Maserati Levante 2021: Fresh new look but diesel axed

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The 2021 Maserati Levante has received a subtle refresh to bring the large SUV into line with the Quattroporte and Ghibli but it has come at the cost of the diesel engine option and a notable price hike.

Maserati, which is imported by the Ateco Group in Australia, decided to pull the diesel option from the Levante late last year despite solid sales.

Ateco public relations consultant Oliver Peagam told Chasing Cars the diesel engine was pulled as part of a push from parent company FCA to move away from diesel engines, mirroring the position taken by both Hyundai and Volkswagen.

Maserati has updated the design of the Levante with a new, more striking grille design said to imitate the trident within Maserati’s logo.

Although subtle, the design updates extend to new boomerang light clusters at the rear which reference the 2000s Maserati Gran Turismo and are now standard across the range. 

Upmarket Levante GranSport variants have gained a more aggressive appearance with flared side air vents and deepened body lines to emphasise the haunches over the rear wheels.

Also new are piano black inserts appearing on the front and rear bumpers for a more aggressive look. The Levante GranSport also sits on large 20-inch ‘Nereo’ design wheels.

Those opting for the style-focused Levante GranLusso grades benefit from chrome inserts and body-colour rear spoiler with smaller 19-inch ‘Zefiro’ alloy wheels.

Inside, the Levante misses out on the 10.1-inch widescreen update seen in the Ghibli and Quattroporte, instead retaining the old 8.4-inch touchscreen with a ratio of 4:3, however the screen has been given a higher resolution.

The multimedia software has also been upgraded to the new Android-based Maserati Intelligent Assistant which is said to be easier to use than its predecessor.

Adding to the convenience in the updated Levante is a new all-speed adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist.

Powering the Levante 350 and the S trim levels is the same three-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine coupled to an eight-speed torque converter automatic which sends power to all four wheels.

Maserati has given the standard Levante, along with the entry-level GranSport and GranLusso trims respectable outputs of 257kW of power and 500Nm of torque, while the GranSport S and GranLusso S benefit from a higher state of tune and 321kW/580Nm outputs.

For those who still want more a 3.8-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol is available making 405kW/730Nm in the Levante GTS guise, while the bonkers Trofeo has arrived with a highly-strung version of this V8 making 441kW/730Nm.

The entry-level Levante has risen $2,000 to $127,000 (before on-roads), with most variants seeing a price rise of between $3,000 and $7,000. 

However, the GranSport S and GranLusso S have exploded from $164,990 in 2020 to $182,490 in 2021 (both before on-road costs).

Maserati Levante 2021: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

• Levante 350: $127,000
• Levante GranLusso: $146,990
• Levante GranSport: $146,990
• Levante GranLusso S: $182,490
• Levante GranSport S: $182,490
• Levante GTS: $268,990
• Levante Trofeo $336,990