Maserati Levante GTS | Spotted

We all know how powerful and persuasive a great engine can be when it comes to buying a car. It’s all too easy to overlook flaws and quirks for the sake of a powertrain that’ll put a smile on your face every single day. Even when new, many an average automobile has been saved by a wonderful engine of some kind. As a used purchase, with thousands off that new price but still very much in possession of a USP-worthy lump, the appeal only increases. 

In modern times, it’s Maserati that’s become best known for superb engines in cars that aren’t nearly as good. When both come together the brand has proven it can take on anyone – see the spectacular MC20 – but in more than a few cases the reason for buying has been squarely under the bonnet. Consider the Trofeo lineup, where the F154 turbocharged V8 – with Ferrari heritage, yes – was boosted to 580hp and plonked in the Quattroporte, Ghibli and Levante. When the cars in question were already a good few years old. Not very many sold thanks to some extraordinary prices, but nobody would forget a dalliance with a Trofeo in a hurry.

Before the Trofeo, the Quattroporte and the Levante featured a GTS model, complete with the same 3.8-litre engine. It produced 50hp less than the Trofeo would, but was still the Ferrari-derived motor, and made for 180mph-plus Maserati flagships. Now they’re available for not very much at all, having once retailed at six-figure sums: a little more than £30k buys the 530hp QP, with this being the most affordable Levante at £45,000. 

The SUV is more expensive because it arrived years after the saloon, though the appeal is much the same. What was once more than £100,000 is now an awful lot less, and super rare. The Levante was actually a decent enough car once upon a time, it just wasn’t meaningfully better than the usual SUV suspects in any meaningful regard. So there wasn’t really a reason to buy one instead of an X5 or Cayenne, therefore not many folk did. 

While the interior of this one really hasn’t aged well, as a 2020 car with just 30,000 miles it’s hardly been used at all. The red painted calipers and wheels look really smart, and when the colour catches the light it’s more interesting than the grey it seems on first appearance. You don’t want to fall into cliche when discussing temptingly affordable Italian cars, but there’s always something to be said for picking the less obvious choice. 

As recently as five years ago, this would have cost £105,000 before options – now it’s for sale at £45k. That’s a recently reduced price as well, so there may well be further wiggle room possible. And there really isn’t much comparable; an F-Pace SVR at the same money will be higher mileage or older (having cost less money in the first place), an X5 M50i is similar money but lacks the flagship kudos, and a Mercedes GLC 63 is a smaller car. With less power. The larger, brawnier GLE still costs a lot more. Those cars have their advantages, too, and are probably better super SUVs overall, but as far as bang for your buck goes, the V8 Maserati feels hard to argue against. Told you a great engine could work wonders.

Engine: 3,799cc, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: 8-speed auto, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 530@6,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 525@2,500-5,000rpm
MPG: 18
CO2: 308g/km
Year registered: 2020
Recorded mileage: 30,486
Price new: from £104,900
Yours for: £45,995