When In Rome

Maserati embraced the SUV but not without a rocky start. Will this newly added model broaden the Levante’s appeal?

- Nikesh Kooverjee

In a world where the luxury SUV has become king, the Maserati Levante hasn’t enjoyed quite as much success as the brand might have expected given the illustrious badge adorning its nose. In fact, due to a lack of demand, the Italian brand was forced to pause production shortly after its launch. When we tested the Levante 3,0 Diesel back in May 2017, we noted the SUV was going to be a tough sell against other offerings in the segment predominantly as a result of its price.

In the months that followed, the Levante kept struggling globally. Locally, the big SUV has found an average of five new homes a month. Next to sales figures of a rival such as the Porsche Cayenne, Maserati South Africa is likely less than content.