Silky-smooth with plenty of speed: Maserati Levante GTS review

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  The Levante in Sport Mode, low to the ground. [credit: BradleyWarren Photography ]

When we last checked in with Maserati, the Italian luxury carmaker had unleashed the Levante on the North American car-buying public. Starting at around $75,000, the Levante is a striking, six-cylinder SUV that ticked all the boxes when it comes to riding in comfort and style. With corporate sibling Alfa Romeo and VW-owned Lamborghini building some ridiculously fast SUVs, the otherwise-impressive stats—424hp (316kW), a top speed of 164mph (264km/h), and a 0-60mph time of 5.0 seconds—on the V6 Levante S looked less so.

Enter the Levante GTS and Levante Trofeo. Both models swap out the six-cylinder engine for a V8. The Trofeo starts at $169,980. And with 590hp (440kW) at its disposal, it is capable of making zero to 60 in 3.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 187mph (300km/h). Impressive, but that price tag definitely isn’t for the faint of heart. If you love fast and stylish Italian crossovers and are OK with spending, say $120,000 instead of $170,000 on one, keep reading. And if you’re thinking about the Porsche Cayenne, take note of the GTS and Trofeo’s price points—they’re almost identical to the Cayenne.

When I reviewed the Levante S last year, I called it a “stunner.” A year later, the Levante is still easily the most beautiful SUV or crossover on the market (which for some may be akin to calling someone the best-looking forward in a scrum). The Levante GTS has some subtle tweaks to the exterior to differentiate it from the V6 models, primarily to the rear bumper and front fascia. On the interior, the GTS has premium leather seats, Alcantara headliners, a tweaked gearshift lever, and an upgraded MTS+ infotainment system.