Skip advert
Advertisement

“The Ferrari Purosangue isn’t going to tick all the boxes SUV buyers might want”

Editor-in-chief Steve Fowler thinks the new Ferrari Purosangue will struggle to match the practicality of other luxury SUVs

Opinion - Ferrari Purosangue

No matter how much Ferrari protests, the new Purosangue is an SUV. “It’s a sports car opening a new segment,” CEO Benedetto Vigna insisted when the cover was pulled off the car for the first time.

As you might expect, many Ferrari customers also own and use SUVs, with the Range Rover particularly popular. Even Ferrari vice-chairman Piero Ferrari, son of founder Enzo Ferrari, apparently has a Range Rover to tool around in. Unsurprisingly, he’s been a real driving force behind the new Purosangue.

But as much as I’m sure the Purosangue will be a brilliant Ferrari – and we’ve seen nothing but brilliance from the most famous of Italian brands of late – I don’t think the Purosangue is going to tick all the boxes its buyers will want. In short, I don’t think it’s going to be good enough at doing the things SUVs do so well.

Advertisement - Article continues below

People love SUVs at all ends of the market because they make life easy and project an image many like. The Purosangue scores on the latter point, but having spent some time crawling over the car, I think it’s closer to a Ferrari saloon car than an SUV; it lacks the practicality that makes Ferrari owners also buy Range Rovers.

The boot, at 473 litres, is smaller than a Nissan Qashqai’s. A Range Rover gives you 725 litres. The Ferrari will resolutely only seat four. Then there are rear-hinged doors – a pain to use on the Vauxhall Meriva and just as awkward on the Purosangue. And is the driving position, deliberately set low, going to give owners the same great view out they love in a Range Rover? I don’t think so.

I asked design boss Flavio Manzoni if the brand had used clinics to gauge reaction to the car. His reaction was a dismissive “no”. Ferrari obviously knows best.

I’ve no doubt Ferraristi will race to get Purosangues, as they do every other new Ferrari. But I reckon they’ll hold on to their Range Rovers, as may many buyers considering a Purosangue as their very first Ferrari.

Click here for our list of the best SUVs on sale right now...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Steve Fowler has previously edited Auto Express, Carbuyer, DrivingElectric, What Car?, Autocar and What Hi-Fi? and has been writing about cars for the best part of 30 years. 

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best hypercars 2025
Best hypercars - header image September 2024

Best hypercars 2025

Extraordinarily fast and exceedingly rare, these are the best hypercars of all-time
Best cars & vans
12 May 2025
Ferrari Elettrica: official glimpse of Italian brand’s first EV promised for October
Ferrari EV Mule - front end

Ferrari Elettrica: official glimpse of Italian brand’s first EV promised for October

It appears the full reveal of Ferrari’s first fully electric car will take place next spring
News
7 May 2025
Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond
Best new cars coming soon - header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond

These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
8 Apr 2025
Most expensive cars ever sold at auction
Most expensive cars - header image

Most expensive cars ever sold at auction

We count down the ten classics that have fetched the highest prices at auction
Best cars & vans
6 Feb 2025

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: Sacre bleu! The Renault 5 keeps getting cheaper
Renault 5 - front full width

Car Deal of the Day: Sacre bleu! The Renault 5 keeps getting cheaper

The modern-day Super Cinq comes with a super price. It’s our Deal of the Day for 14 May
News
14 May 2025
Confirmed: New VW Golf GTI will be electric – and it’s a “monster”
VW Golf GTI badge

Confirmed: New VW Golf GTI will be electric – and it’s a “monster”

VW is taking the iconic hot hatchback brand into the electric era with the new Golf GTI EV already in development…
News
13 May 2025
Want a new small car? You probably can’t afford one and car bosses blame the EU
Luca de Meo - Renault 5

Want a new small car? You probably can’t afford one and car bosses blame the EU

Renault and Stellantis bosses demand changes to the emissions rules driving up new car prices
News
15 May 2025