If you were to make a list of SUVs that will never leave the tarmac, the likes of Bentley‘s ultra-luxurious Bentayga and Maserati’s sporty Levante would be at the top.



The thing is, if one wants to, they will happily go off road. Perhaps this is why seeing them put their healthy ground clearances and sophisticated all-wheel drive systems to the test can be quite rewarding.

Bentley engineers made sure the Bentayga could handle going off-road just as easily as it handles putting its 600 HP/900 Nm (663 lb-ft) 12-cylinder engine to good use.

It comes equipped with the company’s Drive Dynamics Mode as standard, though customers can also go for the optional Responsive Off-Road Setting which offers up to eight driving modes, plus electronically-controlled adjustable air springs with four ride heights.

The Levante, on the other hand, may not be hitting 60 mph (96 km/h) as fast as the Bentayga, but its standard electronic suspension with controlled damping and air springs works well together with Maserati’s Q4 intelligent all-wheel drive system – which makes for solid handling on low-grip surfaces.

In other words, both models, though not direct rivals, should be able to handle their business regardless of the terrain they’re on.

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