- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
3.8TT, 8 cyl.
- Engine Power
405kW, 730Nm
- Fuel
Petrol 10.7L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2019 Maserati Levante GTS review
Maserati finally has a high-powered Ferrari punch for its Levante SUV – one that ups performance from merely acceptable and transforms it one of the fastest of its breed on the planet.
While electronics and hardware have been tuned to make it less frenetic and more everyday friendly than it is in a Ferrari, our brief encounter on mountain roads in Japan confirmed there’s now enough fire beneath the Levante’s snout to justify the shiny trident badge poking between its revised toothy grille.
What's under the bonnet of the Levante GTS ?
Up to 440kW of fire, if you opt for the Trofeo. Or 410kW in the lesser GTS, the latter already confirmed for Australia later in 2019.
Those power figures inch it ahead of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, a key rival in the fight for the go-fast SUV dollar.
Yet it’s the potent 730Nm of torque that defines the Levante, its peak arriving at just 2500rpm and making light work of the 2170kg heft. There’s rarely a moment when the GTS feels undernourished, the Trofeo adding a whiff of high-rev spark only accessed when you’re accelerating hard and the tacho is pushing beyond 6000rpm.
In either car, even modest throttle applications have the turbos boosting hard, the forward thrust impressive. The claimed performance figures back up the seat-of-the-pants feeling, with acceleration more akin to Maserati sports cars.
The dash to 100km/h is dispatched in 4.1 seconds in the GTS and 3.9 seconds in the Trofeo. Both small numbers representative of the big outputs.
What's the Maserati Levante GTS like to drive?
While the Trofeo leans on its additional 30kW to build pace, it also gets a unique transmission tune as part of its Corsa driving mode. Press the button and as well as noticeably firmer suspension and a 35mm lower ride height – it’s best left to smooth surfaces - gear shifts are dispatched in just 150 milliseconds, about 80ms quicker than the regular driving modes.
There’s some mild jolting when it plucks the next ratio, instead of the slinkiness of gear changes in other modes. But it’s minor stuff as comfort is still the order of the day.
Yet it’s the character of the engine that works so well. It’s not as raw and visceral as a Ferrari. Instead there’s restraint and refinement and a focus on everyday driveability, the eight-speed auto playing a role there too.
There are times when that restrain feels overdone. That’s most notable with the noise, a hint of high-tech V8 that is heavily muted. Sure, there’s a satisfyingly bassy thrum at low revs, the intent to get up and boogie clearly there. But unleash it and the exhaust note raises in pitch and turns to a lot of hot air (literally) thrusting out of the quad pipes with little of the intensity former Maserati V8s have nailed. Induction noise is sorely lacking, the push for calmness taking its toll.
That’s a shame, because the V8 is otherwise bursting with character. Despite that bulging mid-range it has a penchant for revs, more than happy to spin past 7000rpm, well beyond the point at which it’s pumped out those maximum kilowatts. It’s an engine that relishes a thrash as much as it metaphorically sticks its hand in the air to do the menial heavy lifting.
What's the tech like?
Still, there’s more to the Levante than the engine as the all-wheel drive chassis is clearly suited to the power-up.
Progressive steering has been tweaked for more predictable feedback across its operating range, something that teams with a nicely chosen ratio for easy placement on the road. There’s a fluidity to its responses, the rear-drive bias adding to the enjoyment of punting along.
Sizeable six-piston front brakes do a fine job of slowing things while under foot there are broad 21-inch wheels doing a top job of clawing the road for the GTS. The rear tyres are slightly wider, at 295mm versus 265mm up front. The Trofeo’s tyres are the same width but measure 22 inches in diameter, the largest ever fitted to a Maserati.
While each is low profile, in its softest setting the ride manages an acceptable balance between disposing of bumps and maintaining athleticism.
What do you get for your money?
Of course, the look is important for Maserati and it’s trainspotter stuff for this duo. The GTS and Trofeo share their basic wagon body with regular Levantes, the 2019 updates freshening the nose with a double-slot grille reserved for the V8s.
Distinguishing between the GTS and Trofeo is easiest done looking at the bonnet, the Trofeo picking up a couple of vents to add to the visual aggression. It also gets additional carbon fibre touches around the front and rear lower bumpers.
For anyone popping the bonnet – it’s a must given the trident-badged carbon fibre decoration on top – the Trofeo also gets some Ferrari red touches that add to its artistic appeal.
Elsewhere, the GTS and Trofeo pick up recent updates to the Levante, including a revised gear selector and tweak to the exterior design of the GranSport styling treatment, standard for V8 Levantes. As with other Levantes, the GTS and Trofeo get active flaps behind the main grille, closing when additional cooling is not required.
Other tweaks include matrix LED headlights, the technology able to blank out other road users while maintaining a broad high beam spread.
It would have been nice if some of the buttons were added to the MY19 update list as the occasional cheap finish is a rare blemish on an otherwise upmarket cabin.
Is the Maserati Levante GTS right for me?
As for pricing, that’s still secret for now, although with the Quattroporte sedan the leap to V8 propulsion adds about $70K. So, expect something hovering around $250K for the Levante GTS, more for the yet-to-be-confirmed Trofeo.
You could argue it’s money well splurged for those craving proper Maserati punch. The addition of Ferrari power has transformed the Levante from just another luxury SUV to something a bit special.
Price: From $250,000 (estimated)
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 410kW (GTS) / 440kW (Trofeo) at 6250rpm
Torque: 730Nm at 2500-5000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, AWD
Fuel use: 13.5L/100km
On sale: Q4 2019 (GTS only; Trofeo yet to be confirmed for Australia)