Mazda CX-5: A Shorter and Sharper Maserati Levante

Theoretically, the Maserati Levante looks like a car Mazda would’ve produced between the CX-5 and the CX-9.

The domestic market is not yet lucky enough to be graced with the Mazda CX-8, but maybe we don’t need it — we already have a faster version courtesy of the Maserati Levante.

Although Mazda’s SUVs don’t look quite as similar to the Maserati Levante as the Ford Ranger does to the Chevy Colorado, there are plenty of striking similarities. Since the CX-8 is only marketed in Japan, I will be comparing to the CX-5 due to its similar size, larger market, and many familiar features.

The front ends of these SUVs of different marques share most of the commonalities. The rears look different enough where the average person probably wouldn’t get the respective models of the separate brands confused for one another, but similar enough where they do all look like they could be part of the same brand. The Levante would fit right into Mazda’s CX lineup of SUVs. After all, shapes are shared among hatch license plate cutouts, liftgate glass, and taillights.

Notice: each car’s roofline angles, taillight location/shape, and rear hatch/glass shapes and proportions.

The waters regarding which car came first are muddied, since Mazda released the 2nd-generation CX-9 in 2015, with the smaller 2nd-generation CX-5 coming later in November of 2016. Most recently, the CX-8 was released for the Japanese market only, in late 2017. On the contrary, the Maserati Levante was unveiled after the CX-9, but before the CX-5 and CX-8… In March of 2016. Since Mazda follows the same Kodo design philosophy for each of its SUVs, it cannot even be speculated if either company copied the other. All of these SUVs produced around the same time just seem to share many design features, and the similar shape between the CX-8 and the Levante amplify these similar features. The CX-5 in particular, looks like a sharper, shorter, and obviously slower, Levante.

The taillights on the Maserati Levante are about the same shape as those on the CX-5, albeit much less stylized and more classic. Most buyers paying over $70,000 on a daily driver SUV don’t want classy… they want flashy. Here, I’d give the design to Mazda, and on a car a fraction of the price!

“They round upwards as they close off towards the rear… Below these are wide hips shared between both cars”

Another stylistic similarity between the Mazda CX-5 and the Maserati Levante, is the sweeping angles shared among the respective side windows of each SUV. These windows curve in the same distinctive way on both vehicles. They round upwards as they close off towards the rear, and both stop with an arrow-like point. Below these are wide hips shared between both cars, which add depth to each side profile.

“Not only are the shapes of the grilles reminiscent of one another, so are their sizes… Mazda has curves in its bumper much like the shape of the Maserati’s lower grille.”

The front bumpers of the CX-5 and Levante are again, very similar (save for the signature Maserati grille slats of course. I’d like to see an automaker try to get away with copying that.) Not only are the shapes of the grilles reminiscent of one another, so are their sizes. To be fair, the Maserati does have a lower grille the Mazda doesn’t have, but the Mazda has curves in its bumper much like the shape of that Maserati SUV lower grille. Lastly, the bottom air dams of both cars can also be found to be quite twin-like in their placement, proportions, and sizes.

“The headlights, oh the headlights! They’re a step above parts bin… Thin, sharp, and angled into each car’s respective grilles.”

The headlights, oh the headlights! They’re a step above parts bin… Thin, sharp, and angled into each car’s respective grilles. On the Mazda, oddly enough, this integration is actually more seamless in my opinion, as it cleanly flows into the large honey-comb front fascia. Whereas on the Levante, the LED strips of the light connect to the top chrome strip of the grille, but do not line up angularly. Another category where I think the Mazda wins in the design department. Don’t worry Maserati, you’ll still get the win in a straight line!

To be clear, I’m not saying these cars are identical, but if they were children, they would be like fraternal twins. You know, the twins that aren’t scientifically “identical”, but can still be sometimes hard to tell apart. With a price difference of $50,000, or 2 whole CX-5s, your exotic family hauler shares some features to the SUVs of the brand with a name that already sounds alike. As we know, that is where the similarities stop, and the Maserati goes… much faster than any of the Mazda SUVs.

What do you think of all these similarities? Comment below or tweet me!