Used 2020 Maserati Levante

The 2020 Maserati Levante luxury SUV wears a few hats. In its most basic guise, it competes with other upscale brands like Audi, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. But move up to the GTS and Trofeo trims, and the Levante becomes a bona-fide performance-luxury ute looking to challenge the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and Jaguar F-Pace SVR.

The qualification for this jump in status can be found under the upper trim’s sleek hood, where a Ferrari-derived 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 pumps out an astounding 550 horsepower (590 horsepower in the Trofeo), allowing this Italian stallion to hit 60 mph in under four seconds and with a top speed of 187 mph.

Beyond its performance abilities, the Levante provides a more exclusive ride than the more abundant offerings from Germany and Japan, although some interior bits shared with Jeep and Chrysler feel out of place.

Contrary to what some people may think, the Maserati SUV doesn’t share a chassis with the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Rather, it’s based on the Ghibli sports sedan, which becomes obvious the moment you toss the Levante into a corner and feel it respond crisply, with good composure.

The driver-adjustable Skyhook damping system and electrically assisted hydraulic steering give you a clear feel of the road, and the standard limited-slip rear differential ensures good acceleration out of corners. More tall wagon than traditional SUV, Maserati’s 2020 Levante takes corners more like a sports sedan than a sport ute, even though it weighs more than 4,500 pounds.

The electronically controlled suspension also helps off-road, where the ride height can be raised via a button. At speed on the highway, the Levante automatically lowers itself for better aerodynamics and improved fuel efficiency.

Inside the 2020 Levante luxury SUV you’ll find five different interiors are available. In base trim the leather can be black, beige or tan. In the GranSport, you can also get red leather, which is complemented by a specific stitching that carries over onto the Leatherette dash cover. The GranLusso model ups the luxury quotient with Ermenegildo Zegna silks (on the seats, door panels, headliner and sunshades), plus dash trim made of attractive open-pore wood. A higher-quality single-stitched leather is used on the Levante GTS’s seats, dash, center armrest and door panels.

And it gets even better on the Trofeo flagship, whose sport seats are covered in a full-grain Piero Fiore natural leather available in black, red or tan, with “Trofeo” logos stitched into the headrests. For the record, the Trofeo has carbon-fiber shift paddles, and its standard 1,280-watt Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound stereo system has 17 speakers.

The V6 trims all wear similar styling that hasn’t changed much since the Levante’s introduction in 2017. Various wheels and exterior accents separate the base model from the GranLusso, while the GranSport and S get more aggressive front- and rear-end styling. The V8-powered GTS and Trofeo share that same updated styling with the S, but with a wider stance and more aggressive wheel-and-tire packages.

A number of exterior packages allow the customer to better personalize the vehicle. Most notable in the group is the Nerissimo Package that brings a black front grille, window surrounds and badges, as well as body-colored door handles, 21-inch dark gray wheels and dark exhaust tips.

ADAPTIVE LED MATRIX HEADLIGHTS
The Levante’s unique headlight system employs a digital camera mounted between the rearview mirror and windshield. The camera monitors oncoming traffic and will automatically shut down the appropriate number of LEDs as to keep the road lighted, but not blind oncoming drivers.

SKYHOOK SUSPENSION
The 2020 Maserati Levante’s Skyhook suspension provides the driver a choice of Normal, Sport or Off-road modes. The air suspension creates a smooth ride during everyday driving, a stiffer ride when precise cornering is required and a less bouncy ride when tackling off-road trails.

While the base V6 Levante has 19-inch wheels, the GTS wears 20s, and the Trofeo, 22s fitted with meaty 265/35ZR22 tires in front and 295/30ZR22s in back. Other standard equipment for the 2020 Maserati Levante includes a 360-degree camera that makes it easy to maneuver this 5-seat SUV in tight parking lots.

Xenon headlights, all-wheel drive, adaptive air suspension and heated front seats also are standard, as are the Skyhook sport suspension and an 8.4-inch infotainment screen with navigation and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. On the safety front, the Levante features a blind-spot monitor and front and rear parking sensors.

One of the key options on the 2020 Levante is Maserati’s Driver Assistance Package, a $1,600 suite of safety enhancements that includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, emergency braking (with pedestrian protection) and Highway Assist, a “hands-on” system that will autonomously steer the vehicle on certain highways and limited-access freeways at speeds of up to 90 mph. This package is standard on the GranLusso and GranSport, as well as the GTS and Trofeo trims.

Additionally, there’s the $1,290 Nerissimo Package, whose liberal amount of blackened trim gives the Levante a wickedly aggressive look. Numerous other options are available on the 2020 Levante, many related to interior materials, sound systems and types of climate control.

In the base Levante and S trims, a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 pulls duty. In the base model, GranLusso and GranSport, this engine produces 345 horsepower, while the S version and its corresponding packages see output rise to 424 horsepower.

The GTS and Trofeo employ a 3.8-liter turbocharged V8 good for 550 and 590 horsepower, respectively. Both engines are built by Ferrari and are fitted far enough back in the chassis as to produce a near-perfect 50/50 weight balance. An 8-speed automatic transmission routes power to the rear-bias all-wheel-drive system, a design that allows for a more entertaining driving experience.

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Levante)
345 horsepower @ 5,750 rpm
369 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/21 mpg

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Levante S)
424 horsepower @ 5,750 rpm
428 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/21 mpg

3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (Levante GTS)
550 horsepower @ 6,250 rpm
538 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/18 mpg

3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (Levante Trofeo)
590 horsepower @ 6,250 rpm
538 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/18 mpg