Maserati Levante Trofeo

Scope of this guide

This guide is scoped to the Maserati Levante Trofeo, the five-seat V8 SUV that Maserati sold from 2019 until it ended V8 production at the end of 2023. It has the 3.8L twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox and Q4 all-wheel drive. It is not a guide to the Levante GTS, which uses the same V8 in a milder state of tune, and it is not a guide to the V6 petrol, V6 diesel or four-cylinder mild-hybrid Levantes, which are different cars with different engines. We say below where each of those differs, because an advert that only says "Maserati Levante V8" can describe either the GTS or the Trofeo.

We have not driven this model for this article. Everything here comes from three cited sources: Auto Express's July 2019 road test of the Trofeo, PistonHeads' used buying guide to the Levante Trofeo, and the government recall checker. We also read a Spanish road test and a launch report, and where those disagree with the cited pages we say so rather than choose quietly. Maserati's own regional model pages refused our requests, so no figure in this guide comes from the manufacturer's site, and we did not try to get round that.

The figures at a glance

The V8 displaces 3,799 cc and is a twin-turbo unit of Ferrari origin, assembled at Maranello. In the Trofeo it makes 580 PS, which converts to 572 bhp (580 multiplied by 0.9863) or about 427 kW. Both Auto Express and PistonHeads print 572 bhp, which is the figure we use. Some sources print 580 hp or 580 bhp, which is the metric number carrying the wrong label and overstates the output by eight horsepower. A few older pages print 590 or 598 CV, which are early launch-era claims rather than the production rating. Torque is 730 Nm, about 538 lb ft, available from low revs and held across a broad band, and the engine feels tuned for long, strong pull rather than for a high-revving scream.

The 0-62 mph time in Europe is 4.1 seconds according to PistonHeads, and a Spanish road test gives the same time for 0-100 km/h, which is effectively identical. PistonHeads adds that markets without Euro 6 restrictions quote 3.9 seconds, so a faster claim on an imported car is not necessarily wrong, only from a different specification. The top speed is 302 km/h, which is about 188 mph. That is the figure we use, but be aware that PistonHeads' own text says Maserati claimed 186 mph, or 300 km/h, while its spec table shows 188 mph, and Auto Express says close to 190 mph. The difference is a few km/h and nobody has measured it for this article. Weight is reported as 2,170 kg by PistonHeads and 2,245 kg by the Spanish test, so treat it as roughly 2.2 tonnes.

What makes it a Trofeo

The Trofeo was revealed in spring 2018 and reached UK showrooms in 2019. It is the most powerful Levante. Beyond the engine it gets a Corsa driving mode with revised engine and gearbox maps, less intrusive traction control, a launch function, quicker shifts and a lower air-suspension ride height. Maserati also recalibrated the springs and Skyhook adaptive dampers to cope with the extra weight over the V6, which PistonHeads puts at about 60 kg. The Q4 system sends power to the rear wheels in normal driving, up to a full 100 per cent, and can split to as much as 50:50 between the axles when grip is poor. A mechanical limited-slip differential on the rear axle and brake-based torque vectoring complete it.

The brakes are six-piston calipers on 380 mm front and 330 mm rear discs, with 21-inch forged wheels as standard and 22-inch wheels standard later in the run. Styling is the most aggressive in the range, with a vented bonnet and carbon trim on the front and rear bumpers. Auto Express found the Trofeo comfortable on most roads and quiet in normal use, but noted that the air suspension struggles over larger bumps and can produce some diagonal body movement. It scored the car 3.5 out of 5 and thought it not as satisfying to drive as a Porsche Cayenne, though charming and desirable.

How it differs from the GTS and the V6 Levantes

The GTS has the same 3.8L V8 tuned to 523 bhp and 710 Nm, so the Trofeo has 49 bhp and 20 Nm more, according to Auto Express. PistonHeads gives the GTS a claimed top speed of 181 mph against the Trofeo's 186 or 188. The GTS has body-coloured bumpers with piano black detail and a chrome grille surround, while the Trofeo has carbon trim and a vented bonnet. The V6 petrol Levante was launched in 2016 with 345 hp or 424 hp, and right-hand-drive cars arrived in mid-2017. The V6 diesel produced 270 hp and was the only UK engine before the petrol V6s arrived. A 2.0L mild hybrid with 325 hp was added in mid-2021. None of those has the Trofeo's V8 or its torque figure, and their reliability and running costs are different, so do not apply this guide to them.

What to check before you buy

PistonHeads' Tony Middlehurst, writing in January 2024, summed the Levante up as fast, fun and flawed. He noted that many of the faults are electrical, that they also affect other complex high-end cars, and that many owners report no problems at all. Our checklist follows his findings and then adds common sense.

Start with the gearbox. Some cars shifted unexpectedly into neutral, and a software recall covering nearly 3,300 cars dealt with it, so ask for proof that any open campaign has been completed. Next, look at the cooling system and the pipework. PistonHeads reports coolant pipes that came loose or leaked on some cars, and a separate recall for a turbo-to-intercooler pipe that could fracture, although it was unsure whether the Trofeo was in scope. Check for leaks, damp hoses and any history of overheating.

Then look at the chassis. Tyre judder on full lock and uneven tyre wear have affected many cars, and PistonHeads recommends four-wheel alignments to help. Standard tyres were Continental SportContact 6, 260/40 at the front and 295/35 at the rear on 21-inch wheels, and a car that wears them unevenly deserves a proper geometry check. Dampers have been known to fail and are expensive to replace, so drive the car over poor surfaces and listen. The air suspension should lift and lower cleanly in every mode, and the car should sit level after standing overnight. The brakes can be squeaky, which is not necessarily a fault, but check disc and pad condition on a car of this weight.

Electrics deserve the longest test. Reported faults include infotainment freezing, rear-view camera failures that led to a recall of about 7,500 cars, CarPlay dropouts, adaptive cruise and parking sensor problems, and blown speakers. A multiple warning-light display with a power steering failure message is often linked to a weak battery, so check the battery and charging system before suspecting anything worse. PistonHeads also mentions a recall of about 39,000 vehicles over seat wiring harnesses that could short out through rubbing, and rattles from headrests, rear seats and windows. Some owners reported door handles that did not work correctly. Test every window, seat and screen.

Practical points matter too. The fuel tank is small, so at high-teens miles per gallon a fill gives roughly 300 miles. The boot holds 580 litres with the seats up, and the car has a factory towbar rated at 2,700 kg braked. There are only five seats. Maserati's standard warranty is three years, and the UK network is small, only about a dozen dealers according to PistonHeads, so repairs and servicing can take time to arrange. Ask whether any extended cover remains transferable. We have not quoted prices, because they vary with specification and condition and we could not verify them.

Recalls and paperwork

Use the government recall checker before you buy and again after you have bought. For a car you enter the registration number, or if you lack it the manufacturer, model and year of manufacture. The service covers serious safety recalls, and the page says that you will be told by the manufacturer about a recall for any reason other than safety. That means a clean result on the public checker is not proof that every software or service campaign has been done. Ask a Maserati dealer to check the chassis number for open campaigns, and keep the written answer. We have not run the checker for any specific car, and the recall counts we quote come from PistonHeads rather than from official notices, so confirm any that matter to you.

The ownership case

The Levante Trofeo offers a Ferrari-derived 3.8L twin-turbo V8 petrol engine with 572 bhp and 730 Nm, Q4 all-wheel drive and a 4.1 seconds 0-62 mph time, in a five-seat body with a usable boot and a tow rating. It is slower to 100 km/h than some rivals that make more power, and its interior and electronics drew more criticism than its engine. What you are buying is the sound, the character and the badge, and the value of that rests on a verified service history, closed recall campaigns and a clean electronic scan. We have not driven it, so read the sources, arrange a specialist inspection and treat every published performance figure as a claim until someone measures it.