2019 Maserati Levante GTS Review - Speedy, but Special Enough?

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

One of my longstanding beefs with certain luxury brands that share corporate families with mainstream nameplates is that many of them don’t do enough to differentiate their high-priced metal from what’s on offer further down the ladder.

Count Maserati among that number — at least when it comes to the Levante GTS. While it boasts Italian designer looks on the outside, its connection to “lesser” Fiat Chrysler models is apparent on the inside.

At least speed covers up a lot of sins, and thanks to a Ferrari-sourced 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 that makes 550 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque, the Levante GTS puts the sport in sport-utility.

Too bad that an SUV that costs more than some homes is all too willing to show its Chrysler bones. While even the rich usually have lowly roots, they typically don’t show them.

The driving experience does mask a lot of flaws. It may be an SUV, but it still has some Italian sport-sedan roots. For example, the noises emitted from the exhaust pipes are quite pleasing. Acceleration is properly swift – it’s a shame most of my driving was in urban traffic, and I was unable to truly stretch the Levante’s prodigious legs.

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Turn into a corner, and the Levante feels planted, though with a tad bit of body roll. You do get precise steering as part of the deal. You don’t forget that the Levante GTS is an SUV, but it’s mostly well behaved on road, with only the body roll really putting a damper on things. The adjustable air suspension is generally up to the task. Some rough shifts from the 8-speed automatic do make the Levante feel a little rough around the edges at times, especially in Sport mode. Paddle shifters do allow you to take over.

All-wheel drive is the only kind of drive, but the power mostly flows to the rear (unless otherwise required).

There’s often a performance penalty to be paid, so to speak, usually in terms of ride. Which, unsurprisingly, is more than a tad on the stiff side. Twenty-two-inch rims no doubt play a part in that dynamic. If you want to look good and drive fast, this is the penalty. The air suspension can help provide comfort in the right mode, but only so much. And yes, it’s stiff in Sport mode. Perhaps too much so for daily maneuvering.

Maserati has tried to put its own stamp on the Levante with items such as an analog clock, unique switches and scripts, and other bits that differentiate it from the lesser models in the Fiat Chrysler portfolio. Still, the infotainment system and other switchgear bear a bit too much resemblance to what’s on offer in cheaper products. Despite the fact that the cabin is mostly different from less-expensive SUVs in the FCA family, there needs to be more of an upmarket feel at this rarefied price point.

Even the nearly three grand in carbon fiber trim isn’t quite enough.

That doesn’t mean comfort is sacrificed. There’s nothing punishing about the Maser’s seats or NVH levels. It’s just that it’s all too clear which parts were pulled from the bin in an attempt to cut costs.

At least the exterior styling is worthy of the storied Italian badge. Yes, the booty is a bit bulbous, but the Levante’s low-slung stance, gently sloping hood, and narrow headlights give it the proper look for a SUV that’s far more concerned about sport.

My test unit based at $120,980. A heated steering wheel, highway assist, Alcantara headliner, and traffic-sign recognition were among the standard features. Leather seats cost $1,490, while the aforementioned carbon-fiber trim cost $2,890. A Maserati logo stitched into the headrests rang another $290.

Four-zone climate control sets you back $1,090, while a kick sensor costs $100. Black DLO costs $400, while those 22’s are an eye-popping $4,000. Yellow-painted brake calipers set you back another $300, a driver-assistance package checks in at $1,590, and a soft-door close costs $590. The Bowers and Wilkins audio system runs $1,990 while the full LED headlamps cost $990. So before D and D – which wasn’t listed on my price sheet – the total is $136,890.

That princely sum snags you an SUV that’s quite fast and handles well for its size; unfortunately, for that price, there needs to be fewer reminders that Maserati is a corporate sibling of Chrysler at this moment in time.

The question is, oh ye of the trust fund, how much flack are you willing to take from your snooty friends for these low-rent parts in exchange for the sound, speed, and cornering on offer here? Does the American influence ruin the Italian heritage?

For some, the performance will make the point moot. For others, well, Maserati has some work to do.

[Images © 2020 Tim Healey/TTAC]

Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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  • Speedlaw Speedlaw on Mar 25, 2020

    Most of Maserati in my area-cars or trucks, the well off counties around NYC exists only for parking lot parity. Most of the buyers could have a Briggs and Stratton under the hood and wouldn't care or notice, unless they didn't buy the electric starter option and had to pull the cord to start it. If all the neighbors and co workers have a Benz GLS, or an Escalade, or X5-7, you need to get this so you win the parking lot game.

    • Add Lightness Add Lightness on Mar 26, 2020

      I like to start a conversation with drivers of this sort of vehicle and ask them a fairly technical question like 'at what RPM does the variable valve timing change or is it not a step but infinitely variable?' At that point you find out if they bought it for the grill medallion or it's wonderful mechanicals.

  • 6250Claimer 6250Claimer on Mar 25, 2020

    Looks lik e Mazda3 except with eye-watering price tag and Italian reliability. What could go wrong?

  • SCE to AUX It's fun when liberal interests fight each other.
  • Varezhka Suzuki Jimny, Toyota Century, and I know it technically just ended production but Honda e.
  • CoastieLenn For those that care to read the details of the crash NOT included in this article but published elsewhere- this happened at nearly 10pm when the CRV was stopped in the center lane of travel, lights off, with the driver remaining in the car. Not only is it not known if Blue Cruise was being used, it would have been a nightmare for most alert human drivers to mitigate that driving the 70+mph speed limit on many sections of I-10 in Texas, much less an AV system.
  • Jeff This is what I would want: Toyota has now released an affordable truck called the Toyota IMV 0. The newly developed vehicle made in Thailand comes with a rear-wheel drive and a gasoline 2.0-liter inline-four matched to a 5-speed manual transmission. NEW $10,000 Toyota Pickup Has Ford & GM Crapping ... YouTube · Tech Machine 8 minutes, 46 seconds Dec 26, 2023
  • Jalop1991 At the same time, let's take these drivers off the road--at least the ones that haven't yet taken themselves off the road.I can guarantee, at no point was this guy or any of the dead Tesla-stans actually driving the car. They were staring at their phones, because, HEY, SELF DRIVING!!
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