The Levante—Maserati’s first attempt at an SUV—is fresh off of its 2017 introduction, so it enters 2018 with no major changes. With room for five people, the Levante sits firmly in the midsize category. The shape and size may lead to comparisons with other luxury SUVs, but the Maserati has a starting price that places it firmly in the extra-luxury class. That’s most evident in the interior, which— even in its most basic form—is adorned with rich wood veneers, stitched material, and pleasing Italian shapes. Cargo space is just 20.5 cubic feet behind the 60/40 split-folding rear seat, so it may be less practical than competitors. As before, there are two main submodels of the Levante. Base has a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder making 345 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque and an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. This engine gets up to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and runs all the way to 156 mph. The S submodel takes that same V6 engine and ramps it up to 424 hp and 428 lb-ft, with a 5-second 0-60 mph time and a top speed of 164 mph. Both engines come with an all-wheel-drive system (AWD) tuned for optimal on-road driving. Naturally, both versions get a seductive, throaty exhaust note. From there, Maserati offers three trims on the Levante. Each offers unique themes as well as progressive levels of equipment. Base kicks things off with hand-stitched leather, wood or piano black trim, an 8.4-inch touchscreen with navigation, dual-zone climate control, heated power front seats, an electronic parking brake, memory settings, and a power liftgate. GranLusso offers chrome inserts on the front bumper, body-color side skirts, upgraded 19-inch wheels, and plusher upholstery. Topping the range is Gransport which gets blue exterior accents, piano black skid plates, sport seats, soft-close doors, a sport steering wheel, steel door sills, and red brake calipers. Like other European SUVs, Maserati bundles even more features in a dizzying array of packages and options across the range. There’s a Climate Package with heated windshield washer nozzles, heated seats, and a heated sport steering wheel. The Nerissimo Package replaces most of the exterior brightwork with black trim. There are two premium sound systems, one with 900 watts and another with 1,280 watts. Quad-zone climate control, an alcantara roof, grain leather, and adaptive bi-xenon headlights are just a few more options. The Levante also comes well-equipped for safety. There are multiple airbags, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist. The Driver Assistance Package tacks on a surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control with a stop-and-go function, and traffic sign recognition. For the Italian take on a grand-touring SUV, the Levante excels, making itself a standout in the segment. The visual drama, exciting powertrains, and top-notch materials give the 2018 Maserati Levante a personality all its own.