2018 Maserati Levante: Performance SUV Review

Maserati’s entry into the sport utility vehicle segment marks a significant evolution for the renowned Italian marque. The 2018 Levante represents the automaker’s strategic pivot toward the lucrative crossover market while maintaining the performance credentials and aesthetic sensibilities that define the brand. This review examines the vehicle’s engineering, driving dynamics, interior appointments, and practical considerations for prospective buyers seeking a distinctive alternative to conventional luxury crossovers.

Power and Engine Performance

The 2018 Levante lineup features turbocharged V6 engines that deliver the auditory and visceral characteristics expected from an Italian performance brand. The base model provides responsive acceleration suitable for both highway cruising and spirited driving, while the more potent variants offer additional performance reserves. The engine’s character reflects Maserati’s automotive heritage, producing distinctive exhaust notes that distinguish the vehicle from its German competitors.

Engine displacement and turbocharging technology work in concert to provide linear power delivery across various driving scenarios. The mechanical configuration prioritizes throttle response and mid-range torque characteristics, delivering swift acceleration when demanded. This approach contrasts with some luxury competitors that prioritize maximum horsepower metrics, instead emphasizing the quality of the driving experience across the RPM range.

Handling and Suspension Technology

The Levante’s suspension architecture represents a deliberate engineering compromise between comfort and cornering capability. The air-spring suspension system incorporates adjustable damping characteristics, allowing drivers to tailor the vehicle’s behavior to prevailing road conditions and personal preferences. In standard settings, the suspension maintains a compliant ride quality while preventing excessive body motion during cornering.

Despite the vehicle’s elevated center of gravity inherent to SUV proportions, the suspension geometry and tuning minimize body roll during spirited driving. The rear-biased all-wheel drive system contributes to balanced weight distribution and predictable handling characteristics. The steering system, upgraded to electric power assistance for the 2018 model year, provides precise feedback without sacrificing the natural feel expected in a driver-focused luxury vehicle.

On smooth surfaces, the Levante exhibits excellent composure, maintaining control over the vehicle’s considerable mass while delivering a refined riding experience. However, on rougher road surfaces, the suspension’s performance-oriented tuning occasionally becomes apparent, as the relatively firm setup proves less forgiving than some competitor offerings. This characteristic reflects Maserati’s prioritization of dynamic engagement over absolute isolation.

Advanced Safety and Driver Assistance Systems

The 2018 model year introduction of electrically-assisted power steering enabled the integration of advanced driver assistance technologies that enhance safety without compromising the driving experience. The comprehensive safety suite includes lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control functionality.

Traffic sign recognition technology assists drivers in maintaining awareness of posted speed limits and regulatory information. Active collision mitigation systems provide forward warning and automated braking intervention when potential impacts are detected. Highway assist features combine adaptive cruise control with lane-centering capabilities, facilitating extended driving on highway routes.

These semi-autonomous features function with appropriate transparency, providing assistance without excessive intervention or nanny-state limitations that might frustrate experienced drivers. The implementation balances safety considerations with the preservation of driver engagement, reflecting contemporary expectations for premium automotive technology integration.

Interior Architecture and Appointments

The cabin environment reflects Maserati’s commitment to luxury presentation through carefully selected materials and thoughtful spatial organization. The available GranLusso trim introduces Ermenegildo Zegna silk-and-leather upholstery combined with wood accents, elevating the interior aesthetic beyond standard luxury expectations. The GranSport variant provides distinctly bolstered sport seating and unique steering wheel designs that reinforce the performance orientation.

An 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system serves as the central control interface, complemented by a secondary rotary knob positioned conveniently for driver access. The system provides smartphone integration through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto protocols, enabling seamless connectivity with mobile devices. Climate control functionality includes dual-zone front and optional four-zone full-cabin implementations, accommodating passenger comfort preferences across diverse environmental conditions.

The driving position reflects purposeful design for engaged motoring rather than passive transportation, with controls and sightlines optimized for spirited driving. Instrument panel organization prioritizes essential information accessibility while maintaining aesthetic coherence with the overall interior design language. However, some conventional buttons and switches reflect shared component sourcing practices, occasionally introducing minor visual inconsistencies within the otherwise cohesive premium environment.

Practical Considerations and Cargo Functionality

The Levante provides 19.4 cubic feet of cargo space with rear seats in their standard configuration, expanding to 57.3 cubic feet when the split-folding rear seatbacks are lowered. This capacity proves adequate for typical lifestyle transportation needs, though it registers slightly below some competing midsize luxury crossovers. The rear hatch design facilitates convenient loading and unloading, with the aperture dimensions accommodating typical luggage and equipment.

Rear passenger space comfortably accommodates adults, with adequate headroom, legroom, and lateral accommodation for comfortable extended journeys. Visibility from rear quarters benefits from appropriately sized windows and rational side profile proportions that avoid excessive blind spots. The rear climate control functionality extends comfort provisions to all occupants, while beverage storage provisions throughout the cabin reflect thoughtful attention to occupant convenience.

The vehicle’s five-passenger configuration suits most transportation scenarios, though the three-across rear seating arrangement occasionally presents lateral constraint for adult passengers during extended journeys. Storage compartments integrated throughout the cabin provide accessible locations for personal items, with the center armrest incorporating beverage accommodation.

Fuel Economy and Operating Costs

The 2018 Levante’s fuel economy ratings reflect the performance orientation and turbocharged engine architecture, with combined estimates ranging from 16 miles per gallon depending on drivetrain configuration and driving patterns. Urban driving conditions typically yield lower economy figures, while highway cruising at moderate speeds demonstrates improved efficiency characteristics.

The turbocharged engine’s start-stop system contributes to urban efficiency improvements, automatically shutting down the engine during traffic stops and restarting seamlessly during acceleration. However, some drivers report that this system’s activation and deactivation responses occasionally feel abrupt, warranting operator adjustment during extended urban driving sessions.

Monthly fuel costs approximate $284 based on average driving patterns and prevailing fuel pricing, a consideration warranting evaluation against the vehicle’s performance characteristics and brand prestige. Operating costs also encompass premium gasoline requirements, which reflect the engine’s high-compression turbocharged design and performance calibration. Maintenance expenditures for specialty items such as brake fluid and transmission service reflect the vehicle’s luxury positioning and performance requirements.

Aesthetic Design and Exterior Presentation

The Levante’s exterior styling distinguishes it decisively from the homogenized crossover marketplace through bold proportions and distinctive visual language. The contemporary appearance avoids the conventional aesthetic patterns prevalent among competing luxury brands, instead establishing visual identity through purposeful proportion and surface treatment.

The 2018 model year introduction of the Nerissimo package accentuates the vehicle’s visual drama through comprehensive darkening treatments, including Nero paint specifications, dark chrome accents, blackened window surrounds, and specially finished wheel designs. Seven alloy wheel designs provide additional customization opportunities, with five new options introduced for the current model year. Exterior paint selections encompass four distinct color specifications, enabling buyers to establish their preferred aesthetic character.

The vehicle’s drag coefficient of 0.31 represents best-in-class aerodynamic efficiency for the segment, a remarkable achievement given the bold styling and substantial proportions. This aerodynamic excellence contributes to stability at highway speeds and mitigates fuel economy penalties associated with the elevated frontal area characteristic of SUV designs.

Technology Integration and Infotainment Systems

The infotainment architecture prioritizes usability through intuitive menu organization and tactile control interfaces that respond immediately to driver input. The rotary control knob positioned between driver and passenger seats enables navigation without requiring touchscreen interaction, particularly valuable during dynamic driving or challenging road conditions.

Voice control functionality facilitates hands-free operation of navigation, climate, and communication features while maintaining focus on traffic conditions. The system’s responsiveness to commands generally proves reliable, though complex multi-step requests occasionally require repetition or touchscreen clarification. Smartphone integration functions transparently, automatically launching preferred applications and enabling familiar interface interaction patterns without extensive learning requirements.

Navigation functionality provides real-time traffic integration and dynamic routing capabilities, while audio system capabilities deliver premium sound reproduction through advanced speaker integration. However, certain competitive alternatives offer marginally superior menu transparency and operational simplicity, a minor consideration for technically proficient users but potentially relevant for operators preferring minimal learning curves.

Comparative Market Positioning

The Levante occupies a distinctive segment position, combining performance credentials more associated with sports cars with the practical packaging and visibility of utility vehicles. This dual identity creates unique appeal for discerning buyers prioritizing driving engagement alongside lifestyle practicality. The vehicle’s pricing places it within the premium luxury crossover category, competing against established German brands offering comparable performance and comfort integration.

The distinctive Italian character and engaging performance dynamics provide differentiation from conventional competitors, while the limited production volume and relative exclusivity enhance appeal for buyers seeking distinction beyond mainstream luxury offerings. Brand recognition and automotive heritage resonate with enthusiasts appreciating mechanical sophistication and performance-oriented engineering philosophies.

Summary Assessment

The 2018 Maserati Levante successfully executes the challenging mandate of delivering authentic performance character within practical utility vehicle packaging. The turbocharged engine provides satisfying performance, the suspension system balances comfort with engaging handling, and the interior environment reflects genuine luxury thoughtfulness. While certain compromises inherent to utility vehicle packaging prevent absolute excellence in every dimension, the overall package delivers genuine value for buyers prioritizing distinctive character and engaging driving dynamics alongside practical transportation capability.

The expanding model range, including new GranLusso and GranSport variants, accommodates diverse buyer preferences while maintaining engineering consistency across the lineup. Advanced safety systems and technological integration satisfy contemporary expectations without imposing unnecessary complexity. For buyers evaluating luxury crossover alternatives, the Levante merits serious consideration as a vehicle that genuinely prioritizes driver engagement and distinctive character.