Maserati has finally announced prices of its first SUV, the Levante, with a starting price tag of Rs 1.45 crore for the base variant and Rs 1.54 crore for the luxuriously appointed GranLusso variant, (all prices ex-showroom, India). You can also have the GranSport trim (Rs 1.49 crore), which offers a sportier exterior and interior specification.

The name Levante comes from a warm Mediterranean wind that can change from a light breeze to a hurricane within seconds. While the Maserati looks radical for a SUV thanks to its curvy shape, its gargantuan dimensions leave no doubt that it is one. It’s just over five metres long and has a wheelbase of a tad more than three metres. The width is about two metres and all dimensions put together, give it a fairly imposing stance. Moreover, the Levante rides on 19-inch wheels, shod in fat 265/50 profile tyres (larger sizes are on the options list) and gets electronically controlled air-suspension on all-four corners. The air-suspension offers five ride modes and in standard setting provides the body a ground clearance of 207mm, which can be raised to 247mm for off-roading, or can be lowered to 162mm in parking mode to make ingress and egress easier.

Under its long hood, the Levante has a 3.0 litre V6 turbo-diesel engine that produces 275hp at 4,000rpm and 600Nm of peak torque between 2,000rpm and 2,600rpm. The motor is mated to an eight-speed torque convertor automatic gearbox with a 4x4 drive system. It takes 6.85sec to clock triple digit speeds from rest as per our review and has top speed of 230kph.

On the Inside, the cabin of the Levante as standard is finished in dual-tone black and rose-red. There is also an option to customise the interior trim with choice of wood inlays and leather grains. You can even option silk inlays supplied by Italian fashion house Ermenegildo Zegna. At the heart of the central console, is an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system that offers connectivity features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with satellite navigation. A Harman Kardon- or a Bowers & Wilkins-sourced sound system can be optioned, topping out at 1,280 watts with 17-speakers. Moreover, it is equipped with features like a panoramic sunroof, 360-degree cameras and four-zone climate control.

That said, at this lofty price point, we would have also liked to see a few more increasingly common features, like a heads-up-display, hands-free parking assistant and ventilated seats, which these days can be found on much less expensive cars.

What you do get for the price, however, is a uniquely Italian take on a full-size luxury SUV and one that absolutely oozes charm and character. Being a Maserati, it also has a bit of a sporting edge in the way it drives, and at this price, would make a good alternative to a decently specced Porsche Cayenne or Range Rover Sport.