The Lamborghini Urus SE 2026: Electrified Power Meets Italian Audacity
For a decade, the Lamborghini Urus reigned as the undisputed king of hyper-SUVs, its aggressively angular design and ear-splitting V8 scream marking it as the peak of automotive excess. Yet, in a world rapidly shifting toward sustainability, even Lamborghini has succumbed to the electrification wave. The 2026 Urus SE represents this paradigm shift—a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) marvel that retains the ferocious spirit of its predecessor while embracing eco-conscious technology.
The question facing luxury car aficionados is whether this electrification has tamed the beast or simply polished its horns. Does the Urus SE, still powered by a formidable 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 augmented by an electric motor, deliver the thrilling performance of the Urus Performante and S? Or has the shift to hybrid technology compromised the hedonistic character that defined Lamborghini?
This exhaustive evaluation delves into the heart of the Urus SE, examining its performance, handling, interior refinement, and long-term ownership costs. As a luxury automotive analyst with ten years of experience in the high-end segment, I offer a realistic perspective on whether this electrifying bull can maintain its dominance in a market increasingly crowded with formidable rivals.
What’s New in the 2026 Model?
The 2026 Lamborghini Urus SE features significant updates, solidifying its position as Lamborghini’s benchmark for performance and technology.
May 2024: Urus SE plug-in hybrid on sale combining a 4.0-litre V8 engine, electric motor and 22kWh battery for a total 789bhp
April 2024: Urus SE plug-in hybrid unveiled at Beijing Motor Show
September 2022: Standard model is now Urus S with 657bhp
August 2022: Urus Performante has 657bhp, 47kg lighter, recalibrated driving modes, revised aerodynamics
Lamborghini Urus image
Choose your perfect car
Search our deals
April 2018: First UK deliveries take place. All cars have carbon ceramic brakes, adaptive air suspension, four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, six driving modes
December 2017: Production car debuts and orders open. Urus has a 641bhp twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine, can do 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds, 189mph top speed
April 2012: Urus concept shown at Beijing Motor Show
Overview
If raw driving dynamics were the sole metric, the Lamborghini Urus would undoubtedly earn five stars. Its exceptional handling, blistering acceleration, and playful agility make it one of the most exhilarating and capable sports SUVs available. It caters to drivers who prioritize exhilaration and drama over a placid ride and hushed cruising, although the electric mode offers an almost eerie silence.
The Urus secures a four-star rating because while it excels at performance, the Aston Martin DBX offers a superior blend of speed and luxury, with an interior that better befits its price point. Additionally, the Porsche Cayenne provides nearly 90% of the Urus’s performance for significantly less cost. However, for those choosing to bypass the Cayenne and DBX, selecting a Urus remains an understandable decision.
Key Strengths:
Searingly quick acceleration.
Excellent balance of V8 roar and silent electric operation.
Precision-tuned ride and handling dynamics.
Key Weaknesses:
Imperfect regenerative braking feel.
Slight delay in hybrid mode responsiveness.
Restricted rear visibility and less premium interior materials.
Performance and Driving Experience: A Blend of Power and Efficiency
Ever since Lamborghini discontinued the Urus S and Performante variants, the SE represents the sole powertrain option. It is aptly named the SE because it transcends a traditional engine. The Urus SE incorporates a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, an electric motor, and a 22 kWh (usable capacity) battery, delivering a combined output of 789 bhp and 701 lb-ft of torque.
The Urus SE is the most powerful iteration of the Urus ever produced, yet, paradoxically, it is not the quickest. The addition of the hybrid battery and electric motor adds significant weight to the vehicle. Consequently, the increased power and the extra weight largely offset each other, resulting in a 0-62 mph time of 3.4 seconds, marginally slower than the lighter Performante’s 3.3-second benchmark.
Performance comparison with key rivals:
The Urus SE remains highly competitive despite the fractional drop in acceleration. On paper, it outpaces rivals such as the quickest Porsche Cayenne (Turbo E-Hybrid GT Package), the Aston Martin DBX S, Audi RS Q8, and Bentley Bentayga Speed.
On the road, the Urus SE feels extraordinarily fast. In its most aggressive drive modes, which prioritize performance over efficiency, the electric motor provides an instant surge when the accelerator is depressed, followed by the V8’s chest-thumping, unrelenting power delivery, which continues up to 194 mph under ideal conditions. An “overtake” button on the steering wheel offers a momentary performance boost, and launch control provides a perfect drag-race getaway.
The eight-speed automatic transmission shifts rapidly in sport modes—significantly quicker than the Aston Martin DBX’s automatic transmission. However, in hybrid mode, when running solely on the electric motor, the transmission requires slightly longer to downshift.
Electric performance:
In full electric mode, the Urus SE can reach speeds of up to 84 mph, providing more than enough power for urban driving. The official electric range is 37 miles, which, while not groundbreaking for a plug-in hybrid, underscores that the system is designed primarily for performance rather than ultimate efficiency. However, the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid achieves nearly 45 miles (WLTP) using the same 22 kWh battery.
Charging and economy:
The battery can be recharged using the engine, although this is inefficient as it burns more petrol. It is more sensible to charge the battery using a home wall box, which typically takes around 3.5 hours for a full charge.
Agility and Ride Comfort: Overcoming Physics
The Urus SE’s primary selling point is its exceptional agility, a remarkable feat considering the vehicle weighs approximately 2.5 tons. Behind the wheel, this weight is imperceptible. The Urus is equipped with a sophisticated suite of technologies designed to counteract the physics of its immense bulk and enable rapid cornering.
Technological Integration:
The Urus features four-wheel drive, a center differential that distributes power between the front and rear axles, and an electronically limited-slip rear differential that meters torque to individual rear wheels. This sophisticated system provides immense traction during acceleration, while also offering a rear-wheel-drive feel that mimics a sports car by sending up to 100% of the torque to the rear wheels.
Driver Experience and Drive Modes:
Sport mode enhances the Urus’s playful character by making the rear wheels more prone to sliding (oversteering) during cornering. Corsa mode (Italian for “race”) is the most focused setting, optimized for track driving by ensuring precise handling and maximizing lap times.
Adjustable Air Suspension and Anti-Roll Bars:
The Urus is equipped with adjustable air suspension and active anti-roll bars, allowing drivers to tune the ride for comfort or cornering. Strada mode (Italian for “street”) offers the most relaxed and comfortable ride, ideal for long highway journeys. In contrast, Sport and Corsa modes stiffen the suspension to reduce body roll in bends and minimize pitch and dive during acceleration and braking. The system allows for mixed-mode driving—engine in Corsa for maximum straight-line performance and suspension in Sport (mid-range setting) for enhanced compliance.
Sport Mode: The Goldilocks Setting
Sport mode represents the optimal balance of ride and handling. It provides enough flexibility to handle uneven or rutted surfaces without feeling skittish, fostering immense confidence and allowing drivers to cover ground very quickly. The suspension is so well-tuned that even the stiffest Corsa mode remains comfortable and usable on the road.
Steering Feel and Feedback:
The Urus is a more focused driver’s car than the Bentley Bentayga Speed and Range Rover Sport SV. This advantage stems from the steering’s tactile feedback, which conveys sensations from the road surface directly to the driver’s hands. This intuitive feedback tells the driver when they are traversing smooth, potentially slippery tarmac versus coarser surfaces that offer more grip.
The quick-ratio steering makes the heavy car feel nimble, enhanced by the standard rear-wheel steering. This improves the Urus’s low-speed turn-in and significantly tightens the turning circle in urban environments. The steering is initially lighter than the Cayenne’s but weights up beautifully as more lock is applied.
Ride Quality:
Given that it weighs 2.5 tons, the Urus’s ride comfort is impressive. It is not as pillowy as the Bentayga or the DBX; drivers may notice more vibrations from sharper bumps. However, the Urus is exceptionally well-controlled and settles quickly after each disturbance, ensuring a comfortable ride even on larger 23-inch wheels.
Off-Road Capability:
The Urus is also surprisingly capable off-road. Three additional drive modes—Terra (dirt), Sabbia (sand), and Neve (snow)—allow for optimization based on conditions, and the air suspension increases ground clearance. While not as proficient
