Overview

The Ferrari Purosangue is unique – not just because it’s a Ferrari, but because it’s the Italian manufacturer’s first attempt at making a luxury SUV. Usually known for its high-end sports cars and supercars, Ferrari has, like many of its rivals, delved into the business of making a luxury car with all-wheel drive, a raised ride height and space for four occupants.

Like-for-like competitors aren’t plentiful but do include models such as the Aston Martin DBX, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne and Rolls-Royce Culinan. 

The aim of the Purosangue is to offer customers the practicality and utility of an SUV combined with the hallmarks of the Ferrari brand – namely stunning speed, knockout looks and razor-sharp handling. And while the former has been done before, the latter two characteristics are harder to achieve in a car with a higher ride height and associated kerb weight. Has Ferrari managed it? Read on to find out.

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What’s it like inside?

The design and layout of the cabin borrows much from Ferrari’s existing range, yet interestingly it feels better suited to the SUV bodystyle. Wherever you look, there’s endless leather, carbon and beautifully trimmed design elements, while a high-strength fabric has been used on lower sections that are at the mercy of muddy footprints. It’s a thoughtful yet incredibly high-quality piece of design that delivers ample space and the requisite wow factor we’ve come to expect from Ferrari.

The passenger gets their own information display (above), while the main infotainment screen is rolled into the digital dash that sits in front of the driver. It’s large and clear with reasonably slick graphics, yet the control system is poor. Ferrari has stuck with touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel and while they’ve been tweaked for the Purosangue, overall usability is hugely frustrating. That said, voice control is on hand as another way of carrying out commands and does work adequately once you’re used to the prompts.

Space in the rear is excellent, plus occupants get their own electronic seat adjustment and heating/cooling functionality. The adjustment for the latter is a neat touch as it comes from a rotary dial with touchscreen interface that rises out of the central tunnel and then dips back in again once the settings have been made. No doubt good old-fashioned buttons would be easier to use, but as party pieces go it’s impressive. Front seat passengers also get an identical dial.

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What it’s like to drive?

At launch, there’s only one available engine in the Purosangue – namely a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12. Producing around 725hp and 716Nm of torque, it delivers stunning pace at the expense of fuel economy and emissions. Ferrari claims 16.3mpg and 393g/km of CO2 – colossal figures by anyone’s standards. Meanwhile, power is sent to the rear axle via an eight-speed DCT transmission and a smaller separate transmission for the front axle.

Get the stopwatch out and 0-62mph comes up in just 3.3 seconds, while 0-120mph takes 10.6. Figures like these are right up there with today’s supercars and the Purosangue has the soundtrack to go with it. A piercing V12 howl, the noise it creates could be a reason for buying one all on its own. Pair this with strong everyday driveability and the Purosangue feels every bit the exciting Ferrari.

It is worth noting, however, that at over two tonnes in weight and almost five metres long, its handling doesn’t quite hit the levels of traditional Ferrari sports cars. You can appreciate the amount of mass that’s being hauled around, this in spite of Ferrari’s clever new active suspension system that successfully keeps the car as stable and controlled as possible without sacrificing ride comfort.

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Indeed, the Purosangue’s ability to soak up bumps (given its enormous 22- and 23-inch wheels) is deeply impressive and makes for a fantastic long-distance cruiser. In fact, the only slight mark against it on the comfort front is noticeable wind noise when driving at high speeds.

What models and trims are available?

As you’d expect, there’s only one trim level available on the Purosangue. With this, you get features such as a high-end Burmeister sound system, surround view cameras, automatic rear doors, four-zone climate control and fully electric seats as standard.

However, in true Ferrari fashion there’s plenty of ways to spend more if you wish. For example, special leathers and paint liveries are available, as is the option to paint the wheels and equip the front seats with a massaging function.

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What else should I know?

One thing that many customers may find surprising is that – due to security reasons – the Purosangue does not come with a built-in sat-nav system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard however and the various mapping applications can be mirrored onto the car’s digital dash display – thus acting as a third-party sat-nav.

As usual with Ferrari road cars the Purosangue comes with a four-year manufacturer warranty and full European roadside assistance, with an additional year available at extra cost. Also, all scheduled maintenance and servicing is included for the first seven years of the vehicle’s life. 

So is it the best SUV that money can buy? Read on for our verdict to find out whether we recommend the Ferrari Purosangue over its rivals.