Maserati Levante Trofeo 2021 Review

The Maserati Levante, the company's midsize luxury SUV, debuted for the 2017 model year. It has remained relatively unchanged since then, offering distinctive styling and the choice of a turbocharged V6 or a mighty turbocharged V8. It's a relatively rare and distinctive sight on the road, too, which could be a draw if you're tired of more conservatively styled German SUVs.

For 2021, Maserati has revised the infotainment system with better graphics and sharpened up the look of the gauge cluster. Small improvements are always welcome, but the Levante faces off against a deep pool of rivals such as the Audi Q8, Mercedes-Benz GLE and Porsche Cayenne. Can the Maserati still hold its own? Read the categories of our Levante Expert Rating below to help you decide on which luxury SUV is best for you.

Which Levante does MatoCar recommend?

The Maserati Levante is a luxury performance SUV available in four trims: base, S, GTS and Trofeo. The base and S versions are powered by a turbocharged V6 engine, while the GTS and Trofeo come with a turbocharged V8. All models are equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Highlight features include the following:

Base The starter version of the Levante includes this standard equipment:

• Turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine (345 horsepower, 369 lb-ft of torque)
• 19-inch wheels
• Adjustable air suspension (adjusts to improve handling and comfort and can raise or lower the ride height of the vehicle)
• Panoramic sunroof
• Power liftgate
• Power-adjustable, heated steering wheel
• Leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable, heated front seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Soft-close doors

Standard tech and driver aids include:

• 8.4-inch touchscreen with navigation
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration
• Eight-speaker sound system
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)

S Stepping up one level nets you the following features:

• Upgraded V6 engine (424 hp, 428 lb-ft)
• Aluminum paddle shifters
• More powerful brakes

The Levante and Levante S are also available with two main packages:

• GranLusso
• Adaptive headlights
• Leather and wood steering wheel
• Ventilated front seats
• Wood interior trim
• Premium leather upholstery
• 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
• Hands-free liftgate
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Levante and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the Levante back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

• GranSport (includes some GranLusso equipment)
• The GranLusso's driver aids and sound system listed above
• 20-inch wheels
• Aluminum paddle shifters
• Sport front seats
• Upgraded leather upholstery

GTS The GTS is similarly equipped to the GranSport but has a turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 engine (550 hp, 538 lb-ft).

Trofeo The top-line Trofeo builds off the GTS with:

• Turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 engine (590 hp, 538 lb-ft)
• 22-inch wheels with performance tires
• Black appearance package
• Red-accented side vents
• Carbon-fiber interior trim
• 17-speaker sound system
• Dark exhaust tips