Unmistakably Maserati

Distinctively Italian down to its boot straps, the Levante – Maserati’s large, luxury SUV – is surprisingly practical and supremely comfortable.

- Glenda Williams

large SUVs are now a dime a dozen, but not all of them have loading spaces that equate to their size. My benchmark for any large SUV, therefore, is how many of our large family dogs can comfortably fit in the boot.

Big, beautiful and macho-looking, the Maserati Levante is probably not the breed of SUV that you would expect to be ferrying pets around in. But my test is essential to level the playing field – even for a heritage Italian brand renowned for its luxury machines. The Levante easily passed the test, with all three burly dogs fitting comfortably into the boot. (The difficulty was enticing them out.)

It’s doubtful that boot size would put off the average Maserati buyer – they are more concerned with the desirability factor, or the pedigree that comes with an Italian brand with a rich racing history.

Maserati’s SUV adds to that heritage stable. Like it’s luxury sport performance stable mates, it is thoroughly Italian down to its boot straps – the petrol variants as well as the three-litre V6 diesel, tested by finweek, all built in Italy.

Stylish form

The Levante is a real looker. Unmistakably Maserati, it is muscular, yet elegantly so. Maserati’s signature large concave grille with its outsized Trident badge, sizeable air intakes, purposeful front wings and large sloping bonnet adorn the front end. The Levante has a coupéesque roofline, big powerful rear haunches, red brake calipers and imposing rump with hefty quad exhausts. It’s a design language that suggests power and a touch of menace.

Swanky cabin