Compare the2023 Maserati LevanteVS 2023 BMW X5

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Maserati Levante are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X5 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Levante. But it costs extra on the X5.

Both the Levante and the X5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

The Levante has more powerful engines than the X5:

As tested in Motor Trend the Levante Modena 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the X5 40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid:

Both the Levante and the X5 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Levantes have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch for start/stop is only offered on the X5 M50i.

The Levante stops much shorter than the X5:

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 X5’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Levante has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the X5.

The front and rear suspension of the Levante uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the X5, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Levante has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Levante’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The X5 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

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 X5 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Levante’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the X5 (118.3 inches vs. 117.1 inches).

The Levante Modena handles at .91 G’s, while the X5 xDrive 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 1.8 seconds quicker than the X5 xDrive40i (25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Levante has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X5 (9.7 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the Levante to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The design of the Maserati Levante amounts to more than styling. The Levante offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .31 to .33 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is significantly lower than the X5 (.36 to .38) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Levante get better fuel mileage.

The Levante’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

Standard Trailer Sway Mitigation on the Levante uses the Maserati Stability Program sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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 X5 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Levante has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X5 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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 X5 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

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 X5.