Maserati Levante now $15K cheaper

A new entry-level twin-turbo petrol V6-powered Maserati Levante variant is now available as part of an updated 2019 model range, lowering the admission price of the large luxury SUV by $15,000.

The $125,000 (plus on-road costs) price tag for the 257kW/500Nm Italian SUV is considerably less than the price of the 202kW/600Nm Levante V6 turbo-diesel ($139,990 plus ORCs) and also makes it the cheapest new Maserati available in Australia.

Previously, if a buyer wanted the Maserati Levante with a Ferrari-built 3.0-litre biturbo V6, the ledger opened at $169,990 for the 321kW/580Nm Levante S.

The same Ferrari-sourced V6 turbo engine produces 257kW/500Nm in the new entry-level variant, which is simply named the Maserati Levante, and comes with the same eight-speed automatic transmission like its siblings.

Maserati claims the cut-price Italian SUV has a top speed of 251km/h and will blast to 100km/h in just six seconds.

The Levante’s new $125,000 price point puts vehicles like the Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover Sport, BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE firmly in its crosshairs.

The new entry-level Maserati Levante comes standard with adual-mode sports exhaust system, 19-inch alloy wheels and hand-stitched leather upholstery covering the steering wheel and seats.

The 12-way power-adjustable front seats are heated, the dash is finished in piano-black trim and the infotainment system features sat-nav, digital radio plus the usual phone connectivity culprits: 'Droid Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Other standard features in the cheapest Maserati Levante include front and rear parking sensors, blind spot alert, rear camera, keyless entry and dual-zone climate control.

Maserati's Q4 all-wheel drive system with rear limited-slip differential remains standard, along with adjustable air suspension and 'Skyhook' dampers.

All MY2019 Levante SUVs have been upgraded with new features and all three V6 engines are available in three equipment grades – standard, GranSport and GranLusso.

The mid-spec 2019 Maserati Levante  GranSport grade now gets redesigned front and rear fascias, with "stronger, aggressive styling" compared to the entry-level models. Adaptive LED Matrix headlights are now an option too.

Other changes include the adoption of integrated vehicle control or IVC, which is a more proactive stability and traction control system. A pair of new tri-coat colours (Rosso Potente and Blu Nobile) and new Pieno Fiore premium leather upholstery are also offered.

The chief operating officer of Maserati Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, Glen Sealey, said the new entry-level Levante "…is endowed with everything expected of a Maserati with a level of accessibility never before achieved in a Maserati.

"It has the Ferrari-powered performance, the on and off-road ability, the exclusive and unique trim and materials that can only come from Maserati and yet it is available at price point that brings Maserati into a whole new area of the market.

"It is no coincidence that the arrival of this latest Maserati model coincides with the opening of new Maserati dealers in Australia as we fully expect the newest Levante to significantly contribute Australian sales," he said.

Local Maserati dealers will be keen to get the new entry-level Levante as sales of the Italian brand's best-selling model and only SUV are down by 14.5 per cent so far in 2018. Last year 332 vehicles were sold to the end of September and currently the tally is 284.

The impending arrival of the first V8-powered Maserati Levante in late 2019 will provide another showroom boost for the brand, but the 404kW GTS will not be cheap.

All Maserat models come with a three-year, 100,000km warranty.

Levante turbo-diesel -- $139,990
Levante turbo-diesel GranSport -- $159,990
Levante turbo diesel GranLusso -- $159,990

Levante S -- $179,990
Levante S GranSport -- $189,990
Levante S GranLusso -- $189,990

* Prices exclude on-road costs