Compare the2024 Maserati LevanteVS 2024 Volvo XC90

Both the Levante and the XC90 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, available crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Maserati vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Maserati above average in initial quality. With 68 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is rated below average.

The Levante has more powerful engines than the XC90:

As tested in Motor Trend the Levante GT 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the XC90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid:

Both the Levante and the XC90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Levante’s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC90 Recharge doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The Levante has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC90 (21.1 vs. 18.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Levante has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the XC90. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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 XC90 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Levante’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XC90:

The Levante stops much shorter than the XC90:

For better traction, the Levante has larger standard tires than the XC90 (265/45R20 vs. 235/55R19).

The Levante Modena/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 XC90’s standard 55 series tires. The Levante’s optional 295/30R22 rear tires have a lower 30 series profile than the XC90’s optional 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Levante has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the XC90.

The Levante has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The XC90 Ultimate suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the Levante uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the XC90, which uses coil springs in front and transverse leafs springs in the rear. 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 XC90 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Levante’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the XC90’s (51.7% to 48.3%). This gives the Levante more stable handling and braking.

The Levante Modena handles at .91 G’s, while the XC90 B6 Core pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Levante Modena executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the XC90 B6 Ultimate (25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Levante has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC90 (9.7 vs. 8.8 inches), allowing the Levante to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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 XC90 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Levante has 4.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC90 (108 vs. 103.8).

The Levante has 1.3 inches more front headroom and .6 inches more rear headroom than the XC90.

The Levante has a much larger cargo volume than the XC90 with its rear seat up (20.5 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

The Levante’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC90’s (5952 vs. 5000 pounds).

The engine in the Levante is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XC90. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because 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 XC90 has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The Levante’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The XC90’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Levante has standard extendable sun visors. The XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 XC90.