The Lamborghini Urus is entering its ninth year on the market. And the least we can say is that he saved the company. In fact, around 60% of Lamborghini sales are attributable to this model. The Lamborghini brand has often been criticized for the proximity of its cars to Audi and Porsche, but we love it even more today for these same reasons. Because if the new Temerario stands out more on a technical level, its German genes are far from harming it.
It’s no secret that the Urus shares several of its elements with other SUVs in the large Volkswagen family. Starting with its MLB platform, used for the design of the Porsche Cayenne, the Bentley Bentayga and even the Volkswagen Touareg, still offered in Europe. However, since last year, the Urus has used a new mechanical configuration, allowing it to penetrate without heavy taxation the markets where vehicles with large displacement or high consumption have become enemies. As with the Revuelto and the Temerario, the Urus therefore offers a plug-in hybrid engine, allowing you to travel 56 kilometers completely electric, before the 4-liter biturbo V8 necessarily kicks in.
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You guessed it, the Urus incorporates technical elements taken from the talented Porsche Cayenne Turbo e-Hybrid, with a significant increase in power. Here we go to 789 horsepower, a total gain of 132 horsepower compared to the previous Performante version. Moreover, be sure, Lamborghini does not intend to stop there, since it is currently concocting a Performance version of this new version, whose power should well exceed 800 horsepower.
Never mind, I have to admit to having rediscovered the Urus by getting behind the wheel of this SE 2026 version. Painted in a slightly bluish white (Bianco Sapphirus), very chic in appearance, especially with the earth-colored interior (Terra Kapnos), and therefore totally the opposite of these models with colors amazing and which certainly do not go unnoticed. Note, the color choices at Lamborghini are almost endless, which explains why the Urus can adopt different personalities.
That of a classic, adventurous or downright exotic vehicle. Needless to say, the possibilities for customization are also endless. A real pleasure for the consumer who can give free rein to their most cutting-edge whims in order to create the vehicle of their dreams down to the smallest details. Of course, all this has a price, but for this clientele the amount indicated on the invoice is often secondary…
In the hearts of retirees
During a stay in Florida I was able to get my hands on a brand new Urus SE, parked at the residence rented during this short trip. It was located in the heart of a peaceful neighborhood where mainly retired people live. An environment dotted with waterways, exotic birds and large plots of land where each passerby takes the time to greet you. Needless to say, a Urus is not a common sight in these neighborhoods, where there are dozens of Buick Enclaves and Chrysler 300s. and Lincoln Aviator.
Why this context? To show you the relevance of a plug-in hybrid system that allows you to start the Urus silently and drive peacefully without the powerful V8 roaring to the point of frightening residents and wildlife. And in this sense, this technology becomes more appreciable than ever. Then simply engage Sport mode and the combustion engine comes into play, with a certain growl. That said, when driving in Strada mode, the gasoline engine turns out to be relatively discreet, the exhaust then being more restrictive. Unlike Corsa mode, where the flaps open to the maximum, making the hairs on your arms stand up. As if the mechanics inhabited your own body, right down to the decelerating backfire that practically recalls gunshots.
The test carried out on public roads did not allow us to push the monster to the extreme. However, a few more open secondary roads were ideal for discovering the various personalities and therefore all the versatility of the Urus, which ages like good wine. In Strada mode, it demonstrates exceptional refinement through its comfort, flexibility and soundproofing, while the capabilities of a true Olympic athlete are revealed once Corsa mode is activated.
The mechanical refinement resulting from this twin-turbo V8 is almost unrivaled in the industry. Pure operating pleasure, in combination with a perfectly calibrated 8-speed ZF gearbox and rear wheel steering whose angle varies depending on the selected driving mode. Speaking of mode, it is also possible to force the use of electric mode, optimize consumption and even recharge the 25.9 kWh battery using the gasoline engine, with a view to future electric use. Obviously, you can recharge it at home on a level 2 terminal, but many users choose the mechanical option instead, making the exercise easier depending on the circumstance.
Princely comfort
It’s amazing how the Urus is able to offer an extraordinary level of comfort. Its air suspension has a lot to do with it, but its assembly quality and its level of soundproofing are not left out. Often, so-called exotic SUVs have the disadvantage of requiring compromises. Think Aston Martin’s DBX or worse, Mercedes-Benz’s G-Class. Vehicles that are more advanced to drive, not necessarily comfortable and which, beyond the image they project, quickly become boring. Quite the opposite of the Urus which we appreciate more every day, since depending on our mood of the moment, the latter provides us with padded comfort or unbeatable performance.
In addition, the interior is impressive in terms of finish and presentation. Certainly, we observe some small wrinkles since the changes made since 2018 are minor. On the other hand, the quality of the materials and the attention paid to details are remarkable. Note that over time, certain ergonomic shortcomings have been corrected, thus facilitating the use of the countless controls. Could the imposing levers on the console used to activate the driving modes have been swapped for simple buttons, which would have allowed for improved storage space? To ask the question is to answer it!
That said, these are part of the design elements of this interior, certainly more comfortable than that of a Mercedes-AMG G63, but also more ergonomic than that of the sacrosanct Ferrari Purosangue.
The Urus is a vehicle on which four people and their luggage can be accommodated in complete comfort, and which even surprises with the ergonomics of its trunk and the overall visibility. In short, if the Italian SUV disappointed in terms of assembly quality when it arrived in 2018, it has been refined over time to become a very high quality vehicle.
Will buyers become disillusioned?
Sales have been going well since the introduction of the Urus SE. That said, time shows that buyers’ interest in anything plug-in hybrid in the world of exotic vehicles is disillusioning. Reliability problems accumulate and, as a result, enthusiasts/collectors turn to other products. With the repercussion of a very strong depreciation… If the risk is greater with this type of technology on the sports car side, it is however less with SUVs. Proof of this is the success of the e-Hybrid versions of the Porsche Cayenne, which today account for more than 30% of sales.
We can therefore consider that the adoption of this technology which, in any case, was necessary for the manufacturer, constitutes a reduced risk compared to this same exercise carried out on the Revuelto and Temerario, where part of the customer base could regret this change. At least this is what we are currently seeing at Ferrari with the 296 GTB and SF90, which are seeing their market value melt like snow in the sun while reliability problems accumulate. Fingers crossed that the situation is different at Lamborghini, where the range is more restricted.
La taxe de luxe fichue…
The price of entry for the Urus in the country is around $320,000, including freight/PDI and dealer fees. However, you will undoubtedly check options worth 20 to 25% of this sum, thus increasing the bill to around $400,000.
In our case, the paint option alone increased the price by $25,039, while the panoramic roof and the ventilated seats with massage function each added $4,426 to the total price. Result: a final bill of $431,166, including $111,156 in options.
To this total sum, we must add an additional $1,000 for a polluting vehicle (Green Levy Tax), without forgetting the applicable federal luxury tax, which accounts for 10% of the total price. An amount of $43,228 which brings the total bill to just over $475,000 without taxes. For a total amount of $546,720. So yes, it goes up very quickly! Â But in the world of luxury and exclusivity, this factor is unfortunately not the most important.
