Name: Ferrari 296 GTB and GTS | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Ferrari 296
Rating: 96

Summary

Proof that not even luxury supercar brands can escape the surge in automotive electrification, the Ferrari 296 is a mid-engined V6 super-coupé GTB or targa-roofed GTS that also happens to be a plug-in hybrid.

The 296 is the second Ferrari series production model to arrive in the UK that can travel on electric power alone, after the SF90 Stradale. It’s also the first roadgoing V6 model that Ferrari has produced since the Dino 246 GTB ended production in 1974.

However, having fewer cylinders doesn’t mean that the 296 is any less powerful than the V8 models in the Ferrari arsenal. The 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged engine is capable of producing more than 650hp and works in tandem with a 165hp electric motor. That produces a combined output of more than 800hp, almost 100hp more than the combustion-powered Ferrari F8 which the 296 will eventually replace. Plus it has an official electric range of around 16 miles.

Described by Top Gear as the supercar that will give McLaren “sleepless nights”, the Ferrari 296 GTB has had an overwhelmingly positive reception from British reviewers, universally highlighted for what Car calls “accessible high performance, mind-blowing dynamics and style crammed with real substance.” Journalists have also shared their enthusiasm for the coupé’s exterior design, which Ferrari says is inspired by the 250 LM sports car from the 1960s.

While the majority of reviewers were impressed by the Ferrari’s ability to cruise in near silence, others are not as impressed by the electrified evolution of modern Ferrari models. The Telegraph comments that “the hybrid system is adding performance far more than it’s saving the planet.” Some reviews also reported that the battery drains quickly, meaning that the car is mostly operating purely on petrol power.

Some motoring outlets also found the 296’s touch-sensitive steering wheel controls to be rather irritating, while limited boot space means there isn’t much room to accomodate shopping bags or travel luggage. The price is also steep, with optional extra packages that cost more than a full Ford Focus.

That said, the 296 GTB is regarded as a benchmark for the supercar sector – a coupé that Autocar concludes is “the latest in a long line of fabulous Ferraris that gains EV ability, but loses nothing of its drivability.”

The Ferrari 296 GTS was launched several months after the GTB coupé, but has scored similarly high praise from critics. The driving experience is almost unchanged despite losing the roof, while adding an open-top experience to further enhance summer driving.

As of December 2023, the Ferrari 296 range holds an outstanding Expert Rating of 96%, making the highest-scoring car in our Expert Rating Index. This includes both the GTB coupé and GTS targa versions.

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Ferrari 296 highlights

Enormous performance from hybrid powertrain
Agile handling and body control
More appealing styling than many recent Ferraris
Able to coast in eco-friendly silence

Ferrari 296 lowlights

Very expensive base price with many pricey options
Touch-sensitive switchgear is irritating
Not particularly practical for day-to-day use

Key specifications

Body style: Two-door, mid-engined coupé
Engines: petrol/electric plug-in hybrid
Price: From £241,550 on-road

Launched: Spring 2022
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: 296 GTS
Score: 10 / 10
“Any concerns that chopping the roof off the Ferrari 296 might dent the excitement it can generate disappear the first time you make the most of that 819bhp output. In terms of speed, sophistication and refinement, the 296 Spider remains an incredible piece of engineering. That it also maintains the theatre and thrills of the great Ferraris sends it right towards the top of the supercar pile.” (Alex Ingram)
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Model reviewed: GTB coupé
Score: 10 / 10
“Given the incredible level of power, the Ferrari 296 GTB is so easy to drive quickly but, importantly, so much fun, too. The clever chassis electronics give it an approachability that means you can make the most of the glorious powertrain, which sounds superb. Yet again Ferrari has put clear water between it and its rivals – if this is how Ferrari will approach electrification in the future, there’s nothing to worry about.”
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Autocar+

Model reviewed: GTB coupe
Score: 10 / 10
“Benign and adaptable but also wildly quick and expressive, the Ferrari 296 GTB is spectacular to drive and the V6 also sounds stunning. It is usable yet oh so special and its clear manner belies its complexity. Ferrari continues to set the standard.”
Author: Richard Lane
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Model reviewed: 296 GTS
Score: 10 / 10
“Is the GTS the Ferrari 296 to have? Well, for those who drive only on the road, I don’t think there’s any meaningful reason to favour the GTB because its drop-top twin is every bit as quick and precise as you’d ever need. It’s just so fun-loving and cohesive, and its breadth is astounding. Nonsense? Yes, but nonsense as an art form.”
Author: Richard Lane
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Model reviewed: 296 GTB Assetto Fiorano coupé
Score: 9 / 10
“Altogether, the 296 GTB is an exceptionally good supercar, and the head-to-head with the Artura will be something to savour.”
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Car+

Model reviewed: GTB coupé
Score: 10 / 10
“Oozing power, poise and panache from every pore, this Ferrari challenges and satisfies all six senses. The steep price, long waiting list and compromised daily-driver appeal will rule out the 296 GTB for most, but the elite minority should be forming a disorderly queue for the finest Ferrari sports car in years. Accessible high performance, mind-blowing dynamics and style crammed with real substance. Truly the Ferrari 296 GTB has it all.”
Author: Georg Kacher
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Model reviewed: 296 GTS Spider
Score: 10 / 10
“Complex cabin aside, the new Ferrari 296 GTS is an indisputable triumph for Ferrari and one that joins a long list of legendary Maranello drop tops. Whereas some could accuse the GTB of being a touch too serious, the GTS is not. Taking the roof of a car is a simple idea, but one that’s difficult to execute.”
Author: James Dennison
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Daily Mail+

Model reviewed: GTB coupé
“The new Ferrari 296 GTB is a significant new entrant for the iconic Italian brand. That’s because at its heart is a new V6 engine that marks a leaner, cleaner – but no less meaner – chapter for Ferrari, which it declares to be ‘epoch-changing’.”
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Driving Electric+

Model reviewed: GTB coupé
Score: 10 / 10
“The second plug-in hybrid supercar to emerge from Maranello is another triumph, showing Ferrari fans have nothing to fear from electrification.”
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Evo+

Model reviewed: GTB coupé
Score: 10 / 10
“Ferrari’s first V6-powered road car redefines the £200,000 supercar with blistering pace and an entertaining chassis”
Author: Adam Towler
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Model reviewed: 296 GTS
Score: 9 / 10
“The Ferrari 296 GTS shows near-no compromise to its tin-top relative, and is a staggeringly good open-top supercar as a result.”
Author: Jethro Bovingdon
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The Sun+

Model reviewed: GTB coupé
“Good Lord, this car is blinding. It’s the mutt’s nuts. Front-end grip is mega. The steering scalpel-sharp. The brakes like anchors. And it’s fast. Crazy fast. The Ferrari 296 is easy to drive fast and easy to drive slow. It’s a ballerina with an iron fist. We all know Ferrari has to be seen to be doing the right thing as we rush head-first towards electrification. But actually this car is genius.”
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The Sunday Times+

Model reviewed: 296 GTB
“One and a half tonnes of explosively fast fun” (Jeremy Clarkson)
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Model reviewed: 296 GTS
Score: 10 / 10
“The Ferrari 296 GTS is an astounding creation, using its electrification to the benefit of performance while retaining the high level of engagement and usability for which Ferrari supercars have become known. That it can be driven and enjoyed by those of all skill levels, in everyday scenarios as much as on the racetrack is a remarkable achievement.” (Shane O’Donoghue)
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“Having the ability to cruise around in silent, stealthy electric mode will be an advantage for some customers, but the 296 GTB is at its best when the hybrid system is used for performance. Do that, and the Ferrari becomes one of the best and most spectacular supercars that money can buy.”
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The Telegraph+

Model reviewed: GTB coupé
Score: 8 / 10
“I’ve got a feeling this is the future for supercars and while I admire the engineering and skill that goes into them, I’m not entirely sure I’m going to enjoy driving them that much.”
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Top Gear+

Model reviewed: GTB coupé
Score: 10 / 10
“A huge accomplishment. A successor to the legendary Dino. A genius bit of technical development. A warning shot across McLaren’s bows. Proof downsizing can improve the breed. Evidence that Ferrari has fully got its head around hybrid and electricity. Any and all are true. But this is probably the one that matters most: the Ferrari 296 GTB is the best supercar available today.”
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What Car?+

Model reviewed: 296 GTB
Score: 10 / 10
“The Ferrari 296 GTB is a highly complex car, but it’s not highly complex to drive, and that’s what makes it so special. Ferrari has managed to seamlessly blend the advantages of electrification with none of the drawbacks we’ve seen in other plug-in hybrid performance cars. It’s a genius piece of engineering and proves that an electrified future need not be boring.”
Author: Neil Winn
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Safety rating

No safety rating

As of November 2023, the Ferrari 296 has not been tested by Euro NCAP. Due to its price and exclusivity, it is unlikely to be crash tested.

Eco rating

No eco rating

As of November 2023, the Ferrari 296 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. Again, we’re not expecting it to happen anytime soon – so you’ll just have to imagine how eco-friendly an 800hp supercar (albeit a plug-in hybrid) is likely to be.

Reliability rating

As of November 2023, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Ferrari 296 GTB to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the 296, we’ll publish the score here.