turbo Diesel doesn't quite match the standard S features, lacking a sunroof and smaller wheels.
There are two packages that you can also apply to your Levante: GranLusso (luxury) and GranSport (sport). The S GranLusso and S GranSport cost $179,990. The packages add an extra $20 to the Turbo Diesel price list.
We tested a Levante S GranSport fitted with 21-inch wheels with red brake calipers, blacked-out grille, rear spoiler, and inside, a 14-speaker Harman/Kardon stereo system, sports steering wheel, fine-grain trim. leather upholstery, sports front seats and sports pedals. None of this makes the Levante go faster, but it definitely looks good.
We tested the Levante S GranSport with 21-inch wheels and red brake calipers.
As good as it looks, there are elements that are missing: no head-up display and no LED headlights - you can't even choose them. Dual-zone climate control is great, but you'll have to opt for a Levante to get four-zone climate control. The Mazda CX-9 gets it all for a third of the list price.
In the meantime, don't forget that the Levante S is an Italian SUV powered by Ferrari for less than $170,000. If you are also in the Levante and take a ride in its competitors such as the Porsche Cayenne GTS, Mercedes-AMG 43 and Range Rover Sport.
What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 10/10
When we told readers we were getting closer to the Levante S launch and asked them what they would like to know, they didn't stop there: "When will they release a car with a normal engine?"
Exactly my thoughts - the diesel version of Maserati, released back in early 2017, was powerful, with 202 kW, but did not sound like a Maserati should. Because diesel.
The answer to the question: now he is here! The Levante's 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine was built by Ferrari, and not only does its sound almost bring me to tears, it's so beautiful, but the amazing 321kW and 580Nm it produces.
The gears are shifted via a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, which in my opinion is the best production car transmission on the market with its smooth shifting.
How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
The Levante S can be thirsty, as Maserati claims that after a combination of open and city roads, you should see consumption of 10.9 l/100 km. Within a few hours and several hundred kilometers with it, the odometer showed me that I was averaging 19.2 l / 100 km. Which? Do not judge me.
What is it like to drive? 9/10
My expectations were not high. I've been burned with some Maserati and other exotic brands before - come and test a new model, get very excited and come out a little underwhelmed. I was afraid to drive the Levante S. I thought it would be another high end disappointment.
I couldn't be more wrong. I've tested the Ghibli, Quattroporte and Maserati that Maserati no longer makes, and I have to say that this version of the Levante, the Levante S GranSport, is in my opinion the best Maserati I've driven. Yes, I think the best Maserati car is an SUV.
The Levante S GranSport is, in my opinion, the best Maserati I've driven.
That exhaust sound is great even at idle, and when pushed a little, the V6 twin-turbo petrol screams like a Maserati should. But it's more than just the right sound. Levante S feels good. In most cases, the all-wheel drive system sends all the traction to the rear wheels, but when you need it, switches traction to the front wheels.
So you can turn corners like a rear-wheel-drive sports car, but when you increase power, the system sends up to 50 percent of the power to the front. This, combined with the perfect 50:50 front-to-rear balance, makes the Levante feel solid, safe and manageable.
I think the best Maserati car is an SUV.
Riding on massive 295mm rear tires that look like oil barrels and 265mm rubber on the front clutch is excellent.
The increase in power over the V6 diesel means the Levante S has received an upgraded braking package with 380mm ventilated discs with twin-piston calipers up front and 330mm ventilated and drilled discs with single pistons at the rear. Stopping is almost as impressive as accelerating.
The Levante weighs two tons and quickly hits 0 km/h in 100 seconds - I think a harder push to get that down to 5.2 would be impressive. Yes, I think the acceleration could be better. However, it's like saying that I don't like this ice cream bowl because there isn't enough ice cream.
The air suspension makes the ride very comfortable, but at the same time calm. Sport mode has two levels: the first sets the throttle, shift and exhaust sound aggressively, but maintains a comfortable suspension; but press the sport mode button again and the suspension becomes stiffer for handling, which is great considering it's a five-meter SUV.
Warranty and safety rating
Basic Warranty
3 years / unlimited mileage
guarantee
What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10
One of the issues we had with the previous version of the Levante was that it seemed to lack some of the safety features you'd expect from a prestigious SUV - we're talking Automatic Emergency Braking, or AEB. But that has been fixed in this latest update: AEB is now standard on all models. There's also blind spot warning, lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control. Also new is speed limit reading technology that actually sees the sign - it worked for me even on a small temporary roadworks speed sign.
The Levante has not yet been tested by EuroNCAP and has not received a safety rating from the ANCAP.
How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 6/10
The Levante is covered by a three-year Maserati or 100,000 km warranty, which can be extended up to five years.
Service is recommended every two years or 20,000 km. There is currently no fixed price for the service.
Verdict
The Levante S is truly the Levante we've been waiting for - now it not only looks right, it sounds right and drives impressively. Now you can combine a Maserati sports car and an SUV.
Has Maserati been successful this time around with the Levante? Or do you prefer Porker, AMG or Rangie?
