The Maserati Levante Is A Slippery SUV With Up To 425bhp

It’s taken Maserati a little while to get around to it, but at last it’s here: the company’s first SUV. It’s called the Levante, and we’ve known what it looks like for a week and a half thanks to a recent image leak. Now it’s here in full, and with all the juicy details.

Up front there’s a choice of two twin-turbo 3.0-litre petrol V6s and a solitary turbodiesel V6. The base 345bhp petrol will do 0-62mph in six seconds dead and top out at 156mph, while the 425bhp version takes 5.2 seconds and maxes out at 164mph. The V6 diesel meanwhile puts out 271bhp, does 0-62mph in a more modest 6.9 seconds, and runs out of go at 143mph. It’s a lot more economical though, with an average figure of 39mpg, and CO2 emissions of 189g/km, compared to 26mpg for the two petrols.

All models use an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and have an “intelligent” Q4 all-wheel drive system which is able to transfer torque between axles instantly, if required.

Will the company’s V8 make an appearance? We’re not sure just yet, although it is based on the same architecture as the Quattroporte, so it might be possible. There is also talk of a hybrid model joining the ranks eventually.

The Levante’s cabin is treated to a load of stupidly posh materials including Ermenegildo Zegna silk (nope, us neither) and the finest leather. In the midst of all this is a new version of Maserati Touch Control, which is based around an 8.4-inch touch screen.

We’re more interested in the car’s sleek exterior however, as it has a drag coefficient of just 0.31cd, which according to Maserati is the lowest in class.

While we’re on the subject of the body, we may as well discuss the looks. It’s certainly not ugly, but I have heard more than a few people label it as ‘bland’. What do you think?