First Drive: 2023 Ferrari Purosangue SUV Review
Ferrari's first-ever 4-seater is an all-natural, all-wheel drive super-crossover engineered for the family on the go. Canada Drives trekked to Pinzolo, Italy for a first drive opportunity behind the wheel of this 715-horsepower machine to see what makes a $486,385 Ferrari SUV tick.
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Leave it to Ferrari to introduce their first-ever SUV… and make it unlike any other premium SUV on the road today. While its main competitors played it safe and went for the classic tall and boxy shape, or the tall and couple-like shape, the design centre in Maranello created something completely different.
What’s more, the engineers disregarded turbocharging and electrification entirely, opting instead to make the Purosangue the latest in a long line of V12-powered Ferrari models.
2023 Ferrari Purosangue | Photo: Ferrari
Key Features:
- First-ever 4-door / 4-seater Ferrari in history
- One of the rare naturally aspirated V-12 engines still on the road today
- Surprisingly spacious passenger cabin with decent cargo room
- Patent pending exterior design, purebred Ferrari under the surface
Direct Competitors:
- Aston Martin DBX707
- Bentley Bentayga Speed
- Lamborghini Urus Performante
- Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S 4MATIC
- Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT
Given the obsession with SUVs in major automotive markets such as America and China, it was inevitable that Ferrari joined the parade and released one of its own. Except the Purosangue is not an SUV, it’s more like a high-riding concept car brought to life. The exterior design is so unique, it’s been submitted to the international patent office.
In person, the exterior shell appears to be floating on top of the platform with the lower part of the car, from the wheel arches on down, coloured black. This was a specific decision designed to make the Ferrari appear sleeker and give it the proportions of a GT car.
2023 Ferrari Purosangue | Photo: Ferrari
The Italian firm is not shy when it comes to bold design—consider the California or the FF—and the Purosangue continues that theme. The design is also clearly spent some time in the Ferrari wind tunnel—there are air ducts everywhere, ducts for cooling, ducts for downforce, ducts for days.
How much will the 2023 Ferrari Purosangue cost in Canada?
Well, if you have to ask, the going rate is CDN $486,385. Now, make no mistake: That’s a lot of money, even for a Ferrari. But when you consider that V-12, those four seats and that cargo space, some might consider it a bargain.
New Ferrari SUV interior: high-performance for four
2023 Ferrari Purosangue | Photo: Ferrari
The big story here is one of configuration and the uncompromising approach the designers took with the Purosangue. First, they knew they wanted four individual seats with a reasonable amount of space for each. (Ferrari has offered 4-seaters in the past, but the rear seats have been too small to accommodate adults for any length of time.)
The designers also knew they didn’t want to create a vehicle so large it would compromise the handling and performance. Enter: the rear suicide doors or, as Ferrari prefers to call them, welcome doors. Fixed to the car through rear hinges, these doors open wide to make it easier for passengers to climb aboard. This enabled the designers to keep the wheelbase for the Purosangue and its overall length as short as possible.
F1-inspired steering wheel and the largest cargo area of any Ferrari in history
2023 Ferrari Purosangue | Photo: Ferrari
The seats themselves are incredibly comfortable. The front seats are adjustable via a dial in the centre console, all four seats are heated and the rear seats recline. The seats in the back also fold flat to increase cargo carrying capacity; even with the seats up, the Purosangue has the largest cargo area of any Ferrari in history.
As to the driving environment, well, it takes some getting used to. The steering wheel, inspired by Formula One racing, contains a dizzying number of dials, switches and controls. Not all of them are intuitive. But the one switch that’s most important, the manettino, is easy enough to operate: click to select one of the five driving modes from “ice” to “all systems off” and push to choose from the three different suspension settings.
2023 Ferrari Purosangue | Photo: Ferrari
2023 Ferrari Purosangue power, handling and other driving impressions
Under the sleek surface, the Purosangue is powered by a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V-12 engine (715 hp; 528 lb-ft), another surprising decision given the move towards electrification. Ferrari itself has some incredible hybrids in the fleet, such as the 296 and the SF90. While the reps didn’t confirm or deny a hybrid version of the Purosangue down the road, this bad boy is an all-natural, all-wheel drive super-crossover engineered for the family on the go.
2023 Ferrari Purosangue | Photo: Ferrari
A modern Ferrari GT with higher ride height?
Here’s the upset: The Purosangue drives like any modern Ferrari GT, except with a higher ride height.
The V-12 is mounted towards the middle of the car and the eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle is at the back, helping to ensure a near-optimal 49:51 weight distribution. The engine is calibrated to deliver 80 percent of maximum torque at just 2,100 rpm, meaning it's incredibly flexible around town.
Yet, when the mood strikes, the V-12 screams all the way up to 8.250 rpm. The transmission is engineered for quick shifts; the 100 km/h mark comes up fast, in just 3.3 seconds. Top speed is an eye-watering 310 km/h.
2023 Ferrari Purosangue | Photo: Ferrari
The Purosangue features all sorts of other technological advances, including all-wheel drive, an active suspension system, four-wheel steering, torque vectoring for the front axle and an e-differential for the rear axle.
All of this adds up to an incredibly composed car that’s capable of stratospheric levels of grip and handling—in other words, a modern Ferrari GT with higher ride height.
Verdict: Is the 2023 Ferrari Purosangue worth $400K+?
If you’re fortunate enough to be on Ferrari’s preferred client list, you should definitely beg, borrow and steal your way into the new Purosangue. The availability of a gas-powered V-12 engine is a rare occurrence these days. Even more rare is the fact that this V12-powered car is a legitimate weekend warrior with space for four adults and optional racks to carry skis and bikes.
2023 Ferrari Purosangue | Photo: Ferrari
Ready to buy a luxury SUV?
Let’s be honest: likely nobody reading this review is buying a Ferrari Purosangue anytime soon. Good news, you can still get your hands on a premium SUV in the used market at more affordable prices. We have plenty to choose from here. All fully certified, backed by our no-charge 30 Day / 1,500 km warranty, and a 7 day return policy. Shop from home, have it delivered to your home. It’s that simple.
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