Compare the2024 Mercedes GLSVS 2024 Maserati Levante

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLS have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Maserati Levante doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The GLS’ 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.

The Mercedes GLS has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Levante doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The GLS offers an optional Post Collision Brake, 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 GLS’ 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 GLS and Levante have rear cross-traffic warning, but the GLS has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Levante’s Rear Cross Path doesn’t automatically brake.

The GLS’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Levante doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GLS and the Levante have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Mercedes GLS weighs 419 to 1226 pounds more than the Maserati Levante. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The GLS’ corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Levante’s (5/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

There are over 3 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Maserati dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the GLS’ warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GLS second among large premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Levante isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

The GLS has more powerful engines than the Levante:

	Horsepower
GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	375 HP
GLS 580 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	510 HP
Maybach GLS 600 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	550 HP
Levante GT 3.0 turbo V6	345 HP
Levante Modena 3.0 turbo V6	424 HP

As tested in Motor Trend the Maybach GLS 600 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid is faster than the Levante Modena 3.0 turbo V6:

	GLS	Levante
Zero to 60 MPH	4.2 sec	4.9 sec
Quarter Mile	12.8 sec	13.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	106.8 MPH	101.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
GLS
	AWD	580 4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	14 city/20 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/24 hwy
Levante
	AWD	GT 3.0 turbo V6	16 city/22 hwy
		Modena 3.0 turbo V6	16 city/22 hwy
		Modena S 3.8 turbo V8	13 city/20 hwy
		Trofeo 3.8 turbo V8	13 city/20 hwy

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

The GLS has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Levante (23.8 vs. 21.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes GLS higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Maserati Levante (1 to 3). This means the GLS produces up to 47 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Levante every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLS, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Levante.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLS has larger standard tires than the Levante (F:275/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. 265/45R20). The GLS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Levante (F:285/40R23 & R:325/35R23 vs. F:265/45R20 & R:295/45R20).

The GLS’ standard 315/40R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Levante Modena/S’ standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLS has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the Levante Modena/S. The GLS’ optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the Levante.

Suspension and Handling

The GLS offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Maserati doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Levante.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLS’ wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than on the Levante (123.4 inches vs. 118.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the GLS is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Levante.

The GLS 450 handles at .92 G’s, while the Levante Modena pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the GLS has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Levante (10.1 vs. 9.7 inches), allowing the GLS to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLS Off-Road Package’s minimum ground clearance is 1.6 inches higher than on the Levante (11.3 vs. 9.7 inches).

Passenger Space

The GLS has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Levante can only carry 5.

Cargo Capacity

The GLS’ cargo area provides more volume than the Levante.

	GLS	Levante
Third Seat Folded	42.7 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	20.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	84.7 cubic feet	57.4 cubic feet

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the GLS’ second and third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Levante doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

Towing

The GLS’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the Levante’s (7716 vs. 5952 pounds).

While the Levante Modena S can only tow 3306, any GLS can tow a minimum of 7716 pounds.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Levante, the GLS has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLS offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed 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.

The GLS’ 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 Levante’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 fluid is optional on the GLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Levante doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its optional heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

The GLS’ 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 better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLS has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Levante doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The GLS has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Levante doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The GLS offers optional massaging front and second row seats, which keep the driver and middle row passengers. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Levante.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLS has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console and for the rear passengers. The Levante doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The GLS has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Levante doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The GLS’ Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Levante doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GLS third among large premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Levante isn’t in the top three.

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