Maserati Levante hybrid, that's not what it sounds like

Whether it's a popular Jeep or a semi-exotic brand from Italy, the big money is in crossovers.

But here is one that also tries to take on a green image alongside luxury.

A local test for the Maserati Levante hybrid

Keenan Cohen

18/05/2022

Wednesday, 18 May 2022, 22:46 Updated: 22:59

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Full-size torsion predator (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

Maserati, say that name.

But say it right, with the letter M as open as Mama Mia, the letter "R" rolling like a Chianti in the mouth and the "T" having to splash out like the name of Tazio Novolari the mythical Formula One driver who galloped in the manufacturer's cars in 1934.

Now say the names of its models, contemporary and historical - the Quattroporte, the Ghibli, the Grantorismo, the Mistral, the Bitterbo, the Creep ... and then look at the Levante.

When it was introduced in 2016, it was a complete break from the direction for this manufacturer.

But like Porsche before it and like Aston Martin, Lamborghini and soon even Ferrari, all the companies that have been identified throughout their lives with low and long sports cars, even in Maserati realized that if they want to survive in a world that changes its taste they too need to change the menu.

But one tradition they have not broken and it too like its other historic cars is named after a hot wind.

But the Levante not only broke direction, but also a kind of glass ceiling for Maserati as it became the manufacturer's best-selling model overseas and in the domestic market.

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In profile it loses some height, the excessive GT captioning gives a cheap, inappropriate feeling (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

Before we address the hybrid, the rest of the vehicle.

Externally it is no different from any Levante you have encountered, the grille leaves no room for doubt about its identity, in the wall these are the three "vents" and the logo on the C beam that are responsible for identification, the back is a bit anemic, and it is mainly Maserati's caption that identifies it as such.

Opening the cabin door meets a very spacious space, lined with dark brown leather, double stitching and other interior materials at the higher level of choice facing car manufacturers, not the highest, but high.

On the other hand, he definitely reveals his age when it comes to looks.

It's pretty amazing to find out how much the cabin has changed in the six years since the multimedia system (8.4 inches is no longer very impressive in 2022), through the dashboard to the buttons on the steering wheel.

The one who benefits from the story is the human engineering, there is a button for each function, physical dials and a minimum of menu complications when you want to change something.

As a vehicle in plus size and with 300 cm at the base of the wheels, it is clear that the space in the back seat is excellent, there are also climate control ports, charging sockets, direction to the backrest and behind this row also a healthy trunk of 580 liters.

The quality of the materials is excellent, but his age is considerable (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

In the equipment list of this version, it does not leave too much room for toppings, although Maserati will be happy to open you the catalog of personal characteristics of this manufacturer and from which you can choose from a variety of small toppings and designs.

Large and on the tip of the fork (12 points for wit), compatibility with Android and Apple, Herman Cardon audio system, air shock absorbers, electric trunk door, LED matrix lighting, peripheral cameras, panoramic sunroof, connectivity for Apple and Android and more.

The safety systems also maintain an adequate level with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure correction, vehicle identification in "dead zone" and also road sign detection.

And again, this is a nice list, but when in its group there are cars that already offer more advanced systems like independent braking in detecting cross-traffic behind or actively preventing lane crossing in vehicle detection in "dead space".

It is a bow that is not quickly forgotten (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

So in Maserati and here too we called this Levante a "hybrid" and it also has bluish embellishments that say "I am electric" but to be precise - it is not a hybrid in the sense we are used to finding in a car called that.

That is, you will not find here an electric motor that is capable of propelling the car on its own, but only an auxiliary propulsion system that uses a 48V unit.

And this goes into action when the vehicle stands for long periods of time to allow engine bleeding without sacrificing systems like air conditioning for example.

It also allows the car to make use of a so-called eBooster that helps the petrol engine at the start of a trip, at strong acceleration from the spot or at intermediate accelerations as long as there is enough energy in the batteries.

The engine itself is the smallest in the supply of Levante engines in terms of configuration and power.

4-cylinder, with a supercharged 2.0-liter volume and with 330 hp. Above it are the 3.0-liter V6 engines in the Modena and Modena S versions with 350 and 430 hp and at the end of the "Tropeau" scale - 3.

4 cylinders instead of the familiar V6, no replacement, but also not really a compromise in terms of performance (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

And yet, on the road in the vast majority of situations this engine is more than enough to propel the two tons of Levante at a pace that is certainly worthy of the name.

The acceleration here is 6 seconds per 100 km / h, identical to the more powerful V6 version in 20 horses and it is the negligible weight difference between the two as the same momentary electric boost that helps accelerations. So yes, this engine does not offer the rich character of V6 On its torque advantage and on the other hand, it belongs to a small group of 4-cylinder engines that even under load produce a very stimulating sound.And if there is one thing all Maserati has in common it is the sound engineering that is invested in Modena to give something more from the driving experience.

Lowered and hardened on the way to twists (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

And the driving experience in the Levante does not end with the sound.

Some twists into the north road and this is again reminders of how good this vehicle was and remains in oblivion and forget its size, weight and height.

In sport mode, with the brakes lowered and hardened, the 8-speed automatic transmission is tense and the limited-slip differential is right to give what you need when you push it out of the gas turns - the Levante produces a rhythm that makes huge smiles behind the wheel.

And again, if I had to choose which version is more loyal to the feelings of Maserati cars, due to the nature of their Gran Tourer - then yes, the V6 engine is the one that should be here.

This is not the excellence of tools like the Porsche Cayenne, which stays sharp and allows it to juggle even on the limitations, but in this area of ​​driving too fast a car that is too big, Levante has nothing to be ashamed of in front of other friends with the sporty image around it.

The steering wheel is precise, fast and direct, the brakes have plenty of emotion and power and the chassis does not shake easily.

And it is also possible to raise it at the entrance to the paths (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

Even on the way to and from the winding roads, Levante has a lot to offer as a vehicle that packs you in a luxury capsule to cover distances.

Here the air shocks are in their relaxed and calm state, the engine is very quiet, the noise insulation is also excellent and the seats that supported the body in the twists and turns support it even on the long journeys.

It soothes very nicely small, large disturbances, undulating road or just fragments and all this on these optional rims 20 inches in diameter on a 45 inch section. And section 50. And as for the

hybrids, well, with 8.3km per liter in the road test summary just don’t buy it to say you save fuel right?

Buy it because you want Maserati, period (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

Bottom line Maserati Levante is not a ride for everyone.

You can start ranking it in front of all its competitors, in front of the BMW X6, the regular Mercedes GLE and the coupe, the Porsche Cayenne and say what is better, what is less good (especially the cabin), it is possible, but with a hand on heart it is not sure Which most of his clientele will do.

I'm also pretty sure that his excellent abilities on the winding road will not be some exceptional attraction just as much as his fuel consumption, or the fact that it gives a less up-to-date feel than its competitors will in no way lower the desire to buy one.

Maserati Levante is not a car for everyone not only because it costs 625 thousand shekels, we have seen other cars around this price and north of it have been selling quite well in the last two years.

Is a vehicle that first and foremost does the trick of every model of Maserati today, better or worse - it marks a V next to the rubric of "such I want".

But if you want one - and are interested in one tip from me - you want the version with the V6 for the NIS 100,000 difference between these two versions, I'm sure you can bridge.

The tradition has been preserved, the Levante is also named after a warm spirit (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

On the technical side: the Maserati Levante 2.0-liter GT Hybrid

Engine, propulsion:

gasoline, turbo, 4 cylinders, dual

1,995

5,750 / 330

4,000 / 45.9

Automatic, 8 gears

501

198

169

300

580

6 seconds

245 km / h

8.3 km / l

BMW X6, Audi Q8, Mercedes GLE, Porsche Cayenne

NIS 625,000

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Tags

• Maserati

• Sergeant Major

• Levante