Lamborghini Urus SE Performante Pushes the Super SUV to New Extremes, but It’s the Family Memories That Stick With Us
There are vehicles you review, and then there are vehicles your family continues talking about long after they’ve been returned.
That was our experience with the Lamborghini Urus SE plug-in hybrid.
During our weekend with the Urus SE, every member of the family came away impressed. Holli absolutely loved it and made it very clear she wouldn’t mind seeing one in our garage someday. Tucker, meanwhile, officially crowned Lamborghini his favorite automotive brand. His dream car? A red Lamborghini convertible.
Now Lamborghini is raising the bar even higher with the new Urus SE Performante, a lighter, more powerful, and more focused version of its plug-in hybrid Super SUV. It isn’t designed for the average family budget, but it showcases just how far performance SUVs have come while still offering surprising everyday usability.
More Power, Less Weight, and Even More Lamborghini
The Urus SE Performante takes the already impressive Urus SE plug-in hybrid and dials everything up.
Power comes from a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 800 horsepower (596 kW) and 738 lb-ft of torque (1,000 Nm). Lamborghini says that’s the highest output ever offered in an Urus.
Performance numbers are exactly what you’d expect from a Lamborghini wearing the Performante badge.
It reaches 60 mph in about 3.1 seconds, hits 124 mph in 10.8 seconds (200 km/h), and tops out at 194 mph (312 km/h), making it the fastest production Super SUV the company has ever built.
Lamborghini also trimmed about 71 pounds (32 kilograms) from the Urus SE by using even more exposed carbon fiber throughout the body and cabin. Titanium exhaust components further reduce weight while producing a soundtrack that promises to be every bit as dramatic as the styling.
This Is Lamborghini’s Most Track-Focused Urus Yet
The biggest changes aren’t necessarily under the hood.
The Urus SE Performante introduces Lamborghini’s new AURA dual-chamber air suspension, reducing body roll by 55% during aggressive driving while simultaneously improving ride comfort by 25% compared to the previous Urus Performante.
A new six-axis motion sensor continuously monitors pitch, roll, yaw, and vehicle movement, feeding data into the braking and stability systems for quicker, more precise responses.
Lamborghini also widened the track by 0.6 inches (16 millimeters) to improve stability through corners, while aerodynamic revisions increase downforce without increasing drag.
If you thought SUVs couldn’t be engineered like supercars, Lamborghini would like to have a word.
Surprisingly Practical for Something Wearing a Bull Badge
What surprised us most during our weekend with the Urus SE wasn’t the acceleration.
It was how normal it felt to live with.
The seating position offers excellent visibility. There’s enough rear-seat room for growing kids, the cargo area handles family luggage better than you’d expect from a Lamborghini, and the plug-in hybrid system makes quieter neighborhood driving possible.
The new Urus SE Performante keeps much of that everyday usability while adding more performance.
Drivers can still travel more than 37 miles on electricity alone (60 kilometers) under ideal conditions, making school drop-offs or errands possible without firing up the V8.
*Charge your PHEV with a Lectron Charger, an official partner of GT: Garage Talk®.*
For families fortunate enough to shop in this price range, that’s a meaningful benefit.
A Cabin That Feels Like a Fighter Jet
Lamborghini continues leaning into its “Feel Like a Pilot” philosophy.
The updated interior features a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster alongside a 12.3-inch central touchscreen, both using updated graphics inspired by the Lamborghini Revuelto.
Carbon fiber appears throughout the cabin, joined by Dinamica microfiber upholstery and distinctive Y-shaped design elements that reinforce Lamborghini’s unmistakable design language.
The new steering wheel also receives additional carbon-fiber trim, while telemetry displays, updated infotainment, and configurable driving information remind you that this SUV was engineered with performance first.
Even so, it never feels stripped down or uncomfortable. That’s one of the things we appreciated most during our time with the Urus SE. Lamborghini has managed to create something that’s genuinely exciting without making it exhausting to drive every day.
Rally Mode Adds a New Personality
One of the more interesting additions is Rally mode.
Joining Strada, Sport, Corsa, EV, Hybrid, Recharge, and Performance modes, Rally is designed specifically for loose surfaces like gravel and dirt roads.
It’s another reminder that despite producing 800 horsepower and wearing Lamborghini badges, the Urus still embraces its SUV roots.
Whether anyone actually plans to take a six-figure Lamborghini down a gravel road is another conversation entirely.
Our Take
The Urus SE Performante is unapologetically excessive.
Most families reading GT: Garage Talk aren’t cross-shopping one against a Toyota Grand Highlander or Hyundai Palisade, and Lamborghini knows that.
But vehicles like this matter because they show where technology is heading. The plug-in hybrid system delivers incredible performance while adding genuine electric capability. The adaptive suspension improves both comfort and handling. Even features like predictive braking systems and advanced vehicle dynamics eventually find their way into more attainable vehicles.
Having spent a weekend with the Urus SE ourselves, we can honestly say the experience changed our expectations of what a performance SUV could be.
It was ridiculously fast, surprisingly comfortable, and far more practical than we expected.
More importantly, it became one of those rare vehicles every member of our family still talks about. Holli still wants one. Tucker still dreams about owning a red Lamborghini convertible someday.
If a vehicle can inspire that kind of excitement while still hauling a family around in comfort, Lamborghini has clearly done something right.
Bonus: Lamborghini Urus SE Performante Specifications
Model: Lamborghini Urus SE Performante
Powertrain: Plug-in hybrid
Engine: 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8
Electric Motor: Permanent magnet
Combined Output: 800 hp (596 kW / 812 CV)
Combined Torque: 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm)
Battery: 25.9 kWh lithium-ion
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drivetrain: All-wheel drive
0-60 mph: Approximately 3.1 seconds
0-124 mph (200 km/h): 10.8 seconds
Top Speed: 194 mph (312 km/h)
Electric Driving Range: More than 37 miles (60 km)
Driving Modes:
- EV
- Hybrid
- Recharge
- Performance
- Strada
- Sport
- Corsa
- Rally
Key Features:
- AURA dual-chamber air suspension
- Titanium Akrapovič exhaust
- Carbon-fiber hood, diffuser, wheel arches, roof, and spoilers
- 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment
- New 23-inch wheels
- Available semi-slick performance tires
- Reduced curb weight by 71 pounds (32 kg)
- Wider track for improved handling
- New predictive Integrated Power Brake system
