We got our hands on the updated Maserati Levante S and drove it around Langkawi

The latest Maserati Levante aka "The Maserati of SUVs" has landed on our shores and what did Maserati Malaysia decide to do? Ship it straight to Langkawi for us to test it out around some of the playing grounds for the rich and famous. Updated for 2022, the Maserati Levante S carries some minor yet distinctive changes both inside and out for a more 'unified identity' across the Maserati range.

Before we go into the lifestyle and first driving impressions of the updated Maserati Levante S, let's look at what's actually new for 2022. On the outside, there are some minor styling changes. The most noticeable upgrade is its new front Trident grille which carries a stronger and more commanding road presence for the Maserati SUV.

Looking at the rear, the Levante S is fitted with a new set of taillamps which features a new 'boomerang' shape that was inspired by the Maserati 3200 GT designed by Giugiaro from the late 1990s. Everything else on the outside is pretty much the same, but looking at the Levante from afar, it still has that on-the-road presence that commands respect and admiration. If that's the case, why bother messing with anything more, right?

But, if you're interested in the Levante S and its price tag of RM808,800 fully loaded with all of the nice options (duties also included in that price tag), then you would also have the option to take things up a notch via two of the Levante's styling options (or variants) called the GrandSport and GrandLusso. The GrandSport has a more aggressive and sporty trim, while the GrandLusso is more blinged out with chrome inserts and different-styled 21-inch rims (all new Levante S models ride on 21s).

The inside is pretty much the same visual-wise, but Maserati invested a bit more in updating the Levante's instrument cluster and infotainment package. The instrument now includes a newly-designed analogue rev counter and speedometer placed on the ends of a seven-inch TFT display. Housed within real anti-dazzle flat glass covers, the driver's display is indeed a perfect addition to match with the rest of the Levante.

They've also upgraded its overall resolutions and graphics, which can also be said about its 8.4-inch frameless HD touchscreen sitting pretty in the middle of the cabin. If you want smooth and hassle-free operations from the infotainment perspective, you would be delighted to know that the one fitted in the Levante S is one of the best in its class. Buttery smooth like an iPad.

Safety-wise, the Levante's ADAS system now comes with the Active Driving Assist (ADS) which has been updated from being only usable on highways to now on any kind of well-maintained roads. When the Adaptive Cruise Control is activated, the ADS function can work to keep the car sitting nicely in the middle of the lane up to 145km/h.

We never really got to test this function on the roads in Langkawi due to the nature of the roads going up and down the hills (plus the speed limit capped at a max of 60km/h and the Levante will let you know if you've exceeded them). But we did get to enjoy the snaps, pops, and crackles from its 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine.

It's still the same powertrain from the previous Levante, but when you have 430hp and 580Nm to play with, it should be more than enough to have some fun no matter the speed. We also couldn't manage to test out its claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.2 seconds and 264km/h top speed because the roads in Langkawi are just impossible to do so. But, we trust Maserati and its numbers.

What we did get to test in abundance are the ZF-eight speed auto transmission (works like a charm for a ZF), all-wheel-drive (also balanced in delivering balanced power to the four wheels), Brembo brakes (six-ports upfront, four-ports rear, stops on a dime every time), and ride-height adjustable air springs.

For the suspension aspect, we can honestly say that the first day of driving was a bit bouncy and busy, but like anything else Italian, you are required to take some time to get used to it all from the power delivery, braking performance, and driving modes before smoothing things out. On the second day, things were a lot smoother as we got to know more about the Levante's driving characteristics.

Our verdict? For RM808,800 (duties and options), the latest Maserati Levante S has the potential to be one of the best daily drivers for you and your family. If you love driving to your vacation spots like the Ritz-Carlton Langkawi, a road trip from KL and back can turn into something very memorable.

Things might be a bit bouncy and busy at first, but the more you get to know the Levante, the more you'll most likely fall in love with it. The Italian charm is indeed real with this one, folks. Bellissimo.