Choose the Right Luxury SUV for Italy
Updated: Nov 3
When it comes to luxury SUVs, the Maserati Levante and the Range Rover stand out. Each offers a unique driving experience tailored to different preferences. Choose the Maserati Levante if you want the drive to be part of the trip. It’s a sporty, vocal SUV that behaves like a grand tourer. Opt for the Range Rover if you prefer an effortless journey. It provides more cabin space, tranquility, and authority on any surface. Both vehicles are excellent choices for crossing Italy, rewarding different types of travelers.
This guide compares the two SUVs based on how they feel on Italian roads, their luggage capacity, purchase costs, and suitability for various trips. We will also touch on the Range Rover Sport, the model most often compared to the Levante.
TL;DR
The Levante is the driver’s choice: sharper on winding roads, with Italian character and a V6 or V8 soundtrack.
The Range Rover is the comfort and presence choice: a higher seating position, a very quiet cabin, and more capability when the road turns rough or snowy.
For luggage, the Levante offers 580 liters behind the rear seats, which handles most couples and small families comfortably.
For mountain passes and winter, lean toward the Range Rover. For coastal roads, lakes, and city arrivals, the Levante has more personality.
Rental lets you test the question properly: spend a few days in one, and the answer usually becomes obvious.
Table of Contents
Two Different Ideas of Luxury
The Levante arrived in 2016, and Maserati followed its tradition of naming cars after famous winds. The Levante takes its name from a Mediterranean wind that can shift from calm to gale force in an instant. This description fits the car perfectly: relaxed when you want it, urgent when you ask.
The Range Rover has a different philosophy. Italian commentary treats it as the reference point for luxury with real off-road ability, while Maserati’s SUVs are seen as grand tourers that happen to have an SUV body. Reviewers who drove both make the same point: they are not direct functional equivalents, and the better one depends on whether you value comfort or road-holding.
Put simply, one car asks you to drive. The other lets you arrive.
How They Drive on Italian Roads
Italy is not one kind of road. A morning on the Autostrada del Sole, an afternoon on the lakeside bends above Como, and an evening in the narrow streets of a hill town ask different things of a car.
The Levante: A Grand Tourer with a High Roofline
The Levante is tuned for tarmac. A performance comparison puts its cornering forces at up to 0.91 G and its 0-100 km/h time at roughly 4.1 to 6.0 seconds, depending on trim. In practice, this means the car feels composed when the road starts to twist, and the engine note makes a tunnel on the Ligurian coast a small event.
The top-of-the-range models matter if you want something special. The limited V8 Ultima editions, 103 units for each of two versions, mark the last Maserati V8, and they drive quite differently from the standard V6 trims. If you are renting for the sound and the sense of occasion, ask which engine is available for your dates.
The Range Rover: Serene Control
The Range Rover answers with isolation and stature. Its seating position is high, the cabin is quiet, and the air suspension is adjustable. Wading depth is listed at 900 to 1,100 mm, a figure few renters will ever use, but it explains the sense of unflappability. When a mountain road is wet, gravelly, or snow-dusted, that reassurance is real.
It will not tempt you into hurrying. It makes hurrying unnecessary.
Which is Easier in Towns?
Both are large. Neither is a natural fit for the restricted traffic zones (ZTL) and tight lanes of historic centers. This is a point worth planning around rather than fighting. Park outside the old center, use the hotel’s guidance for access permits, and let the car wait. The Range Rover’s height helps visibility; the Levante’s lower, sportier stance makes it feel more at home on the open road than in a medieval lane.
Space, Comfort, and Technology
For luggage, the Levante has 580 liters behind the rear seats, growing to 1,625 liters with the seats folded. This capacity suits two or three large suitcases with room left for garment bags.
The Range Rover leans harder into cabin volume and passenger comfort. An Italian buyer’s guide cites 857 liters of trunk space for the full-size model and describes leather and fine wood trim throughout. A 35-speaker Meridian audio system is available on the Range Rover side, which is worth knowing if you plan long drives with passengers who care about the experience in the back.
Quick Decision Points
| Priority | Better Fit |
|------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| Driving engagement on bends | Levante |
| Italian character and engine sound | Levante |
| Rear-seat comfort and quiet | Range Rover |
| Mountain and winter confidence | Range Rover |
| Presence at a hotel or venue entrance | Range Rover, with the Levante a close second |
| Luggage for a couple | Either |
| Luggage for a family with ski gear | Range Rover |
What Each Costs to Own: A Useful Yardstick
Renting spares you the purchase, but list prices show where each car sits. In Italy, the Levante starts from 111,800 € VAT included, in its current Ultima versions. The Italian guide quoted above puts the full-size Range Rover around 152,124 €. In the US, a price comparison shows the Range Rover Sport starting lower than the Levante, at $85,550 against $103,495 MSRP.
The lesson is that the Range Rover Sport and the full-size Range Rover are different purchases. When people type the two names against each other, they often compare the Levante to the Sport, which is the closer match in size and price. The full-size Range Rover is a step up in size and status.
As a renter, you pay for the days you use, so these numbers matter less than the question of which one suits the itinerary.
Choosing by Trip Type
The decision is easier when you start with the trip rather than the car. If you are weighing two quite different SUVs, the logic is similar to choosing between two classic SUVs: decide first what the vehicle is for, then compare.
Lake Como, Garda, and the Ligurian Coast
The Levante is the more fitting choice. These roads are narrow, scenic, and slow enough that the car’s sound and balance are part of the pleasure. Arrivals at lakeside hotels feel suitably dramatic. If your base is around the lake, our Lake Como rental page shows how we handle the area. For the Riviera, there is Santa Margherita Ligure.
The Dolomites and Ski Resorts
Here, the Range Rover earns its place. Long climbs, changing weather, and luggage with skis all favor the taller, more capable car. For a stay in the mountains, see our Madonna di Campiglio page. Winter equipment requirements for Italian roads vary by province and season, so confirm what your rental includes before you travel.
Business Trips and Airport Transfers
For executives landing in Rome or Milan, the question is presence and comfort. The Range Rover’s calm cabin suits calls on the move. The Levante suits the client who wants to arrive in something distinctly Italian. If you arrive through the capital, our Rome airport service covers the handover there.
Weddings and Events
Both cars photograph well. The Range Rover has the formal, imposing look that suits a ceremony arrival; the Levante has more flair. If a guest will wear a long dress or a suit, the Range Rover’s higher door opening and easy entry are a practical bonus.
What to Expect at the Handover
A rental of this kind should begin with a careful handover. Expect a walk-around inspection with a member of the team, noting any existing marks so there is no ambiguity later. Ask about the following before you leave:
Fuel type and the nearest suitable stations on your route.
How ZTL zones and parking apply to your hotels.
Toll payment on the autostrada and how to use the Telepass or card lanes.
What the insurance covers and what the deposit is.
Who to call, and how fast, if you need help.
These points matter more with a car that has a V8 or a large, low-profile wheel set. A good provider walks you through them rather than leaving them to a contract.
Our Perspective
We hear this question from guests who have usually already narrowed it down to two cars. What separates them is rarely the specification sheet. It’s how they want the day to feel.
Clients who tell us about the roads first, then the car, tend to pick well. A couple heading to Lake Como for a long weekend usually ends up delighted by the Levante. A family or a group going to the mountains with luggage tends to be happier in a Range Rover. Business clients often split by personality: some want to be driven in comfort, others want to drive.
Our role is to make that choice simple. We give personal recommendations, confirm the exact model you booked, and deliver it where you need it, whether that is a hotel, an airport, or a private address. Privacy and safety are part of the service, not extras. If you are not sure, tell us your route and your party, and we will say which car we would take.
— andrea
Renting the Right Car with Us
We offer luxury and exotic cars across Italy, with Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Porsche, BMW, Range Rover, and Mercedes among the brands. We provide flexible rental periods and delivery to your preferred location. You are guaranteed the model you book. For the sporting side of this comparison, start with our Maserati rental page. For the full range, including cars for events and business, see luxury car rental in Italy. Tell us your dates and route, and we will propose the best match. Prices are quoted for your specific booking.
FAQ
Is the Maserati Levante better than the Range Rover?
Neither is better in every way. The Levante is more engaging on winding roads and has more Italian character. The Range Rover is quieter, roomier, and more capable off the tarmac. Choose based on the trip you are planning.
Which is more comparable to the Levante, the Range Rover or the Range Rover Sport?
The Range Rover Sport is the closer rival in size and price, and it is the model most comparisons use. The full-size Range Rover is larger and costs more. If you want the most spacious and formal option, ask for the full-size car.
What are the best luxury SUVs to rent in Italy?
The Levante and Range Rover are two of the strongest choices, depending on whether you value driving feel or comfort. Other options include Porsche and Mercedes SUVs. Availability changes with the season, so ask us which cars are open for your dates.
Is a large SUV practical for Italian cities?
It is manageable with planning. Avoid driving into ZTL areas, park outside historic centers, and use hotel guidance on access. On highways, coastal roads, and mountain routes, a large SUV is comfortable and secure.
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