Compare the2024 Audi SQ5VS 2023 Maserati Levante

The SQ5’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 and Levante have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The SQ5 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 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’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Levante.

Both the SQ5 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 performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the SQ5 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 98 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Levante has not been tested, yet.

The SQ5’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’s warranty.

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

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi SQ5 is faster than the Levante GT 3.0 turbo V6:

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

Regenerative brakes improve the SQ5’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 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 higher (5 out of 10) than the Maserati Levante (1 to 3). This means the SQ5 produces up to 39 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Levante every 15,000 miles.

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

The SQ5 stops much shorter than the Levante:

The SQ5 Prestige handles at .93 G’s, while the Levante Modena pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The SQ5 Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Levante GT (25.7 seconds @ .73 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

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

The Audi SQ5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 800 pounds less than the Maserati Levante.

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

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the SQ5 Prestige is quieter than the Levante Modena:

The SQ5 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 has a much larger cargo volume than the Levante with its rear seat up (25.9 vs. 20.5 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the SQ5 easier. The SQ5’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.5 inches, while the Levante’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the SQ5’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 can tow a minimum of 4400 pounds.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Levante, the SQ5 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 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 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’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 offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Levante doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The SQ5 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 Q5/SQ5 outsold the Maserati Levante by over 16 to one during 2022.