With the seemingly never-ending demand for more SUVs each year, it should come as no surprise that low-volume manufacturers are trying to get a piece of this multi-billion-dollar market segment. From the performance traditionalists at Ferrari to the sports car zealots at Lotus, no one is immune to the trend. Lamborghini was one of the first players to join this segment, but now this phenomenon has become a new reality for the industry, and one that we welcome with open arms because if the Lamborghini Urus shows us anything, it’s that super-SUVs bring exhilaration to a stale market segment.
As you’d expect from any product wearing the raging bull, the Urus is less of a performance SUV and more of a supercar in drag. It’s been on sale for four years now with little changes, but for 2023 Lamborghini answered the question no one was asking: How can the Urus be even more extreme? The answer comes in the form of the new Urus Performante, a lighter, more track-focused variant of Lamborghini’s best-selling SUV.
- 657 Horsepower
- 0-60 MPH In 3.3 Seconds
- 23″ Wheels Available
- 190 MPH Top Speed
- Model: Urus
- Engine:: 4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V-8
- Power Output: 657 HP
- Torque: 627 LB-FT
- Transmission: 8-Speed Automatic
- Driveline: AWD
- MSRP: $230,000-$260,676
- Class Leading Performance
- Stylish Interior
- Urus Performante Set New Pikes Peak Record
- Astronomical Price Tag
- Divisive Exterior Design
- Only 14 MPG City
2023 Lamborghini Urus Performance And Capability
Front three-quarters shot of a yellow Lamborghini Urus in action
The Urus is available in two trim levels: S and Performante, both of which are powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 that, for 2023, produces a maniacal 657 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. That’s right, this is one of the few cases where the entry-level and performance trim makes the same amount of power. Only in a Lamborghini!
When the Urus was released in 2019, people condoned the move as a cash grab by the small Italian manufacturer, but it has since proven to be anything but. Lamborghini is a brand with a tradition of building cars that embody excess, and the Urus is no different. With so much power on tap, you can see why it’s less family car and more of a practical alternative to the two-seat Huracan.
With an equal rating on the dyno, you may be wondering what is the point of the Performante variant? The difference between the two trim levels boils down to driving dynamics. Just like the Huracan lineup, the Urus Performante as CarandDriver found out, is the extreme track monster of the group. Lamborghini wouldn’t slap that nameplate on any product that isn’t ready to demolish records on track–in fact, the Urus Performante just set one at Pikes Peak.
The team at Sant’Agata overhauled the Urus to create the new Performante, and no stone was left unturned. The Performante sits nearly an inch lower than its stablemate because the air suspension was replaced with a lighter steel setup with anti-roll stabilization that is superior for track use.
Weight loss was also a major target. The Urus S weighs a hefty 4,844 pounds, and the team was able to curb that down to 4,740 pounds–not exactly Lotus territory, but 100 pounds is a helpful improvement. The lightweight titanium Akrapovič doesn’t just sound good, but it also helps with saving weight. The diet helps the Performante launch from 0-60 mph in just 3.3 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds better than the base model.
|
Engine Type |
4.0L V-8 |
4.0L V-8 |
|
Horsepower |
657 HP |
657 HP |
|
Torque |
627 LB-FT |
627 LB-FT |
|
Transmission |
8-Speed Auto |
8-Speed Auto |
|
0-60 |
3.5s |
3.3s |
|
Drive |
All-Wheel Drive |
All-Wheel Drive |
Exterior Design
Lamborghini’s are not the cars you evaluate according to traditional beauty standards. The Italian brand was built on brash design that boldly makes a statement, the kind of jaw-dropping poster cars like the Countach that hung on bedroom walls across the world. The Urus shares the bold genes of its ancestors. The front fascia is angular and aggressive, with cues that relate to the Aventador and Huracan, while still having its own distinct look.
As a part of the VW Group, Lamborghini used the same platform as the Audi Q8 for its own SUV. Despite platform sharing, you would hardly be able to tell, the Urus is truly unique, inside and out. With its angular design, and large intake vents on nearly every body panel, it’s not subtle, but buyers of this quarter-million-dollar SUV aren’t looking to blend in.
The Performante features front and rear bumpers that offer improved aerodynamic efficiency and the changes made result in 10 percent better downforce over the standard model. A carbon fiber hood and roof are standard on the Performante.
Be it the exterior paint, or the available carbon fiber packages, there really is no shortage of options that will allow you to further customize the Urus to make it your own. As for rims on the Urus S start, they start at 21-inch wheels, while 22-inch and 23-inch wheel upgrades are also available.
|
Length |
202.2 in |
|
Width |
79.8 in |
|
Height |
63.7 in |
|
Wheelbase |
118.3 in |
|
Curb Weight |
4,740-4,844 lbs |
Interior Quality And Technology
Lamborghini Urus interior shot
Any Lamborghini owner will feel at home inside the Urus. The designers carried over-familiar elements like the fighter pilot style starter button housed under a red cover and hexagonal patterns dispersed throughout the cabin. The Performate model gets a good dose of suede for an even sportier look and feel. Being a family SUV, on the other hand, the design team also added more conventional staples like two large touch screens with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, in the center console that handle the climate controls and infotainment, a touch that was obviously borrowed from Audi.
Lamborghini Urus infoitanment system
Since the screens handle the bulk of the functions, there aren’t many physical buttons on the center console. But the ones that are present simply look incredible. In keeping with the fighter jet theme, the drive mode and suspension controls are designed like the throttle lever on a jet plane.
All of these add a sense of occasion, something that sets the Urus apart from its German competition which is tamer in design. When you compare it to a similarly priced G-Wagen, which shares the same screens and switchgear with every other Mercedes model, it feels more special, which might appeal to buyers in this price range who are looking for exclusivity.
While seating for five is standard, Lambo also offers a four-seat setup that replaces the rear bench with two sports seats and a center console. The cargo room is alright at 22 cubic feet.
2023 Lamborghini Urus Price And Availability
The newly launched Lamborghini Urus S is chilling in the basement
Speaking of exclusivity, the pool of potential buyers that can afford this super SUV is quite small. We estimate the entry-level 2023 Lamborghini Urus S will start at $230,000 before options and delivery, while the range-topping 2023 Performante will start at $260,676. Keep in mind the Italians will let you customize your car to your heart’s desire, so expect to be closer to the $300,000 mark once everything is said and done.
|
Trim |
Price |
|---|---|
|
Urus S |
$230,000 |
|
Urus Performante |
$260,676 |
Main Competition
An action shot of a 2022 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT on a racetrack
The Urus truly has no equal in the market today. Several high-performance SUVs offer similar performance but lack the unique exclusivity of the Lamborghini. But not everyone wants to stand out, and potential buyers of the Urus Performante might consider the more subtle Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. That said, how subtle can a six-figure Porsche SUV coupe be?
The Cayenne Turbo GT was released last year as the new flagship of the Cayenne lineup. Based on the Cayenne Coupe, Porsche squeezed its most powerful V-8 into the most agile variant of the lineup to create a vehicle that can master track and street equally. In fact, the Turbo GT set a Nurburgring record in the ‘SUV, off-road vehicle, van, pickup’ category last year with a time of 7 minutes and 38 seconds.
Both the Lamborghini and the Porsche have similar 0-60 mph times, but the Porsche manages that with nearly 30 less horsepower.
The Cayenne has a slightly lower top speed of 186 mph and about 10 fewer pound-feet of torque than the Urus. But, crucially, the Cayenne starts at just $188,700. Being a Porsche you will find excellent build quality inside and out but in a less special-looking package. The Urus undoubtedly has an edge performance-wise, just barely beating the Porsche in most metrics, but can it justify the increase in price? You’ll just have to decide if your head or your heart should make the call.
Four years after its debut, the Urus still remains a formidable opponent in the performance SUV segment, and with the new Performante for 2023, it seems unstoppable. But with more and more competitors joining the segment yearly, we wonder how long its reign will last.
FAQ
Q: How much is a Lamborghini Urus 2023?
The 2023 Urus S is estimated to start around $230,000, while the Performante variant has a base price of $260,676.
Q: Is a Urus a 7 seater?
The 2023 Lamborghini Urus has room for five occupants.
Q: Is Urus a daily car?
While many would claim no Lamborghini is truly a daily driver, the Urus blends practicality and performance in a way that anyone could live with day-to-day.
Q: What is the most expensive Lamborghini Urus?
The 2023 Lamborghini Urus Peformante is the high-performance trim level, and starts at an eye-watering $260,676 before options and delivery.
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