Compare the2023 Audi SQ5 SportbackVS 2023 Maserati Levante

The SQ5 Sportback’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Levante doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the SQ5 Sportback and Levante have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The SQ5 Sportback has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Levante’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The SQ5 Sportback has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Levante doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The SQ5 Sportback’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Levante.

Both the SQ5 Sportback and the Levante 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the SQ5 Sportback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Levante has not been tested, yet.

The SQ5 Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 8 years and unlimited miles longer than the Levante’s (12/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

There are almost 3 times as many Audi dealers as there are Maserati dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the SQ5 Sportback’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Audi vehicles are better in initial quality than Maserati vehicles. With 16 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Audi higher than Maserati.

The SQ5 Sportback’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 4 more horsepower (349 vs. 345) than the Levante GT’s standard 3.0 turbo V6.

On the EPA test cycle the SQ5 Sportback gets better mileage than the Levante:

Regenerative brakes improve the SQ5 Sportback’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Levante doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi SQ5 Sportback uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Levante requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi SQ5 Sportback higher (5 out of 10) than the Maserati Levante (1 to 3). This means the SQ5 Sportback produces up to 39 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Levante every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the SQ5 Sportback’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Levante:

For better maneuverability, the SQ5 Sportback’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Levante’s (38.7 feet vs. 41.2 feet).

The Audi SQ5 Sportback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 750 pounds less than the Maserati Levante.

The SQ5 Sportback is 1 foot shorter than the Levante, making the SQ5 Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The SQ5 Sportback has 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, 3.4 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Levante.

The SQ5 Sportback has a much larger cargo volume than the Levante with its rear seat up (24.7 vs. 20.5 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the SQ5 Sportback easier. The SQ5 Sportback’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29 inches, while the Levante’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the SQ5 Sportback’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Levante doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

While the Levante Modena S can only tow 3306, any SQ5 Sportback can tow a minimum of 4400 pounds.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Levante, the SQ5 Sportback offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The SQ5 Sportback Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Levante doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the SQ5 Sportback to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the Levante.

The SQ5 Sportback’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the Levante’s standard xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; LED headlights light instantly. LED lights also last about three to four times as long.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi SQ5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Levante doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The SQ5 Sportback Prestige’s Park Steering Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Levante doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Audi SQ5 Sportback outsold the Maserati Levante by over 16 to one during 2022.