Maserati Levante SUV FULLY revealed in Geneva

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The Maserati Levante SUV has been fully revealed at the Geneva Motor Show with 4WD and the choice of two petrol and one diesel engines.

A week or so ago, the Maserati Levante SUV was partially revealed as Maserati responded to the leaking of the first official photos of their new SUV. But now, at the Geneva Motor Show, the Levante gets its full reveal.

The new Ghibli started Maserati’s plunge in to a more mainstream market, one where Maserati take on the might of the German ‘Premium’ car makers, and the Levante is the next step, with the Porsche Cayenne firmly in its sights (and, to a degree, the Range Rover Sport.

In the flesh, the Levante looks convincing in the same sort of way the Cayenne does, with a less than pretty front end with big Maserati grille, statement side vents and a back end that still looks like the Cayenne to us.

Under the skin, the Levante gets a trio of engine options, with the regular Levante getting a 3.0 litre twin-turbo V6 with 345bhp, a 424bhp version in the Levante S and a 3.0 litre twin-turbo V6 diesel in the Levante diesel with 271bhp. Pretty much the same engine choice as the Ghibli.

Whatever your choice of engine, you’ll get Maserati’s Q4 four-wheel drive, an eight-speed automatic gearbox, stop-start and air suspension.

Performance figures are quite credible for a lump of an SUV, with the 424bhp V6 hitting 62mph in 5.2 seconds, the 345bhp in 6.0 seconds and the diesel in 6.9 seconds, with official economy from 25.9mpg to 39.2mpg.

Inside looks typical Maserati too (including the red leather) and all versions will come with an 8.4″ touchscreen infotainment screen, Cruise Control, Hill Descent, 18″ Alloys (19″ on the 424bhp petrol) and electric tailgate.

The Maserati Levante SUV will arrive in Maserati’s UK dealers later in 2016, and although there are no prices yet, something around £55k for the diesel would seem about right.