2023-ferrari-purosangue-review

Estate

Aston Martin

Coupe

Ferrari

812 Superfast

GTC4 Lusso

Sports

Roma

On sale Now | Price from £313,120Ferrari has finally done what all its rivals already have, and given us an SUV. Well, sort of.  The company doesn’t like to use the phrase about the new Ferrari Purosangue, arguing that it’s a different sort of car to, say, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, and that at heart it’s still a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">sports car</a>.And maybe you can see where the argument’s coming from. The Purosangue – unlike the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bentley/bentayga/4x4/review/n17228">Bentley Bentayga</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lamborghini/urus/estate/review/n17868">Lamborghini Urus</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/estate/review/n17375">Porsche Cayenne</a> – isn’t built on underpinnings shared with any other more humdrum models.It has a bespoke aluminium structure with a huge engine in the front and there are only four seats inside what is the Italian car maker's first five-door car. It sits lower to the ground than all its rivals, too. It is, if you like, a more practical and habitable variant of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/gtc4-lusso/coupe/review/n17316">Ferrari GTC4 Lusso</a> two-door estate.As is typical in the class, there are no separate trim levels but there are a huge number of options and Ferrari expects buyers to tick quite a lot of them, adding to the Purosangue’s already lofty £313,120 list price. Only a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/rolls-royce/cullinan/4x4/review/n18282">Rolls-Royce Cullinan</a> asks a similar amount from customers.

What’s it like to drive?The Purosangue arrives with arguably the most spectacular of all engines fitted to tall cars like this. It’s a 6.5-litre V12 making 715bhp, and while most SUVs are about low-end grunt – with even the similarly mighty <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/dbx/estate/review/n21787">Aston Martin DBX</a> 707 making its peak torque at 2750rpm – the Purosangue’s peak torque doesn’t doesn’t arrive 6250rpm and maximum power until 7750rpm.Still, it’s a more muted and restrained engine than in, say, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/812-superfast/coupe/review/n17330">Ferrari 812 Superfast</a> – quieter but still rich and expansive. It drives smoothly through an eight-speed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">dual-clutch automatic gearbox</a> plus four-wheel drive.The GTC4 Lusso had a similar set-up – it’s not the sort of rugged 4WD system fitted to ‘proper’ SUVs, so the Purosangue can’t actually tow anything. What it does do is offer a really engaging driving experience.

The steering is just as quick as in other Ferraris but seems to have a gentler initial response, so it cruises easily and with lots of stability. The complex suspension (made in England) gives it a smooth, absorbent and yet very controlled ride.It’s as isolated and refined as we think you’d want a Ferrari SUV to be, while exciting when you want, too. There’s a really fine handling balance and, while we’d want a back-to-back test to say for sure, we think only a DBX707 or a Cayenne Turbo GT are similarly exciting to drive in this class.

What’s it like inside? The Purosangue has rear-hinged back doors, and they open independently of the front doors (unlike on the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i3/hatchback/used-review/n874">BMW i3</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/rx-8/coupe/used-review/n474">Mazda RX8</a> where you had to open the fronts first), with a pillar between the front and rear interior areas.Access to the four-seat interior is easy. The gearbox is mounted at the rear, between the two rear chairs, so it can’t be a full five-seater, but there’s decent head and leg room for back-seat occupants.

In the front, the seats are comfortable and there’s a heavily sculpted dashboard with touches that retain a familiar Ferrari feel, including a steering wheel heavy on buttons and drive-mode selectors. Ergonomics are improved over the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/roma/sports/review/n23650">Ferrari Roma</a> and 296, so it’s easier to scroll through a reduced number of screens. Sat-nav is by smartphone link only.The boot is 473 litres (compared with 600+ for all the rivals) and the load area doesn’t fold flat, although you can specify a load cover so you don’t damage the seat backs. You can get an optional rack that mounts to the tailgate for bikes and skis.VerdictFerrari is right, the Purosangue doesn’t feel like an SUV, or at least not like one from any of its rivals. If anything, it feels like a jacked-up variant of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/gtc4-lusso/coupe/review/n17316">Ferrari GTC4 Lusso</a> – the sort of model that would get Cross Country or Scout or Allroad badging if it were a slightly tall estate.It’s a luxury sports coupé like the GTC4 Lusso but made more practical by the appearance of rear doors and the fact that, with a 185mm ground clearance, you won’t be worried about cracking a carbon-fibre splitter on a steep driveway.Like all Ferraris, it’s highly consumptive and expensive, but it feels true to the brand – and that's not something you can say of many cars like this.What Car? rating  4 stars out of 5For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">Ferrari Purosangue</h3>Price £313,120 Engine 6.5-litre petrol Power 715bhp Torque  528lb ft Gearbox 8-spd dual-clutch automatic, four-wheel drive Top speed 193mph 0-62mph 3.3sec Fuel economy 16.5mpg (WLTP) CO2/tax 393g/km, 37%Rivals: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/dbx/estate/review/n21787">Aston Martin DBX</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lamborghini/urus/estate/review/n17868">Lamborghini Urus</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/estate/review/n17375">Porsche Cayenne</a><hr /><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-suvs/n20200">Read more: Best Sports SUVs &gt;&gt;</a></h2>

One of the world’s most famous brands and an integral part of the Formula 1 grid since the first championship in 1950, Ferrari fully lives up to its exalted reputation, producing some of the best sports cars money can buy.

Its entry-level model (although that term hardly seems appropriate) is the Portofino convertible, which is powered by a twin-turbo V8 and capable of blasting from 0-62mph in 3.5sec.

Then further up the range you find the mid-engined 488s, in coupé and Spider forms, and two GT cars: the GTC4 Lusso and the appropriately named 812 Superfast, a V12 monster that can hit 211mph.

FERRARI

Purosangue

2023 Ferrari Purosangue review

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Strong performance</li> <li>Precise, feelsome steering</li> <li>Agile, entertaining handling</li> <li>Reasonable ride comfort</li> <li>Smart and practical interior</li></ul>

Needing a&nbsp;practical load-lugger doesn't mean you need to scrimp on power and sporting prowess. In fact, most sporty manufacturers now have dedicated sports SUVs in their line-up with 0-62mph times to rival cars half their size.

Sports SUV

2019-polestar-1-verdict

Everything about the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/polestar/1/coupe/review/n20539">Polestar 1</a> is designed to thrill, from its smile-inducing performance to its plush interior, from its high-tech propulsion system to its retro-futuristic styling. This is a car that will make its driver stand out. And despite our first drive being in a late-stage prototype model, the 1 has left us deeply impressed.If you're seeking something truly different, something to reward keen drivers while also fulfilling the plug-in hybrid promise of lower running costs, the 1 deserves a place on your shortlist.For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h3>Read more: the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2022/n17000">best electric cars</a> &gt;</h3><hr /><h3>2019 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/polestar/1/coupe/review/n20539">Polestar 1</a> specification</h3>Price £139,000 (est) Engine 4cyls, 1969cc, turbo, supercharger, petrol, plus two electric motors Power 600bhp combined (304bhp @ 6000rpm from engine, 114bhp from each motor) Torque 738lb ft combined (384lb ft from engine, 177lb ft from each motor) Gearbox 8-spd automatic 0-62mph 4.0sec (est) Top speed 155mph Kerb weight 2350kg Electric-only range 80 miles Fuel economy tbc CO2 tbc Rivals Bentley Continental GT, BMW i8, Porsche 911 Turbo<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-polestar-1-review-price-specs-and-release-date/n19598">&lt; Previous</a></h3><hr />Buy a new car with What Car?Before you buy, visit <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car?’s new car deals section</a>.We have discounted deals on most new cars on sale, so you're never far away from finding a new car deal in your area.It's all based on <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-target-price/n1433">Target Price</a>, which is the price we think you should pay based on research by our team of mystery shoppers, and the best discounts they can achieve.

Volvo is now a true rival to the likes of Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz, offering an alternative take on premium executive cars to a rapidly growing fanbase.

After a string of strong launches – notably with the Mk2 XC90 and XC60 SUVs – it struck gold in early 2018 when it launched its smallest SUV, the XC40. When our testers compared the car with its rivals, they concluded that it was the best launch of the previous 12 months, earning it our coveted overall Car of the Year Award.

The good news is that, like many car makers, Volvo now uses the same structure underneath most of its cars – so if they get it right on one model, it usually bodes well for the rest. That’s the case here, with Volvo’s subsequent saloon and estate launches complementing the SUVs and making for a generally extremely appealing line-up.

VOLVO

XC90

2019 Polestar 1: verdict

2018-kia-ceed-price-specs-and-release-date

The new <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ceed/hatchback/review/n17863">Kia Ceed</a> then. It will need to drive well in order to upset the family car market, and so far we’ve had a go in the turbo 1.4-litre with a manual gearbox, and the higher-powered diesel mated to a seven-speed dual clutch automatic.

<h3>2018 Kia Ceed on the road</h3>The Ceed has traditionally been a good car to drive (if not quite class-leading) and Kia – which is partnered with Hyundai – is trying to give its cars a more dynamic feel.In the case of the early 1.4 turbo with manual gearbox we tried, that’s evident. The Ceed steers relatively quickly – faster than a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf</a> – so feels quite agile, happy to change direction and it rides pretty well, too. It’s surprisingly rewarding and involving, while maintaining a strong degree of comfort.Its engine is smooth and quiet, with a gearshift quality that’s light and positive. It’s genuinely one of the nicest cars to drive in this class.The same’s less true of the diesel. At the time of writing, there’s still a bit of development work to be done on all models, but it’s the diesel that needs to have some of the top-end clatter quietened – which should be doable – but that the engine and gearbox combination is heavier also contributes to the diesel Ceed feeling less rewarding, and less comfortable, than the petrol version.

<h3>2018 Kia Ceed interior</h3>Again, there’s a bit of work to be done inside before the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ceed/hatchback/review/n17863">Kia Ceed</a> is production ready, but most of the plastics were full-production types.And for the most part that’s fine. Some of the plastics are a bit shinier and flimsier of feel than you’d find in a Golf or Octavia, but you don’t have to go very far from the top of the class to find cars that the Ceed is competitive with. Besides, if Kia’s form is anything to go by, it’ll undercut those cars on price.What’s interesting is that <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/kia">Kia</a> says the driver sits 7cm further back than in the previous Ceed, which helps the crash performance and also visibility around the A-pillars. That they’re also placed lower means headroom isn’t affected, so this is still quite an easy car to get comfortable in.The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ceed/hatchback/review/n17863">Kia Ceed</a> also has one of the largest boots in the class, after the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/308/hatchback/review/n17380">Peugeot 308</a> and class-best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/review/n39">Skoda Octavia</a> – although Kia argues the Octavia isn't a direct competitor. Unfortunately, as a result of that generous boot, rear legroom is no better than acceptable.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2018-kia-ceed-review-verdict/n16609">Next: 2018 Kia Ceed verdict &gt;</a>

Hatchback

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

CEED

2018 Kia Ceed - price, specs and release date

2018-kia-ceed-verdict

It’s hard to give a full verdict on the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ceed/hatchback/review/n17863">Kia Ceed</a> just yet, becuase there’s still quite a lot of work to be done between now and when it goes on sale in the UK. Between now and then there’s fit and finish to get right, sound-proofing to add, and perhaps even suspension and steering to tweak.That last bit, though, is one of the aspects that needs the least work. The Ceed is already a very respectable car to drive and once the rest of the package is finalised, we’d expect this to be seriously competitive in the family hatchback market.<hr />For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><hr /><h3>Rivals:</h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/review/n39">Skoda Octavia</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf</a><hr /><h3>Kia Ceed 1.4 T-GDi manual</h3>Price £20,000 (est) Engine 4cyl, 1396cc, petrol/diesel Power 138bhp Torque 178lb ft at 1500-3500rpm Gearbox 6-spd manual 0-62mph 9.0sec (est) Top speed 125mph (est) Official economy 55mpg (est) CO2, tax band 120g/km, 23% (est)

2018 Kia Ceed - verdict

2016-volkswagen-amarok-30-tdi-224

When the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/amarok/pick-up/review/n17220">Volkswagen Amarok</a> was launched in 2009 it immediately became the most distinctive - and arguably most desirable - double-cab pick-up truck on the market. It has stayed that way pretty much ever since, right up to the introduction of this facelifted version.Seven years is a long time to wait for a facelift, but even so visually not a great deal has changed on the Amarok’s outside; there are new bumpers, and that’s your lot. The bigger changes come inside and under the bonnet. Recently introduced pick-ups, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/navara/pick-up/used-review/n19737">Nissan Navara</a>, were making the Amarok’s cabin feel its age, so a newly designed dashboard brings, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/volkswagen">Volkswagen</a> hopes, a more car-like experience inside.The engine change is meant to bring a more refined experience, too: curiously, while most manufacturers are busy downsizing, the Amarok’s old 2.0-litre engine has been replaced by a 3.0-litre V6 diesel. VW says Amarok buyers wanted more power, and fair enough, instead of the 161bhp that the 2.0 made, this new V6 makes 221bhp at launch – though lower-powered versions, with 161bhp and 201bhp will also join the range.At launch, too, the Amarok will only come with permanent four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox, as befits a car that is mostly sold in its top-spec form: eight out of 10 Amaroks are sold in the highest trim level. Later, two-wheel drive and part-time 4wd, plus a manual gearbox, will be optional lower down the range

What is the 2016 Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI 224 like to drive?Volkswagen says that a lot of Amarok buyers move across form large SUVs and 4x4s, but if you do it’s worth bearing in mind that the Amarok is a commercial vehicle. It has bulky leaf springs for suspension and what’s known as a live rear axle – a solid beam – so it lacks the sophistication of a good contemporary 4x4 on the road.But that’s to be expected, really: after all, this is a car that has a payload of more than one tonne in its flat bed. And that being the case, the suspension is relatively impressive: some pick-ups are incredibly bouncy when they don’t have a load in the back because the springs are so stiff, but the Amarok is pretty comfortable.

From inside you can occasionally feel a shimmy through the seats and steering wheel over big bumps. Like most pick-ups, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/amarok/pick-up/review/n17220">VW Amarok</a> has a separate ladder chassis underneath, on which the body is mounted, rather than having an all-in-one monocoque chassis. The separate frame is rugged and strong, but it doesn’t feel as sophisticated as a regular large SUV.VW claims a 0-62mph time of 7.9sec for the new Amarok, but to make decent progress you’ll find yourself revving it more than you’d expect for a big, 3.0-litre V6 diesel. It’s not as smooth than similar V6s in the Volkswagen Group’s other cars, but the automatic gearbox it’s mated to is really slick.What is the 2016 Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI 224 like inside?It’s quite a climb up into the Amarok’s cabin, but once there you’ll find it has a far more car-like environment than the pre-facelift model, thanks to a clean and ergonomically sound new dashboard layout. The driving position is also good, and there’s ample room in the front for really tall drivers.Space in the back is rather more limited. It’s wide enough for three people, but adults will find knee-room at a premium if there’s a tallish adult in the front.That’s the inevitable result, of course, of making sure the rear load bay is big enough to hold a pallet whichever way around you turn it. The vast load bed comes with a number of securing hooks, and myriad options of load bay liners, and roller or hard top covers.

VW hasn’t yet announced the maximum load capacity for the Amarok, but it will be at least a tonne – which will see it eligible for beneficial tax terms as a commercial vehicle and make it competitive with rival pick-ups. This larger engine also means the Amarok's braked towing limit stands at a similarly competitive 3.5 tonnes.On the top Highline model that’ll be the first available and the biggest seller, there’s a big central touchscreen incorporating satellite navigation, which is easy to navigate, and helps lift the interior ambience. Perceived material quality isn’t up with the best estates or 4x4s: the plastics feel more like they belong in a Polo than a Passat, for example.Should I buy one?Volkswagen has realised that, as with SUVs, the upper limit on price and desirability that was perceived to exist probably doesn’t. So by the time you’ve got a top spec Amarok and put some options on it, you could be looking at a car that’ll cost you well over £35,000 (after VAT).But given the vast majority of Amarok owners pick the top model, it’s not surprising it thinks that the range could be pushed further upmarket. To that end, it has probably the most distinctive pick-up around, now with a smooth powerful engine – though one that uses less fuel, according to the official drive cycle, than its four-cylinder predecessor – and has what’s most likely the best-perceived, almost-premium badge of any rival.As we write, the Amarok is still a fair few months away from arriving in the UK, so whether it looks like great value compared with a Navara or the new <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/hilux/pick-up/review/n17270">Toyota Hilux</a> will be unknown until VW confirms prices. But, if you’re looking for a pick-up that meets the obvious commercial vehicle requirements yet adds a hint of showroom desirability that some of its rivals lack, you could do a lot worse than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/amarok/pick-up/review/n17220">VW Amarok</a>.<hr />What Car? says...Rated 4 out of 5<hr />For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><hr />Rivals: Nissan NavaraToyota Hilux<hr />Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI 224Engine size 3.0 V6 dieselPrice from £27,000 (approx)Power 221bhpTorque 405lb ft0-62mph 7.9secTop speed 120mphFuel economy (official combined) 37.1mpg (est)CO2/BIK band 199g/km/37% (est)

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

2016 Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI 224

ford-gt-2017-gallery

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

Ford GT 2017 gallery

ford-gt-2017-verdict-and-specs

<h3>Should I buy one?</h3>Unless you’ve already ordered a GT, you can’t buy one, because Ford received more than 6800 applications for the 1000 cars it’s eventually going to sell, and it’ll divvy up the allocation pretty quickly.What it doesn’t want, however, is cars languishing in big collections, so priority will go to people who will actually use their GTs. So expect to see them at shows and events rather than turned around quickly on the second-hand market for a profit, and when they do eventually go on sale, residuals will be strong, so even if you pick up a used one, it’s unlikely to lose you money.<hr />What Car? says...Rated 5 out of 5<hr /><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/ford-gt-2017-gallery/n15513">Ford GT gallery &gt;</a></h2>For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><hr /><h3>Ford GT</h3>Engine size 3.5 V6 turbo petrolPrice £420,000Power 647bhpTorque 550lb ft0-62mph 2.8secTop speed 216mphGov't economy (official combined) 14.0mpgCO2/BIK band tbcInsurance group  tbcAirbags 4Doors 2Seats 2On sale Now

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2023 Ferrari Purosangue review

2019 Polestar 1: verdict

2018 Kia Ceed - price, specs and release date

2018 Kia Ceed - verdict

2016 Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI 224

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