I pitted a $136,000 Maserati Levante GTS against a $167,000 Porsche Cayenne GTS in a battle of high-performance luxury SUVs

Matthew DeBordAug 20, 2020, 02:02 IST

The Porsche Cayenne GTS is a high-performance version of the groundbreaking SUV.Matthew DeBord/Insider

I pitted a 2020 Maserati Levante GTS against a 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS is a battle of high-performance, luxury SUVs that are ... both GTS's!
The Porsche I tested was quite a bit more expensive than the Maserati, but it was crammed with options — the base Cayenne is actually cheaper than the base Levante.
Both SUVs have potent V8 engines, but the Levante's puts out a bunch more horsepower. Yet the 0-60 mph times are separated by only half a second.
As magnificent as the Maserati Levante GTS is, the Porsche Cayenne GTS has an edge.

Italian or German?

No, I'm not asking about preferences in opera. I want to know if you like your automotive arias with a plate of pasta or a side of spaetzle. You know what I'm talking about: the classic Maserati vs. Porsche conundrum.

OK, so classic is a stretch here. Porsche more naturally battles with Ferrari, but Maranello hasn't yet produced the SUV it has promised. As Ferrari's sister company, however, Maserati is a good stand-in, and the Levante is a solid preview of what you should expect from the FUV (that's Ferrari Utility Vehicle).

So I've matched up Stuttgart's masterpiece, the 2021 Cayenne GTS, with one of the top dogs in Bologna's lineup, the Levante GTS.

So, Italian GTS against German GTS. Which GTS rules the continent?

Let's start with the stonking 2020 Maserati Levante GTS. My tester arrived wearing a Blu Emozione paint job and several thousand dollars in extras that pushed the $123,290 sticker price to $136,000.

Maserati Levante GT Matthew DeBord/Insider

Let's start with the stonking 2020 Maserati Levante GTS. My tester arrived wearing a Blu Emozione paint job and several thousand dollars in extras that pushed the $123,290 sticker price to $136,000.

The glorious piece of Italian design is either the best-looking SUV on Earth or a solid number two, depending on what you think of the Jaguar F-PACE.

Maserati Levante GT Matthew DeBord/Insider

The "Nerissimo" pack was a $1,000 add-on that brought some slick, black highlights to the exterior, notably the grille.

Maserati Levante GTS Matthew DeBord/Insider

Like Mercedes, Maserati has retained a flush hood ornament, as well as the prominent trident badge, in chrome.

Maserati Levante GTS Matthew DeBord/Insider

Yes, it's a Maserati, so it must sport the signature ports on the flanks, rimmed in chrome.

Maserati Levante GT Matthew DeBord/Insider

The 22-inch wheels cost an extra $4,000. The three-season tires added another $400. The red brake calipers came gratis!

Maserati Levante GTS Matthew DeBord/Insider

Usually, an SUV's back end demands compromise. Not so with the Levante. As with the F-PACE and, to a lesser degree, Levante's stablemate, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the Levante's designers nailed the elegant hind-quarters.

Maserati Levante GTS Matthew DeBord/Insider

Usually, an SUV's back end demands compromise. Not so with the Levante. As with the F-PACE and, to a lesser degree, Levante's stablemate, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the Levante's designers nailed the elegant hind-quarters.

Gaze upon the glory of a 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged, 550-horsepower V8 engine, making 538 pound-feet of torque and sending the oomph to an all-wheel-drive system through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Maserati Levante GTS Matthew DeBord/Insider

Gaze upon the glory of a 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged, 550-horsepower V8 engine, making 538 pound-feet of torque and sending the oomph to an all-wheel-drive system through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Moving along, it's time to slip inside and sample the red and black interior, clad in "pieno fiore," or full-grain, leather. I've always found Maserati interiors to be nearly impeccable. In the Levante, there's no "nearly."

Maserati Levante GT Matthew DeBord/Insider

Moving along, it's time to slip inside and sample the red and black interior, clad in "pieno fiore," or full-grain, leather. I've always found Maserati interiors to be nearly impeccable. In the Levante, there's no "nearly."

The multifunction steering wheel is leather-wrapped. Mounted on the steering column is a pair of long, carbon-fiber paddle shifters.

Maserati Levante GTS Matthew DeBord/Insider

The backs seats are just as sweetly appointed, but legroom is merely adequate. The dual-pane moonroof floods the cabin with natural light.

Maserati Levante GTS Matthew DeBord/Insider

The infotainment system is undergirded by FCA's excellent Uconnect. It runs on an 8.4-inch screen, which is small by the standards of the luxury market.

Maserati Levante GTS Matthew DeBord/Insider

Touchscreen functionality is supported by a limited knob-and-button selector. Note the switch that raises and lowers the Levante's chassis. The system works well. Bluetooth pairing is a snap, there are USB ports to connect devices, and GPS navigation is effective. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available. My tester also came with a mellifluous Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system, for $4,000.

Maserati Levante GTS Matthew DeBord/Insider

Touchscreen functionality is supported by a limited knob-and-button selector. Note the switch that raises and lowers the Levante's chassis. The system works well. Bluetooth pairing is a snap, there are USB ports to connect devices, and GPS navigation is effective. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available. My tester also came with a mellifluous Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system, for $4,000.