Compare the2023 Maserati Levante VS 2023 Acura MDX

The Levante has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The MDX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Levante. But it costs extra on the MDX.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Levante’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The MDX doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Levante and the MDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Levante’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the MDX’s camshafts. If the MDX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The battery on the Levante is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Levante’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The MDX’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

The Levante has more powerful engines than the MDX:

	Horsepower	Torque
Levante GT 3.0 turbo V6	345 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
Levante Modena 3.0 turbo V6	424 HP	428 lbs.-ft.
Levante Modena S 3.8 turbo V8	550 HP	538 lbs.-ft.
Levante Trofeo 3.8 turbo V8	572 HP	538 lbs.-ft.
MDX 3.5 SOHC V6	290 HP	267 lbs.-ft.
MDX Type S 3.0 turbo V6	355 HP	354 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Levante GT 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the Acura MDX V6:

	Levante	MDX
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.2 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	98.2 MPH	88.6 MPH

The Levante has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the MDX (21.1 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Levante Trofeo’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The MDX doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Levante S/GTS/Trofeo’s brake rotors are larger than those on the MDX:

	Levante S/GTS/Trofeo	MDX	MDX Type S
Front Rotors	15 inches	13.8 inches	14.3 inches

The Levante’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the MDX are solid, not vented.

The Levante stops much shorter than the MDX:

	Levante	MDX
70 to 0 MPH	151 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	105 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the Levante has larger standard tires than the MDX (265/45R20 vs. 255/55R19).

The Levante’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the MDX’s standard 55 series tires. The Levante’s optional 265/35R22 front and 295/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the MDX Type S’ 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Levante has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the MDX. The Levante’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the MDX Type S.

The front and rear suspension of the Levante uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the MDX, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Levante’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The MDX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Levante’s wheelbase is 4.5 inches longer than on the MDX (118.3 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The Levante’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the MDX’s (57.4% to 42.6%). This gives the Levante more stable handling and braking.

The Levante Modena handles at .91 G’s, while the MDX Type S pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Levante Modena executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the MDX SH-AWD (25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Levante has a 2.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the MDX (9.7 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Levante to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Levante’s minimum ground clearance is .3 inch higher than on the MDX Type S (9.7 vs. 9.4 inches).

The front grille of the Levante uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The MDX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Levante has 1.7 inches more front headroom and 1 inch more rear headroom than the MDX.

The Levante has a much larger cargo volume than the MDX with its rear seat up (20.5 vs. 18.1 cubic feet).

The Levante’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the MDX’s (5952 vs. 3500 pounds).

The engine in the Levante is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the MDX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The Levante’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The MDX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Levante and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Levante is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The MDX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Levante’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The MDX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Levante to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The MDX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Levante offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The MDX doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Levante offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The MDX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Levante’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The MDX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Levante has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the MDX.