The 2021 Maserati Levante has been in production since 2016 and is still in its first generation. Maserati was the first Italian luxury car manufacturer to enter the highly profitable world of luxury SUVs and has now been joined by Lamborghini, with the Urus, and Alfa Romeo, with the Stelvio. At the outset, we were not impressed by this family hauler, but over time, the Italian brand has added a ton of improvements, more power, and superior tech. The 2021 car is powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 gas engine that produces up to 424 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque, or a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 churning out an impressive 550 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque. The 2021 Levante SUV has always had that unique Italian flair to it that German competitors such as the Porsche Cayenne struggle to match, but is that enough in the US market, where practicality is just as important?
For 2021, Maserati has made some design updates. The front headlights are sleeker and the Trident is more prominent. It's equipped with the new boomerang light clusters at the rear to align it with the rest of Maserati's range. The GranSport trim's side air intakes have a more aggressive design, and piano black trim has been included on the front and rear bumper. Red brake calipers are standard on this trim. The GranLusso trim is adorned with chrome inserts, a body-colored spoiler, and black calipers.
On the inside, the Levante retains its 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system but gains all-new Android-based software. The edges of the screen are curved, which Maserati claims is a first in the segment. The instrument cluster features a large analog rev counter and the speedometer on ei1ther side of a seven-inch TFT display. This instrument cluster display is the same resolution as the center display and has gilded surrounds for a more premium feel.
See trim levels and configurations:
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Price (MSRP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base |
3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 Gas
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$74,490 |
| GranLusso |
3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 Gas
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$80,490 |
| GranSport |
3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 Gas
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$80,490 |
| S |
3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 Gas
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$85,490 |
| S GranLusso |
3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 Gas
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$90,490 |
NHTSA safety ratings are not available at this time.
When the Levante first showed face nearly five years ago, we were impressed with its sleek styling, but it let us down in terms of features and overall practicality. Now, in 2021, Maserati has done a lot to improve its luxury SUV experience. The Levante is still one of the best-looking luxury SUVs out there, and the interior is also rather stunning. Behind the wheel, it is dynamic and entertaining to drive, and that Ferrari-sourced twin-turbo V8 engine is a treat. At the lower end of the trim line, the Levante will struggle against much more affordable competitors, and competitors such as the BMW X5 M and GLE 63 are simply superior performance vehicles. As with most luxury cars, you won't find an official safety rating review of the 2021 Maserati Levante. If you're looking for Italian flair and SUV practicality, we'd recommend the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Which one of the two will offer the best reliability is up to the car gods.
We recommend the mid-range Levante S, which benefits from a decent power upgrade (424 hp and 428 lb-ft). This model also gains a few subtle exterior additions, such as red brake calipers. As far as optional extras go, we'd include the Driver Assistance Package, which adds features like a surround-view camera, traffic sign recognition, active driving assist, and pedestrian recognition. If we were buying, we'd get one in black or red. You can expect the price of the 2021 Maserati Levante SUV in this configuration to be around $100k.
The most popular competitors of 2021 Maserati Levante:
Acura
Alfa Romeo
Aston Martin
Audi
Bentley
BMW
Bollinger
BrightDrop
Bugatti
Buick
Cadillac
Caterham
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Dodge
Ferrari
Fiat
Fisker
Ford
Genesis
GMC
Gordon Murray Automotive
Hennessey
Honda
Hyundai
Infiniti
Jaguar
Jeep
Karma
Kia
Koenigsegg
Lamborghini
Land Rover
Lexus
Lincoln
Lordstown
Lotus
Lucid Motors
Maserati
Mazda
McLaren
Mercedes-Benz
Mini
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Pagani
Polestar
Porsche
Ram
Rimac
Rivian
Rolls-Royce
Spyker
Subaru
Tesla
Toyota
VinFast
Volkswagen
Volvo