2020 Honda CR-V vs Maserati Levante Trofeo: A Family SUV Comparison

Today is a special day and to celebrate it, I challenged my colleague Anas to find the best mid-size family SUV in the market. Since I didn’t want to give him much of a chance of winning (yes, I’m very competitive like that), I went out and got myself the facelifted 2020 Honda CR-V.

Anas being Anas, however, decided to roll up in a Maserati Levante. It wasn’t just any Maserati Levante but the fastest and most expensive version available in the country: the Maserati Levante Trofeo. As per him, it was an SUV, it was mid-sized, and it seated a family, thus it ticked all the boxes to participate in this challenge.

It’s hard to question the logic, right? Well, since we had two “Family SUVs”, an empty stretch of road, and a challenge ahead of us, we decided to press on…

Challenge 1: Exterior Design

For most parents, buying a family SUV is a mix of fulfilling a need (the requirement of a larger vehicle) and a want (the desire to stand out in the process). The Maserati Levante does just that, with it strongly following the brand’s signature styling, combining elegance with a distinctive sporty look through:

• A distinctive grille
• Three air vents on the fender
• Iconic trident on the C-pillar

The Trofeo version takes things up a notch with additional features like a carbon fiber splitter, carbon fiber side skirts, and carbon fiber bumper accents. It also gets an aluminum hood with prominent air vents on it.

Needless to mention, the CR-V does not get any carbon fiber whatsoever, but it has always been a good-looking SUV. With the facelift, it gets a new bumper and grille, new LED headlights, new fog lights, and its signature taillights get a new dark tinted look. It also comes in a choice of nine exterior colors. Quite frankly, I think it looks great, even though it’s missing all the beautification the Levante receives under the hood, the carbon fiber engine cover, red cylinder heads, etc.

Challenge 2: Boot Space

One of the main reasons people buy an SUV is for the practicality that it offers. Taking the kids to school during the week or big grocery trips on the weekend are all part and parcel of a family SUV’s duties, and that’s why boot space is an important number. The CR-V delivers on that front, offering an impressive 1,065 liters of storage behind the second row. Unfortunately, the Maserati Levante does not come close, with only 580 liters to offer.

As Anas would say, “Why do you need that much boot space? Are you running a furniture moving company?” But then again, you’d expect that from him since the Maserati was his choice after all…

Challenge 3: Passenger Space

While boot space is an important number, it only tells us half the story, as most family SUVs spend more time transporting people than goods or groceries. The backseats of the Honda CR-V are truly impressive, offering far more headroom and legroom than significantly larger and pricier SUVs. The uncluttered layout means that three adults can sit extremely comfortably in the back seats.

Sadly, the same cannot be said about the Maserati Levante. It offers far less headroom and legroom, and having three adults in the backseat is something owners can only dream of. Although the seats are low and hard, with a high transmission tunnel and rear A/C protruding into passenger space, the seats are covered in real leather, finished in a gorgeous red hue that does make them feel rather special.

Challenge 4: Features

What makes a good family SUV a great family SUV are the features you get in it. The Honda CR-V comes equipped with:

• Sunroof
• 7-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Cruise Control
• Brand’s unique blind spot monitoring system called Lane Watch
• Wireless mobile charger

The Maserati Levante, on the other hand, gets a full-length panoramic roof and an 8.4-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In terms of driver aids, it not only gets Cruise Control, but also Adaptive Cruise Control, lane keeping assist, and a proper blind spot monitoring system on the mirrors that doesn’t distract you with video on the screen every time you want to change lanes to the right. What the Levante misses out on as a wireless charger, it more than makes up for with a velvet padded storage box with real carbon fiber.

Challenge 5: The Drive

When it comes to driving a mid-size family SUV, it should have enough power, be comfortable to drive, and be relatively fuel efficient. The Honda CR-V ticks all the boxes with its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 244 Nm of torque. This is pushed through a CVT transmission to all four corners (since our test car was the All-Wheel Drive variant), averaging 14.7 kilometers per liter. Being a CR-V, it is comfortable to drive with more than enough power. The dimensions are easy to judge because of the high seating position, and since comfort is a priority, the suspension effectively soaks bumps and imperfections in the road.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Levante Trofeo’s 3.8-liter V8 Ferrari-built engine makes a whopping 590 horsepower and 730 Nm of torque, sending it to all four wheels. Just in case you’re wondering, that’s THREE TIMES as much power as the Honda CR-V. The Levante has three different drive modes (Normal, Sport, Corsa) and a separate sport setting for the air suspension, which also allows you to control the height. Put it into Corsa (track mode) and you can comfortably reach 100km/h in just 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 304km/h.

Verdict

In this challenge, we have confirmed that the Honda CR-V is still one of the best family SUVs you can buy. It’s practical, comfortable, and affordable with a starting price of just AED 92,900. The CR-V should be on the list for anyone looking to buy a car in this segment. But if you want to add a lot of thrill and excitement to your family life, and you have enough budget to buy SEVEN CR-Vs, then you might want to consider the amazing Maserati Levante Trofeo.