2023 Maserati Levante Trofeo Review: Fizz Over Flair

Truly quick Italian sports cars are a thing of beauty, and the marque's SUVs aren't neglected when on the receiving end of the Trofeo treament - at least, that's the intention. At first glance, the 2023 Maserati Levante Trofeo fits the bill with a twin-turbocharged V8 that develops 572 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque. In lower tims the sporty SUV has been held back by powertrains that can't keep up with its fiery looks, but in the Trofeo, the Ferrari-sourced engine helps the Levante to reach its full potential. This means that it can go toe to toe with the likes of the BMW X5 M and the Lamborghini Urus. But is power alone enough to get it past the velvet rope and into the performance midsize SUV segment's VIP section?

New for 2023

The new Maserati Levante Trofeo SUV has received no significant updates for the 2023 model year, but it is the last year you'll be able to get a Levante with an eight-cylinder engine. We expect a special commemorative edition will be offered in limited numbers before it's done away with.

2023 Maserati Levante Trofeo Price: Which One to Buy

The price of the 2023 Maserati Levante Trofeo starts at $167,000 before you start ticking the options boxes. However, this is just the MSRP and does not include the $1,495 destination charge. As expensive as it is, the Levante Trofeo doesn't leave much off, but if you regularly have passengers in the back, you may want to consider the quad-zone climate control for $1,100. The car is otherwise fully equipped.

Interior and Features

A quick look at the interior shows a loud and sporty cabin with neatly organized features, but a closer look reveals some low-quality parts.

When you're spending over six figures, you wouldn't be out of line expecting an immaculate interior, but Maserati isn't entirely on top of its game in this regard. Beneath the sumptuous leather upholstery, there is visible low-quality plastic. As if that weren't bad enough, it is clear that Maserati has been dipping its fingers into the Stellantis spare parts bin, with several features borrowed from the likes of Chrysler and Jeep. These have no place in a premium Italian sports car. On the plus side, the skin-deep beauty of the interior space can't be denied, especially with some stylish carbon fiber trim to take the edge off.

Space

There are enough seats for five passengers inside the Levante Trofeo, but it's clear that style has taken the front seats and left practicality in the back with its knees up to its ears. Taller passengers won't be happy in the second row for anything longer than a quick jaunt into town, as legroom is not particularly generous. Luckily, headroom is never lacking, even with the sunroof. Also, getting in and out of the car is a breeze thanks to wide-opening doors and a comfortable step-in height. Outward visibility is generally good, but seeing out the small rear window is a challenge.

Cargo

Even a premium performance vehicle can be practical, but you should expect as much from the Levante as you would from a more economical and mainstream model. Behind the second row, you'll find 20 cubic feet of cargo space, but you can fold the rear seats down to expand this area to 57.4 cubes. While this should be enough for most daily needs, it's still behind what the BMW X5 M and Porsche Cayenne offer.

At least small-item storage is more par for the course, with front and rear cupholders, a sizeable glove compartment, and an armrest cubby. There are door pockets, but they're not particularly practical.

Materials and Colors

Since it sits at the top of the Levante range, the Trofeo comes with top-notch materials, albeit to detract from the cheaper plastics underneath. This includes several no-cost leather options, with Nero/Grigio, Nero/Rosso, and Rosso/Nero comprising the color palette. The dashboard is dressed up in Rosso with Nero stitching, no matter which interior colors you choose.

There are also three in-cabin trims, including Open Pore Radica Wood, High Gloss Carbon Fiber, and 3D Carbon Fiber. The latter costs $1,500.

Features and Infotainment

There are loads of features in the 2023 Levante Trofeo, which is exactly what you deserve for over $100,000. The list includes dual-zone climate control, 12-way power front seats with heating and ventilation, and heated rear seats.

Sadly, the infotainment suite is less impressive, seeing as it was taken from a Chrysler Pacifica. It comprises an 8.4-inch touchscreen programmed with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM, with a 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system providing excellent-quality audio. Only a few options are available, such as quad-zone climate control. Four USB ports allow you to keep your devices connected and charging.

Performance

Thanks to a potent twin-turbo V8 sourced from Ferrari, the Levante Trofeo has some compelling performance to go with its well-balanced handling.

This is where the Trofeo DNA really becomes evident and impresses, with a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine supplying the Maserati Levante Trofeo with 572 hp and 538 lb-ft. This is managed by a top-of-the-line ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and sent to a grippy all-wheel drivetrain. This combination empowers the SUV with a lightning-quick 0-60 mph sprint time of 3.8 seconds and allows it to achieve a top speed of 187 mph.

Helping the Levante reach its performance potential is a launch control system that ensures you really feel your brain being plastered to the back of your skull when you put your foot down. Set the car to Corsa mode (aka Sport), and the SUV will cling to the lower gears, eking the most power out of the V8 engine, which roars in appreciation rather than annoyance. While you definitely won't need to, you can operate a set of paddle shifters to change gears yourself, giving you a more immersive driving experience. Alternatively, there is a Comfort mode, which softens things up, but throttle responses are still aggressive.

The SUV handles well despite its size, carving corners with precision and keeping body roll to a minimum. A competent AWD system keeps the vehicle planted and poised, while a set of powerful brakes brings you to a safe stop when you're done having fun.

Fuel Efficiency

Sports utility vehicles aren't very frugal, and when you throw in an absurdly powerful engine, the mpg figures of the Maserati Levante Trofeo are quite abysmal. Still, at 13/20/16 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles, gas mileage is about on par with the Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

A fuel capacity of 21.1 gallons helps to make up for these poor numbers and allows the Levante to travel up to 337 miles before it has to seek out a gas station.

Safety

Though unrated by any official organization, the Maserati Levante Trofeo boasts an impressive list of standard driver-assistance tech,

There is no safety review for the Maserati Levante Trofeo, either from the NHTSA or IIHS. However, a fair amount of driver-assistance tech comes standard to put any disquieted minds at ease. These include automatic high beams, a surround-view camera, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. All of this is on top of a set of six airbags, ABS, and stability control.

Reliability

While there is no reliability rating for the Maserati Levante Trofeo due to its relatively low-volume sales, the car hasn't been recalled too many times in recent years. There was only a single issue reported in 2022, and it was a carryover from the previous year involving a potential fuel leak.

The warranty for the 2023 Maserati Levante Trofeo covers four years/50,000 miles of limited and powertrain repairs. You also get roadside assistance for the same period.

Warranty

Design

Maserati is one of those automakers that likes to make a statement, but the Levante Trofeo is actually moderately subtle when you consider what it's packing under the hood. It rides on bold 21-inch alloy wheels from Orione Miron, but you can choose even bigger 22-inch alloys if you really want. The front fascia sports a recessed grille bearing the Trident logo, while very slim adaptive LED headlights travel from the corners and taper off as they meet the grille. There are three small vents running down each fender. At the back, a subtle tailgate fender and a set of quad exhaust outlets announce the sporty aspirations of the SUV.

Verdict: Is The 2023 Maserati Levante Trofeo A Good SUV?

The Levante Trofeo is one of our favorite Maseratis right now, but that isn't saying much, as many suggest it's been over a decade since the automaker made a truly great car. A large part of the blame for this lies with the fact that Maserati borrows too many pieces from blue-collar labels under the Stellantis umbrella. Other brands have also made an unfortunate habit of condoning this practice, but Maserati does a very poor job of hiding these low-quality parts.

Luckily, the sporty SUV makes up for this with a potent powertrain and very well-tuned handling dynamics. The engine sounds glorious and visceral, and the car is truly a joy to drive, but once the endorphins wear off and you remember where you are, the post-high crash is even more depressing. And when you take into account the massive price tag, a bit of buyer's remorse might be expected. There are simply much better options out there that match the Maserati's performance while exceeding its quality standard, all at a much lower price tag.