Even the thirteen-year-old Giugiaro's Kubang conceptual model paved the way until it finally became a serial Maserati SUV. Why did Maserati risk its long-cherished reputation as a sports car manufacturer and venture into the SUV segment? For the same reason as Porsche, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Bentley, it is the only segment of the luxury car market showing real growth. The Levante is built on a Ghibli base, so it’s basically a passenger car with a higher body and all-wheel drive. It would be hard to call a Levante design attractive or sporty or aggressive. It’s a rather embellished SUV with a bit of a lack of identity, especially considering that the Maserati brand isn’t associated with SUVs. Inside, the manufacturer offers a luxurious and again unobtrusive environment - the multi-color interior design is reminiscent of the somewhat earlier Maserati Ghibli. On the road, the huge 2205 kg SUV behaves surprisingly stably, it feels like the heavy weight is evenly distributed. While the car is certainly not designed for off-road use, it has a limited slip rear differential and height-adjustable air suspension. So while the car has been on the market for a very long time, it can still be a success thanks to the fact that it is a more spacious, practical, comfortable and not less manageable alternative to the less successful Maserati Ghibli model.