Maserati drops entry point to Levante range
BY ROBBIE WALLIS | 8th Oct 2018
MASERATI Australia has expanded its Levante large-SUV range with the addition of the entry-level 350hp variant, which lowers the price of entry to the range by about $15,000 to $125,000 plus on-road costs.
The introduction of the new Levante coincides with the model-year update for the rest of the range, which ushers in light styling and equipment upgrades.
Now the most affordable model in Maserati’s entire Australian line-up, the Levante uses the Ferrari-built twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 from the Levante S, with outputs dialled down from 316kW/580Nm to 257kW/500Nm.
The Levante sprints from zero to 100km/h in 6.0 seconds on to a top speed of 251km/h, while sipping 11.6-12.0 litres of fuel per 100km.
Like all Levantes, it is paired to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission sending drive to all four wheels via Maserati’s rear-biased Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive system.
Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, adjustable air spring suspension, rear limited-slip differential, stitched leather upholstery and steering wheel, heated front seats with 12-way electric adjustment, blind spot monitor, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry, auto-dipping mirrors, dual-zone climate control, and Maserati’s MTC infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Like the other two Levante engine choices, the new version will be offered in GranSport and GranLusso trim, with both priced at $159,990.
Along with the adoption of the new variant, Maserati has added some minor equipment upgrades to the rest of the range, including the Integrated Vehicle Control (IVC) system previously only seen on the Ghibli and Quattroporte, which not only corrects vehicle instability but prevents it, improving dynamics and performance.
GranSport exterior styling has been enhanced with more aggressive front and rear bumpers, while adaptive full LED matrix headlights are available as an option for the first time on the Levante.
Two new triple-coat exterior paint colours have been added including Rosso Potente and Blu Nobile, while Pieno Fiore leather upholstery is a new interior option.
Pricing for the rest of the range remains steady at $139,990 for the Turbo Diesel and $179,990 for the Levante S. Opting for the GranLusso or GranSport trim adds $20,000 to the price of the Turbo Diesel and $10,000 to the S.
Maserati Australia chief operating officer Glen Sealey said the addition of the entry-level version will broaden the appeal of the Levante range.
“It has the Ferrari-powered performance, the on and off-road ability, the exclusive and unique trim and materials that can only come from Maserati and yet it is available at price point that brings Maserati into a whole new area of the market,” he said.
“It is no coincidence that the arrival of this latest Maserati model coincides with the opening of new Maserati dealers in Australia as we fully expect the newest Levante to significantly contribute Australian sales.”
Through the first three quarters of 2018, Maserati has sold 284 examples of the Levante, down 14.5 per cent on the 332 it sold to the same point last year.
It trails leaders in the luxury large-SUV segment such as the BMW X5 (2121), Range Rover Sport (1838), Mercedes-Benz GLE (1599), Audi Q7 (1546) and Lexus RX (1501).
2018 Maserati Levante pricing*
| Levante (a) | $125,000 |
| Levante GranSport (a) | $159,990 |
| Levante GranLusso (a) | $159,990 |
| Turbo Diesel (a) | $139,990 |
| Turbo Diesel GranSport (a) | $159,990 |
| Turbo Diesel GranLusso (a) | $159,990 |
| S (a) | $179,990 |
| S GranSport (a) | $189,990 |
| S GranLusso (a) | $189,990 |
*Excludes on-road costs
