Levante [Official] Maserati Levante

[Serpens]

You're confusing quality with presentation. It may be of nice quality, which is really just the leather, the components and switchgear are pure Chrysler. Clearly you didn't read the whole review where they stated that the switchgear is nothing but Chrysler and all they raved about was the leather. They said "The moment killer happens, however, with the observation that much of the Levante’s switchgear is shared with relatively cut-rate Fiat Chrysler products." Sorry, Consumer Reports doesn't cut it with me, they're good for washing machines and TVs, but not much else. The leather is what made it stunning to them. If anything it's a very mixed bag.

M

True, I did mix the two to a degree, but I'll also add that the Giulia's switchgear and plastics still are no better, despite the differentiation. And the fit/finish of the Quadrifoglio I just drove was lacking in comparison to the Levante.

I'll also note that you said nothing about the quality of the interior outside of the switchgear, which does not represent the entire interior.

 

[Merc1]

True, I did mix the two to a degree, but I'll also add that the Giulia's switchgear and plastics still are no better, despite the differentiation. And the fit/finish of the Quadrifoglio I just drove was lacking in comparison to the Levante.

I'll also note that you said nothing about the quality of the interior outside of the switchgear, which does not represent the entire interior.

It isn't junk in either car, my point is that the Alfa's are NOT warmed over Chryslers. The Masers are, they use the same chassis as the Chrysler 300 and the same switchgear, and that platform is old as dirt having begun life under the W210 E-Class. My claim was never that the Alfa was better in fit and finish only that it more unique. There is no way I'd pay 150K for a Quattroporte with a warmed over Chrysler interior, that is the problem.

M

 

[Serpens]

It isn't junk in either car, my point is that the Alfa's are NOT warmed over Chryslers. The Masers are, they use the same chassis as the Chrysler 300 and the same switchgear, and that platform is old as dirt having begun life under the W210 E-Class. My claim was never that the Alfa was better in fit and finish only that it more unique. There is no way I'd pay 150K for a Quattroporte with a warmed over Chrysler interior, that is the problem.

M

Actually your original point was that there was no reason to buy this given the Alfa SUV was coming, but OK.

 

[tristatez28lt1]

I think the Stelvio will be hard competition for the Levante. Given the high horsepower engine, similar exterior look, and even emotions it'll cannibalize the Levante. However, the interior of the Levante and the general status of the brand make the Levante an interesting choice in the segment.

The discussion about the buttons from the FCA bin is unnecessary. Tell me one manufacturer that isn't doing that. I can't tell you a single one that isn't using economies of scale from the group. It's not the greatest thing to use a button that's from a Chrysler 300, but at least it is reliable and allows these smaller, more exclusive manufacturer to concentrate on what they can do: building beautiful, emotional machines.

Based on this test, I actually think the Levante fares better than I expected. Yes, the Stelvio QV will be faster and more brash but I can tell you that the Levante has a special aura that's hard to describe. You will like driving it, no matter its shortcomings. For me it's the pick of the SUV class until the new Cayenne arrives.

 

[Serpens]

I think the Stelvio will be hard competition for the Levante. Given the high horsepower engine, similar exterior look, and even emotions it'll cannibalize the Levante. However, the interior of the Levante and the general status of the brand make the Levante an interesting choice in the segment.

I do agree its the same type of buyer, but its hard for me to believe the Stelvio will cannibalize this car. The Stelvio is going to start in the low low $40k USD range, is smaller, and only the firm riding, hard-edged Quadrifoglio will overlap in price with the Levante. They're at two completely different price points.

The discussion about the buttons from the FCA bin is unnecessary. Tell me one manufacturer that isn't doing that. I can't tell you a single one that isn't using economies of scale from the group. It's not the greatest thing to use a button that's from a Chrysler 300, but at least it is reliable and allows these smaller, more exclusive manufacturer to concentrate on what they can do: building beautiful, emotional machines.

Based on this test, I actually think the Levante fares better than I expected. Yes, the Stelvio QV will be faster and more brash but I can tell you that the Levante has a special aura that's hard to describe. You will like driving it, no matter its shortcomings. For me it's the pick of the SUV class until the new Cayenne arrives.

Not that its super relevant at this point, but I don't think your typical Maserati owner will be turned off by the parts bin sharing anyways. They clearly must've noticed the Fiat pieces in previous models.

 

[Merc1]

Actually your original point was that there was no reason to buy this given the Alfa SUV was coming, but OK.

There isn't IMO. The Ghibli and Levante have too much Chrysler DNA that is clearly visible. The Alfas are more bespoke and outperform both of the Masers and in some cases, for less money.

M

 

[Serpens]

There isn't IMO. The Ghibli and Levante have too much Chrysler DNA that is clearly visible. The Alfas are more bespoke and outperform both of the Masers and in some cases, for less money.

M

From a performance envelope perspective, that's like saying why get a M550i when an M3 will outperform it for cheaper. Sure, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio will outperform it while doing so with a hard ride and knife edged steering. Not exactly the "grand touring" experience someone would be asking for out of a base Levante that overlaps in price with the Stelvio Q.

Perhaps I can't understand switchgear being the sole reason someone would buy a completely different SUV that's a different size and much more cheaply appointed outside of better differentiated window switches and AC controls.

And as far as the platform is concerned, by the time its reached the Levante it has been heavily modified. Acting like its just a slightly warmed over Chrysler 300 is doing it a complete disservice, despite the humble origins.

 

[Gianclaudio]

And, the wood, metal and leather on the Maseratis feels absolutely top notch. I would say, based on a Ghibli's experience, the leather feels nicer than in germans counterparts.

 

[Merc1]

From a performance envelope perspective, that's like saying why get a M550i when an M3 will outperform it for cheaper. Sure, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio will outperform it while doing so with a hard ride and knife edged steering. Not exactly the "grand touring" experience someone would be asking for out of a base Levante that overlaps in price with the Stelvio Q.

Perhaps I can't understand switchgear being the sole reason someone would buy a completely different SUV that's a different size and much more cheaply appointed outside of better differentiated window switches and AC controls.

And as far as the platform is concerned, by the time its reached the Levante it has been heavily modified. Acting like its just a slightly warmed over Chrysler 300 is doing it a complete disservice, despite the humble origins.

We're going in circles here, I've stated my position on these new Masers. Heavily modified, based on, warmed over, all the same thing in my book especially when I see the same switchgear inside. They aren't worth their asking prices when more bespoke Italian machinery can be had for less. Outside of the leather the Masers are cheap inside don't feel expensive enough, yes I've driven both the Ghibli and the Quattroporte.

M

 

[anti-VAG]

Chrysler 'L' platform is not an evolution of a Mercedes platform. It was a all new platform at the time. Suspension was very similar to Mercedes but it was developed parallel to W211.

Maserati's interior indeed looks like a upscale Chrysler but it has by far better fit and finish, that now even for a comparison.

And most importantly. So far Levante is a huge success. China is by far the biggest market for it.

 

[Merc1]

The platform was derived from the W210 E-Class and shared suspension and as well as interior bits and pieces and hardpoints from the that platform. Clearly Chrysler didn't make these RWD cars on their own, especially the first generation Charger/300/Magnum. It didn't have anything to do with the W211.

M

 

[Serpens]

The platform was derived from the W210 E-Class and shared suspension and as well as interior bits and pieces and hardpoints from the that platform. Clearly Chrysler didn't make these RWD cars on their own, especially the first generation Charger/300/Magnum. It didn't have anything to do with the W211.

M

...and by the time it got to Maserati for the Ghibli, the floor plan had changed, suspension architecture had changed (despite using the same type of setup), and all the Mercedes gear had disappeared (except for the window switches, which Mercedes was also using up until recently and Chrysler still does). And that continued to evolve for the Levante.

No doubt they would all be faring better on the Giorgio platform, regardless.

 

[anti-VAG]

The platform was derived from the W210 E-Class and shared suspension and as well as interior bits and pieces and hardpoints from the that platform. Clearly Chrysler didn't make these RWD cars on their own, especially the first generation Charger/300/Magnum. It didn't have anything to do with the W211.

M

I will quote Burke Brown(AFAIK he was a LX car leader):
At the time, and probably still, a lot of people think is that we were just given the old E-class stuff, and that’s not true at all. They were doing the new E-class, code named the 211, and they launched that one year before we launched the LX. They would invite us and we’d go over and we’d go on their two-day road trips around the neighborhood, you know, in the Autobahn in Germany and Austria development trips, with the new E-class. We’d participate in that and compare notes, because we basically modeled our suspension after that new 211 with a couple of things that we did differently.

 

[Merc1]

...and by the time it got to Maserati for the Ghibli, the floor plan had changed, suspension architecture had changed (despite using the same type of setup), and all the Mercedes gear had disappeared (except for the window switches, which Mercedes was also using up until recently and Chrysler still does). And that continued to evolve for the Levante.

No doubt they would all be faring better on the Giorgio platform, regardless.

Doesn't change the fact that it looks like warmed over Chrysler inside and no matter how modified it started out as one.

M

 

[Merc1]

I will quote Burke Brown(AFAIK he was a LX car leader):
At the time, and probably still, a lot of people think is that we were just given the old E-class stuff, and that’s not true at all. They were doing the new E-class, code named the 211, and they launched that one year before we launched the LX. They would invite us and we’d go over and we’d go on their two-day road trips around the neighborhood, you know, in the Autobahn in Germany and Austria development trips, with the new E-class. We’d participate in that and compare notes, because we basically modeled our suspension after that new 211 with a couple of things that we did differently.

It's BS man, look under the cars in question. Use common sense, why would they develop their own suspension from scratch to be like MB's when all they had to do is lift it from their partner at the time? Come on man. Goodness.

M

 

[Rainer271]

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[Rainer271]

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[Kowalski]

Am I the only one that forgot that this car existed?

No.

 

[Rainer271]

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[tristatez28lt1]

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