When it comes to Italian cars, people rarely think of SUVs. Levante's design philosophy is to find a balance between sportiness and luxury. However, its quality is even far inferior to that of its German rivals, and the lackluster power and configuration options make it difficult to find elements on this car that match the million-dollar price tag.
 
The Levante is only loaded with two 3.0T engines with different horsepower, and due to its low weight, the 6.9-second acceleration performance of 100 km/h in Sport mode can bring some sensory stimulation, but because the acceleration process is too unstable, few drivers really press the accelerator deeply for thrills. The sound coming from Maserati's active sound system is more like the sound of mechanical wear than an exhilarating exhaust sound. Compared to the Porsche Cayenne, which also flaunts performance, the Maserati Levante's gearbox is overwhelmed and makes the driver tremble. The suspension, which is the same as that of the Maserati President, will make the body jump when it encounters a slightly undulating surface. Maserati's Q4 all-wheel drive system is one of the Levante's strengths, as it quickly distributes power to the wheels that need it, with a 50:50 power distribution between the front and rear wheels, giving the driver a certain amount of confidence when cornering sharply.
 
The design concept of the 2016 Levante, which was recently introduced, was very old. Almost all the luxury features are optional, and even if users are willing to pay for it, they only get heated seats, four-zone climate control and other uninnovative configurations. Although the wheelbase of the Levante is not short, the size of the space is only similar to that of the Porsche Cayenne in the mid-to-large SUV range. The Maserati Levante has only five seats, and it's hard to fit three adults in the second row of seats. The suspension of the Maserati Levante can be lowered by 45 mm, a feature that is rarely needed due to the low ground clearance of the Maserati Levante. Overall, the Levante can neither compete with the Audi Q7's versatility nor surpass the practicality of a sedan.
 
Consumer Reports expects Levante to be the worst in terms of future reliability. As far as its close cousin Chrysler 300 on the same platform is concerned, the main components such as the gearbox and circuit system can last for two or three years at most without problems.
 
Although Levante did not take part in the crash test, it was safe enough. It comes standard with six airbags, and in the optional package, features such as a blind spot surveillance camera, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warning are helpful for active safety performance.