Expect the 'Luxury Car Effect' When You Drive the Maserati Levante Hybrid

The surest sign that automobiles are headed toward an electrified future is that even the most premium carmakers have bought in on the trend. It’s one thing when the world’s biggest car brands start churning out hybrids or full electric vehicles, supplanting those with petrol engines, but it’s another  thing altogether when luxury and supercar brands are getting in on the action as well.

Take Maserati, for instance. The Italian luxury brand is relatively late in the EV game, having introduced its first hybrid model—the Ghibli sedan—only in 2022. But it’s catching up in a big way as it announced that all future models will be electrified, starting with the introduction of a hybrid model of its Levante SUV.

Photo by PJ Cana.

The Levante itself was groundbreaking for Maserati when it was unveiled in 2016 as it was the first-ever SUV in its 108-year-old history. And, clearly, introducing a hybrid model underscores the brand’s commitment to electrification.  

The question is whether Maserati was able to retain its prestigious pedigree and high-powered performance in its hybrid offering. After a few days with the Levante GT Hybrid, we’re happy to report that indeed it does.

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First off, the Levante GT Hybrid comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged motor engine and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. What this means is that the gas motor constantly powers the battery, so the vehicle does not run purely on electricity.

Sliding inside the interior, the premium leather seats is your first clue that you’re in for a luxurious ride. The brand’s trident symbol is tastefully emblazoned everywhere—the analog clock on top of the dashboard, the digital odometer, the steering wheel, and even the gear shift lever. There’s space and lots of it in the front, though the second row could’ve used a bit more legroom. There are frameless doors in other premium vehicles, but you never quite get used to them and they’re still pretty slick here in the Levante.

Photo by PJ Cana.

The Start/Stop button is hiding just beyond sight on the lower left side of the steering wheel, but it’s not a problem once you know where it is. Maserati’s Connect software ensures seamless connection with your phone, and Apple Carplay and Android Auto are available wirelessly.

The Levante Hybrid features four drive modes: Normal, Sport, Ice, and Offroad, each with its own distinct driving experience. When you choose Sport, for instance, the car’s height lowers by about 20 millimeters, while Offroad will raise it by as much 25mm.

Photo by PJ Cana.

Photo by PJ Cana.

One thoughtful feature I love is the automatic boot door. That it’s automatic isn’t the draw—there are plenty of new models that have a push-button boot door instead of users trying to reach up and grabbing it to close. But what’s neat about the Levante Hybrid is that it gives the operator a few seconds to move out of the way before it slowly closes. It might not seem like much, but if you’re one that forgets and often casually knock your head on the boot door, this feature will be much appreciated. 

Having driven a Maserati before, I expected the same smooth roar when you turn the engine on. Expectedly, that roar has been dialed down to a soft purr in the new Levante Hybrid, but it’s a non-issue when you get nearly the same level of performance. That means head-spinning speeds of zero to 100 kph in just a hair over six seconds along the expressways. The steering is smooth and NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) is virtually nonexistent. The Levante Hybrid is a Maserati through and through.  

Photo by PJ Cana.

The car feels solid and planted while you’re driving—you feel very much in control. There’s power when you need it and the slightest nudge on the accelerator will give you an instantaneous boost with hardly any lag.

And if you ever find yourself lucky enough to be the owner of a Maserati, prepare to enjoy all the perks that go with it—eye-popping stares, appreciative smiles, overall better service, all from complete strangers. Take that information how you will, but the “luxury car effect”—or the unintended but unavoidable generally good vibes you get from the people in your immediate vicinity—is strikingly real.

Photo by PJ Cana.

Being interested in a brand like Maserati shows you’re someone unafraid to go against the grain and check out what else is out there. If you choose to go with a Levante Hybrid, you’re sure to be rewarded handsomely.