Maserati Levante vs Mahindra XUV700
What's the difference?

Maserati Levante

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2021 price

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Mahindra XUV700

$39,990 - $42,990

2026 price

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Summary

2021 Maserati Levante

2026 Mahindra XUV700

By Stephen Corby

By Tim Nicholson

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Twin Turbo V8, 3.8L

Turbo 4, 2.0L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

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Fuel Efficiency

0.0L/100km (combined)

8.3L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

That engine
Surprisingly capable on track
Rear-biased AWD

Value for money
Punchy engine
Versatile, well-appointed interior

Dislikes

Not the prettiest Maserati
Seems strange to want to track one
Expensive

Average fuel consumption
Ride and handling need work
Some cabin quality issues

2021 Maserati Levante Summary

Driving a whopping great SUV down the straight on a race track at more than 200km/h sounds like fun, but it actually feels a bit wrong, like entering a baby elephant in a dog show.

These are strange times, of course, and the Maserati Trofeo Levante is a suitably strange vehicle - stylish, classy, expensively appointed family hauler that also has the heart and soul of a race car.

Indeed, while performance SUVs are an increasingly commonplace vehicle, the Levante - which was actually getting along in the tooth as a model before this significant upgrade - has higher performance credibility than most.

That's because it has a big Ferrari V8 driving all four of its wheels and delivering a properly supercar-like 433kW and 730Nm.

It's not what you might call a typical Maserati buyer's car, but then only those who know what the Trofeo badge stands for - shouty insanity, basically - will be interested in this end of town. It is a lot of car, but is it worth the large load of money on the sticker ($330,000)?

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2026 Mahindra XUV700 Summary

There are around 30 different models fighting for your attention in Australia’s medium SUV segment. More than double that if you include premium options. In other words, there’s overwhelming choice.

Some of the most popular options include Toyota’s RAV4, the Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage and Mitsubishi Outlander, with a bunch of Chinese brands climbing up the charts.

But have you ever considered a Mahindra? The Indian carmaker has been operating in Australia for close to 20 years and the product line-up has improved considerably.

Case in point, the MY25 Mahindra XUV700. A replacement for the unloved XUV500, it’s just come in for a refresh adding new interior trim and tech features and it’s still affordable.

But is it worth taking a chance on the up-and-coming brand? Read on to find out.

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Deep dive comparison

2021 Maserati Levante 2026 Mahindra XUV700

Verdict

Maseratis are built for a fairly specific niche buyer; someone with a lot of money, someone slightly older and certainly someone who likes the finer things in life and appreciates Italian style, quality and heritage.

They are not, typically, the kind of buyers who want to tear around race tracks like fiends in big, shouty SUVs. But apparently there is a niche within the niche of Maserati fans who do, and they are willing to invest big dollars in vehicles wearing the Trofeo badge, like this Levante.

It might seem a slightly strange creation, a track-mad SUV with a screaming Ferrari engine, but surprisingly, it really does work.

Verdict

The Mahindra XUV700 is a solid, well-rounded family SUV. It has a practical cabin with a usable third row and a punchy turbocharged powertrain. The Indian manufacturer needs to address a few things like interior quality and some ADAS calibration and there’s more work to do when it comes to ride and handling. But overall this seven-seat SUV represents exceptional value for money against some pricier rivals and should be on more consideration lists.

Maserati Levante vs Mahindra XUV700 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Maserati Levante vs Mahindra XUV700
What's the difference?