UK Drive: Ferrari’s Purosangue offers space and pace

What is it?

It was quite the revelation when Ferrari first announced the Purosangue. There had been murmurings of a high-riding model with the ‘Prancing Horse’ on the nose for a number of years, but it took until 2022 for the Purosangue to finally reveal its face to the world.

Fast forward to 2025, and you’d have to argue that things have gone well for Ferrari and its decision. While purists may have been aghast that a raised-up Ferrari was put into existence, the Purosangue has been proving popular. But how does it cope with the UK’s roads? We’ve been finding out.

What’s new?

The Purosangue picks up where the old GTC4 Lusso estate left off. In essence, it’s a Ferrari with a healthy dose more practicality than you’d find in the rest of the Italian firm’s cars, as well as a handy four-wheel-drive system that helps it to tackle difficult surfaces that would prove impassable for the brand’s supercars.

As with other Ferrari cars, you’ll find a wealth of high-tech materials used throughout the Purosangue, while its dedicated four-seater layout helps to give each passenger as much space as possible. You can even fold the rear seats down to increase boot space. You see? As practical as anything.

What’s under the bonnet?

Lurking beneath the Purosangue’s beautifully sculpted clamshell bonnet lies a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine – one of the very few of its type still available in a road car. Shunning current trends, it does without any form of electrification, instead delivering 715bhp and 716Nm of torque through sheer brawn alone. It’s linked to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission for super-sharp gear changes.

As mentioned, the Purosangue is four-wheel-drive, but will favour the rears during most normal driving circumstances. In terms of performance, it’ll manage 0-60mph in just 3.1 seconds before rocketing on to a top speed of 193mph. This isn’t the most economical of choices, mind you, with a claimed 16.3mpg probably being on the more optimistic end of things.

What’s it like to drive?

The Purosangue is quite a large car and with its relatively low seating position and high dashboard, things can feel a little intimidating to begin with. You need to give the car more throttle to get it moving than you would in a ‘traditional’ automatic and the brakes require a firm press to get them to bite. But after you’re acquainted, the Purosangue makes things quite easy, with the gearbox shifting smoothly on its own and the ride doing a great job of taking the worst of the lumps and bumps the road.

Allow that V12 engine to stretch, however, and you’ll find yourself in a car that’ll gladly play the role of the out-and-out sports car. In classic Ferrari fashion, the Purosangue’s steering is quick but accurate and this helps the car to feel smaller and more agile than its exterior dimensions would lead you to believe. Coupled with some delightful balance and it makes for a car which is far more rewarding to drive than any of its current rivals within the market.

How does it look?

Against other similar cars in the segment the Purosangue stands out considerably. It draws styling cues from other models within the Ferrari stable but blends them into something which looks like few other things on the road. In a striking blue colour scheme with eye-catching yellow Ferrari shields, ‘our’ Purosangue certainly turned heads wherever it went. The slim headlights, however, seem to work against it night – they don’t offer the level of illumination that you’d expect.

The raised ground clearance over the older GTC4 Lusso gives the Purosangue even more presence out on the road. While we were very fond of the shooting brake-esque styling of its predecessor, the new Purosangue still looks very well thought-out in terms of design and feel.

What’s it like inside?

As mentioned, the Purosangue is a dedicated four-seater, so as practical as a ‘traditional’ SUV is certainly isn’t. However, with two individual seats at the rear, you’re getting a more executive experience than usual, though knee room can be a little tight if you’ve got a taller driver or passenger ahead of you.

Boot capacity stands at a very usable 473 litres, too, and as mentioned, you can lower the rear seats should you want to increase it. Against more ‘traditional’ Ferrari models it is comparatively roomy and offers more than enough storage room for those four occupants to bring luggage along for the ride.

What’s the spec like?

There’s no getting around it – the Purosangue is a very expensive car. Our test car, incorporating options such as £3,077 privacy laminated windows and forged wheels costing £6,490, came in at an eye-watering £487,548. There’s a good chance that with a few more extras, you could make the Purosangue into a half-a-million-pound car. In the time of credit crunches and budget constraints, the Purosangue certainly flies in the opposite direction.

But the level of finish is, as you’d expect, excellent. The Purosangue both looks and feels special, with top-notch materials used throughout. The infotainment system – which does away with a central screen – isn’t bad, though Apple CarPlay is a pain to use. It’s a system designed for touchscreens, so navigating it using the touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel makes operating it too much hassle when you’re on the move. The large central screen of the new 12Cilindri is more intuitive in comparison.

Verdict

There are many areas where the Purosangue shies away from current convention. Its price is extortionate and its V12 engine goes against the current trend for downsizing and maximum efficiency. But the Purosangue is so well executed that it leads you to forget about these factors and revel in a car which feels both sublimely finished and wonderfully engaging.

Ferrari doesn’t want to call the Purosangue an SUV, but against a company of high-riding rivals, it is by far the most convincing blend of performance and practicality.