Compare the2024 BMW X3 MVS 2023 Maserati Levante

The X3 M’s 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 BMW X3 M has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help 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 X3 M has a standard PostCrash iBrake, 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 X3 M’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Levante.

The X3 M’s 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 X3 M and the Levante have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the X3 M its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Levante has not been tested, yet.

The X3 M’s corrosion warranty is 8 years and unlimited miles longer than the Levante’s (12/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 M for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Maserati doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Levante.

There are over 3 times as many BMW dealers as there are Maserati dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the X3 M’s warranty.

The X3 M has more powerful engines than the Levante:

As tested in Motor Trend the X3 M Competition is faster than the Levante Modena 3.0 turbo V6:

On the EPA test cycle the X3 M gets better mileage than the Levante:

Regenerative brakes improve the X3 M’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Levante doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW X3 M higher (3 out of 10) than the Maserati Levante (1 to 3). This means the X3 M produces up to 22.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Levante every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the X3 M’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Levante:

The X3 M stops much shorter than the Levante:

The X3 M Competition handles at .95 G’s, while the Levante GT pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X3 M Competition executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.5 seconds quicker than the Levante GT (24.2 seconds @ .86 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

The X3 M is 11 inches shorter than the Levante, making the X3 M easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The X3 M has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Levante.

The X3 M has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Levante with its rear seat up (28.7 vs. 20.5 cubic feet). The X3 M has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Levante with its rear seat folded (62.7 vs. 57.3 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the X3 M easier. The X3 M’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.5 inches, while the Levante’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the X3 M’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Levante doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The X3 M offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning 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 X3 M’s 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 quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW X3 M offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Levante doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The X3 M’s optional Parking Assistant Plus 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.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its November 2020 issue and they ranked the BMW X3 M Competition two places higher than the Maserati Levante Trofeo.

The BMW X3 outsold the Maserati Levante by almost 17 to one during 2022.