Now David Beckham adds himself to the list of stars who’ve lent their faces to automakers in his new partnership with Maserati.
What we know about the 2022 Maserati Levante
Even David Beckham needs a way to escape the doldrum regularity of everyday life—or at least that’s what Maserati would like you to believe. The Italian car brand positions itself as that escape in its new ads featuring the Spice Girl spouse and former soccer pro.
Dorian says the Levante’s unique styling and powerful engine options are impressive. But he docked marks for the SUV’s lack of cargo space, its parts-sharing with more affordable brands like Jeep and Chrysler, and the extreme amount of money required in order to access the power displayed in the ad starring Beckham.
Similar luxury SUVs with better grades than the Maserati Levante
Instead of forking over $81,000 for the base model GT or a whopping $155,000 for the Levante Trofeo featured in the ad, Car and Driver’s scores point to three other well-established European brands and Hyundai’s luxury nameplate, Genesis.
The 2021 Genesis GV80, which starts at a much less stressful $50,000, got a perfect 10/10 score and was included in the car magazine’s "10 Best" list this year.
While the South Korean automaker’s first SUV doesn’t offer the same speed and power as its Italian counterpart, the upscale practicality of its interior and the relative affordability of its fully loaded trim earned it the "Editors’ Choice" award for its class.
Below the Genesis GV80, Car and Driver also listed the Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5, and Volvo XC90 as the best options for 2021 luxury midsize SUVs. All three vehicles received 9.5/10 scores for their stylish exteriors, elegant cabins, and progressive powertrain options.
The cost of owning a luxury SUV
As you can see from the list of brands making luxury midsize SUVs, the model type can be used for a wide variety of lifestyles. Families willing to spend a little extra for a safe, stylish vehicle might buy a Volvo XC90 to drive kids to school and soccer games. Maserati did not put a 580 hp, twin-turbo, V8 engine in the Trofeo for errand running.
