Finished in a bright shade of blue with yellow accents, there’s no denying that the Purosangue makes a bold statement
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by Brad Anderson
6 hours ago
- The Ferrari Purosangue starts at £313,000 but easily climbs over £500,000 with options.
- The 6.5-liter naturally-aspirated V12 makes the Purosangue an absolute rocketship.
- Hammond finds the Purosangue overpriced while Harris is more impressed with its capabilities.
The Ferrari Purosangue was always bound to divide opinions. After all, it’s one of the most controversial and unconventional vehicles the Italian carmaker has produced in recent memory. So, it’s no surprise that some automotive journalists love it while others can’t stand it. Case in point: the differing views of Chris Harris and Richard Hammond.
Both Harris and Hammond recently had the opportunity to drive exactly the same bright-blue Purosangue in the UK and have dropped their reviews without a few days of each other. They couldn’t be any more different, as Hammond hates the new Ferrari SUV while Harris comes away quite impressed.
Read: Ferrari Dealer Sues Customer For Flipping His Purosangue
A lot of Hammond’s distaste for the Purosangue seems to stem from just how exorbitantly expensive it is. In the UK, it starts at an eye-watering £313,000 (~$399,000) before options, but the example he tested was closer to half a million. It’s special blue paint is worth £22,500 (~$28,600), the yellow pinstripes are an extra £14,500 (~$18,500), and the painted Ferrari shields on the front quarter panels are £9,500 (~$12,100). That’s a lot of money, regardless of how rich you are.
The former Top Gear host also thinks the SUV’s infotainment system is far too complicated and couldn’t even work out how to turn off the heated seats. He admits he doesn’t understand Ferraris in general, but acknowledges the Purosangue feels “immensely competent, capable, sure-footed, powerful, [and] bloody fast.”
Chris Harris is far more enthusiastic about Ferrari’s first foray into the crowded SUV market. He’s especially impressed with the Purosangue’s suspension system, which he praises for its exceptional capability and its ability to keep the SUV level and agile. That said, he does note that the suspension can feel a bit too busy when tackling rough roads.
The interior, however, stands out as a major highlight. Harris goes as far as to say Ferrari might just be producing the finest and highest-quality interiors in the automotive world right now, setting a benchmark that others will struggle to match.