THE ALL NEW MASERATI LEVANTE

MASERATI HAS SUCCESSFULLY GAINED A STRONG FOOTHOLD IN THE LUXURY SUV MARKET.

There are few car manufacturers who can boast as loudly about their brand as Maserati. Having been around for over 102 years, they have perfected the art of luxury vehicle production. Not prepared to rest on their laurels however, their master craftsmen took on a new challenge, to create a premium SUV to rival the greats. Their answer came in the form of the Maserati Levante. So why the desire to enter the SUV fray? The luxury SUV segment sees around 500 000 sales per year, a market that no established motor label can afford to ignore. But can the Levante stand up to fierce competition such as the Porsche Cayenne and the Range Rover Sport? We at Ohlala went on a mission to find the answers. As we first approached the vehicle it was already obvious this car has been designed to impress. Despite its imposing five meter long, 2.2 tonne presence, its exterior design with smooth bodylines and a sloping roofline prevents it from appearing bulky. The most dominant feature is the front grille, whilst the muscular rear shoulders ensure its distinctive and attractive Italian style. The feline inspired LED headlights give the car a bold appearance and finish off the front end in style. A swaged line runs the entire length of the vehicle highlighting its muscular curves, whilst alloy wheels complete with the famous Trident design neatly integrated into the spokes, complement its profile. The silhouette of the Levante moves from the headlights to the characteristic Maserati rear pillar, resulting in a coupé look that is enhanced by the frameless doors. Once in the driver’s seat, the Levante continued to impress. Only quality leathers and other first-class materials have been used to ensure the space is of a premium standard. The cabin is spacious and comfortable, with a driving position that provides a commanding view of the road. The instrument panel follows the classic Quattroporte layout and is backlit with white light that contrasts nicely with the warm cabin lighting. It comes complete with a high resolution 8.4” capacitive touch screen, operated by a rotary control in the central console. This allows for simple yet effective navigation of the new Infotainment system. Moving to the back seats, there is plenty of space on offer and the headroom is the best in its class thanks to the ergonomic configuration of the seats. This means the entire family are assured to have a pleasant journey. There are also USB ports to be found throughout the vehicle. The luggage compartment has a 580 litre capacity, enough room to cater for any luggage requirements.

The Lavante is named after a warm wind which blows over the Mediterranean and this is representative of the smooth handling this SUV has to offer. We found this name to be appropriate when testing her impressive handling capabilities on the road. With a petrol 600 V6, twin-turbo - direct injection (GDI) engine, 275 break horse power and 600 newton meters of talk, there is more than enough power and acceleration on offer. Fortunately, this vehicle has a more than capable breaking system and loads of grip on the corners, giving the driver complete control of the experience. An impressive feature is the nearly vibration free ride this car provides. With old-school hydraulic steering and sound actuators in the exhaust, this beauty of a vehicle is sheer driving pleasure. What’s more, one need not feel bad about driving around in a large SUV as it only produces 189 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

We found the 4x4 system to be most impressive. During normal driving conditions, the vehicle shifts all power to the rear wheels and only shifts power to the front when required. This provides a very enjoyable driving experience on bendy roads. Our verdict? Maserati have managed to create something special for the SUV market. The current leaders of the SUV segment had better take notice of the Levante or risk be overtaken by Maserati’s future offerings.