Road test: Maserati Levante Diesel

Imagine a Maserati and you think of a low-slung sportster with a million-horsepower Ferrari engine. But Maserati’s latest model, the Levante, is a bit different.

It’s the company’s first SUV and the only version coming to the UK at the end of the year gets by with a 275hp diesel motor.

One classically Maserati aspect is the styling. A deep gaping maw of a grille, with vertical slats like teeth and shallow, slit-like headlamps, combine to make it look as if it is about to bite your legs off.

It is roomy inside, despite its coupe-like roofline, and the cabin exudes Italian elegance, although some of the plastics feel a bit cheap. Trims can include leather with silk and the dashboard is simple and uncluttered.

On the road, the three-litre is smooth and refined, especially at motorway speeds, and even if 275hp sounds modest, it accelerates the Levante to 62mph in 6.9 seconds and on to 143mph. It rides impeccably on its air suspension.

Off-road at the car’s launch in Italy, it coped well with rocky, rutted, steep gradients — not that many owners would stray that far from smooth Tarmac. So it is good-looking, roomy, economical and capable — and it’s a Maserati. Is there any bad news?

In common with some other Maseratis, it deserves a better gear selector for its eight-speed auto gearbox. This one baulks like a reluctant puppy and spoils the driving experience. Maybe the company will sort this out in time, and change its mind about giving us the hairier petrol versions.

One thing is definite. In the past, some Maseratis have promised much and failed to fully deliver.

Not this time. The Levante drives well, seems well-made and capable and is a reasonable price for this type of vehicle. A pretty good package.

Maserati Levante Diesel
Top speed: 143mph; 
C02: 189g/km; 
Combined MPG: 39.2; 
Price: £55,000