2019 Maserati Levante Review

Regardless of output, each model comes with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, which Maserati calls Q4.

Standard features on the base Levante include 19-inch wheels, a driver-adjustable and adaptive air suspension, a limited-slip differential, and hill descent control. The exterior shows automatic bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, LED fog- and taillights, auto-dimming side and rearview mirrors, chrome exterior trim, and a power liftgate.

Inside, you'll find piano-black plastic interior trim, leather upholstery, 12-way power adjustable front seats with memory (driver only) and heating, dual-zone climate control, four 12-volt outlets (two front, one rear, one cargo), four USB outlets (two front, two rear), and 60/40-split folding rear seats.

The 8.4-inch entertainment display offers navigation, satellite radio with a one-year subscription, and support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The standard 280-watt stereo plays through eight speakers. Safety features include a rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, and front and rear parking sensors.

The base Levante also offers the GranLusso or GranSport option groups. Both packages cost the same, but the GranLusso adds luxury features, such as premium leather, and the GranSport adds sporty features, such as shift paddles.

Opting for the GranLusso package adds a panoramic sunroof, metallic-finished roof rails, bright silver skid plates, a body color rear spoiler, and black brake calipers. The interior receives open-pore wood trim, premium leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and a heated and wood-lined steering wheel. The stereo is upgraded to 900 watts and 14 speakers.

The GranSport also gains a panoramic sunroof, a body-color sport rear spoiler, and the stereo upgrade. Cosmetic changes include piano-black exterior trim, 20-inch wheels, and red brake calipers. True to its name, this package also adds shift paddles, 12-way power-adjustable seats with larger bolsters, and a sport steering wheel and pedals.

The Levante S builds on the base model's features with larger front brakes, shift paddles, a panoramic sunroof, and upgraded full leather upholstery. The GranLusso package adds soft-close doors, while the GranSport package offers the same features described above.

Most features in the GranLusso and GranSport can be optioned individually for either Levante.

Three additional packages are also available for both base and S trim models. The Climate package adds heated rear seats and windshield washer nozzles, while the Driver Assistance Plus package includes adaptive cruise control with stop and go, forward collision warning, traffic sign recognition, and a surround-view camera system. This package also offers active lane keeping and blind-spot assist, which can selectively apply the brakes to prevent unsafe lane changes.

The new Nerissimo Base and Nerissimo GranSport also add black exterior trim elements, including black grille, roof rails and exhaust tips.

The new-for-2019 Levante GTS and Trofeo trims blend most of the same features of the GranLusso and GranSport packages, and follow a similar logic: the GTS leans more luxury while the Trofeo leans a bit more sport. Subtle differences include the Trofeo's carbon fiber trim (compared to the GTS's piano black trim), adaptive full LED headlights, and high-performance tires, for example.