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Maserati Levante Debut: The Story of the Brand's First SUV
In 2015 Maserati promised its first SUV for early 2016, hoping it would lift sales back towards 50,000 cars a year. The Levante was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show on 1 March 2016 and went on sale in Europe in May. It carried Maserati to a record of about 51,500 cars in 2017 and was built in Turin until March 2024.
Key takeaways
- Announced in 2015 as the cure for falling sales; revealed in Geneva on 1 March 2016.
- Built at Mirafiori in Turin, with the Ghibli's engines, gearbox and Q4 all-wheel drive.
- Maserati sales rose from 32,474 cars in 2015 to about 51,500 in 2017.
- Production ended in March 2024; the smaller Grecale became the brand's main SUV.
What Maserati promised in 2015
Maserati's sales fell in the first half of 2015, and FCA chief Sergio Marchionne blamed the missing SUV. The old 1cars report quoted him naming the Detroit show in January 2016 for the debut and a target of 50,000 cars a year. By the autumn the plan had changed. Maserati chief Harald Wester moved the reveal to Geneva in March 2016 and production to February. The delay was meant to make the Levante a proper Maserati rather than a reworked group product.
The styling came from the Kubang concept shown at the 2011 Frankfurt show. Mechanically the SUV was planned between the Maserati Ghibli and the Quattroporte, with their V6 and V8 engines and four-wheel drive.
Levante engines at launch and later
| Version | Engine | Power | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levante Diesel | 3.0 V6 turbodiesel | 202 kW (275 PS), 600 Nm | 2016 |
| Levante | 3.0 V6 twin-turbo petrol | 257 kW (350 PS) | 2016 |
| Levante S | 3.0 V6 twin-turbo petrol | 316 kW (430 PS) | 2016 |
| Levante GTS | 3.8 V8 twin-turbo | 390–405 kW (530–550 PS) | 2018 |
| Levante Trofeo | 3.8 V8 twin-turbo | 427–434 kW (580–590 PS) | 2018 |
| Levante GT Hybrid | 2.0 four-cylinder mild hybrid | 243 kW (330 PS) | later |
The 2015 guesses were close on engines. The old report expected a petrol V6 with about 410 hp, a 530 hp V8 and a 275 hp diesel, and all three arrived in similar form. The price guess was wide of the mark, though. Observers expected at least €100,000, but the petrol V6 started at about €77,300 in Europe. Compared with the guess, the real price was 23 % lower, by our calculation.
Did the SUV save Maserati's sales?
For two years it did. The table shows Maserati's worldwide sales before and after the launch.
| Year | Maserati sales | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 32,474 | No SUV in the range |
| 2016 | 42,100 | Levante on sale from May |
| 2017 | 51,500 | First full year; all-time record |
| 2018 | 34,900 | Target of 75,000 missed by a wide margin |
By our calculation, sales grew by about 59 % from 2015 to 2017. The 50,000 target was met in 2017, but the plan for 75,000 cars in 2018 was not. Sales then fell to 19,300 in 2019, and the brand's long-term story is told in the history of Maserati.
What happened to the Levante
The V8 GTS and Trofeo arrived in 2018, followed by the four-cylinder mild hybrid. Production at Mirafiori ran from March 2016 to March 2024 and ended with a special edition. The Grecale of 2022 now covers the SUV class for the brand. Full specifications, dimensions and buying advice are on the Maserati Levante page.
Buying a used Levante today: our view
The diesel suits long-distance drivers. The S with 316 kW (430 PS) is the best all-round choice, while the V8 Trofeo is for collectors. Its rivals at launch were the Porsche Cayenne, the Jaguar F-Pace and the Bentley Bentayga. Set them side by side with the comparison tool, check the 1cars rankings for power figures and browse the Maserati catalogue.
FAQ
When did the Maserati Levante come out?
Maserati unveiled it to the public in Geneva on 1 March 2016. Production at Mirafiori in Turin began that month, and European sales started in May 2016.
Was the Levante based on the Kubang concept?
Yes. The design grew out of the Kubang study that Maserati displayed in Frankfurt in 2011. The production car shared engines, the eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive with the Ghibli and Quattroporte.
How much did the Maserati Levante cost at launch?
European list prices for the petrol V6 began at roughly €77,300 in 2016. That was well below the €100,000 that had been forecast before the launch, and it placed the Levante between the Ghibli and the Quattroporte.
Is the Maserati Levante still made?
No. Production at Mirafiori ended in March 2024 after eight years, with a special edition as the last version. The smaller Grecale, launched in 2022, is now the Maserati SUV.
