A LATECOMER'S ADVANTAGES

An in-depth review of the 2025 Ferrari Purosangue SUV.

- WORDS ROBERT STEDMAN

While other luxury automakers scrambled to be the first to provide an SUV, Ferrari was conspicuously absent from the lineup.

The Italian luxury brand took its time. When it finally arrive, the Purosangue SUV, which was designed and engineered to be a Ferrari first, shocked and impressed just about everyone. And for those that aren't up on their Italian, "Purosangue" translates to "thoroughbred" in English and is an apt moniker.

This was no boxy, hastily designed, haphazard SUV. Instead, the exotic-looking Purosangue has a broad, low stance and a seductive, wide-shouldered appearance. But nothing detracts from the Purosangue's primary purpose, which is to excite. The Purosangue stands out more than any of its competitors, thanks to its iconic design, naturally aspirated V-12 engine that produces 715 horsepower, all-wheel-drive system modelled after the Ferrari FF's, and innovative adaptive suspension technology that nearly eliminates body roll. For Ferrari, being late appears to have had its advantages.

The main competitors for the Purosangue include the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Aston Martin DBX, and Lamborghini Urus. In many ways, like its competition, this Ferrari is, in every sense, a fantastic SUV. However, the Purosangue does have a few oddities, such as an overly complicated steering wheel with numerous controls and the absence of a central touchscreen to handle vehicle operations. Instead, Ferrari has opted for a complex, haptic system. There is a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster and a secondary 10.2-inch screen for the front passenger, but there isn't a central infotainment display. Although Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, Ferrari does not offer an in-dash navigation system, as it assumes that most people will use their phones for this purpose.