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Lamborghini Urus SE Review 2026: Electrifying Power or a Compromised V8?
From the archives of a luxury automotive expert, the 2026 Lamborghini Urus SE review has been completely reconstructed. While the original review dates back to 2024, the insights are now honed to the present market, capturing the essence of what makes the Urus a titan in the exotic SUV segment. This comprehensive analysis, written as if straight from a decade-long experience in the industry, dives deep into performance, luxury, running costs, and competitive standing, offering a definitive guide for the discerning buyer.
Introduction: The Legend Evolves
If a modern-day fairy tale were to tell the story of the Lamborghini Urus, it would begin with a chapter on sheer audacity. Remember the days when Lamborghini cemented its dominance in the super-SUV category? The Urus arrived with a muscular exterior, a snarling exhaust note, and performance that bordered on automotive sacrilege. It was the undisputed monarch of the sports SUV throne, an emblem of unadulterated power and hedonistic thrill.
Yet, as is often the case in the ever-evolving landscape of luxury automobiles, even such a formidable icon must bow to the forces of progress. Lamborghini performed an even greater feat of audacity than simply building such a radical SUV—it transformed it into an eco-conscious plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The end of the story, perhaps? Not quite.
Lamborghini has discontinued the non-hybrid variants—the S and Performante—but the heart of the beast remains beating strong. The plug-in hybrid model, christened the Urus SE, retains its signature 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. The critical difference, however, is the addition of a powerful electric motor. Working in tandem, this dynamic duo delivers a staggering total of nearly 800 brake horsepower (bhp). Contrary to what some might expect from a hybrid powertrain, this transition has not softened the Urus. In fact, the SE is the most powerful iteration of the Urus ever produced, representing a bold new chapter in its evolutionary history.
What’s New in the 2026 Lineup
The Lamborghini Urus SE marks a significant pivot for the brand, integrating advanced hybrid technology into its iconic sports SUV. Here are the key updates that define the 2026 model year:
May 2024: Urus SE Plug-in Hybrid Takes Center Stage
The launch of the Urus SE plug-in hybrid redefined the range. This model combines a powerful 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with an electric motor and a 22kWh battery, producing an astonishing 789bhp. This addition offers a substantial performance boost while significantly improving efficiency and reducing emissions.
April 2024: Beijing Motor Show Debut
The Urus SE was first unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show, showcasing Lamborghini’s commitment to electrifying its lineup and attracting global attention.
September 2022: The Urus S Takes Over
Prior to the SE, the standard model was updated to the Urus S, featuring 657bhp and a significant performance upgrade.
August 2022: Urus Performante’s Performance Focus
The high-performance Urus Performante was introduced, delivering 657bhp, a 47kg reduction in weight, recalibrated driving modes, and enhanced aerodynamics for even sharper handling.
April 2018: First UK Deliveries
The Urus officially launched with four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, six driving modes, and carbon ceramic brakes, setting a new benchmark for sports SUVs.
December 2017: Production Debuts and Order Opening
The first production Urus made its grand debut, featuring a 641bhp twin-turbo V8 engine, capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in a mere 3.6 seconds and reaching a top speed of 189mph.
April 2012: The Concept is Revealed
The Urus concept was initially showcased at the Beijing Motor Show, marking the beginning of Lamborghini’s journey into the SUV segment.
Performance & Drive: The SE’s Driving Experience
If Lamborghini were to rate the Urus SE purely on its driving dynamics, it would receive a five-star rating without question. It handles with astonishing agility, possesses ridiculous speed, and, arguably, is the most thrilling and capable sports SUV on the market. This is the vehicle for those who prioritize exhilaration and theatre over a smooth, quiet ride—though in electric mode, it is eerily silent. The Urus SE earns a solid four stars in our overall rating, primarily because the Aston Martin DBX, while nearly as thrilling to drive, offers superior luxury and interior refinement. Additionally, the Porsche Cayenne offers approximately 90% of the Urus’s capabilities for significantly less cost. However, if you were to bypass these two competitors and opt for a Urus, we would fully understand why.
Searing Straight-Line Pace:
Relatively Agile and Fun to Drive:
Thundering V8 Noise:
The Range is Limited to 37 Miles:
Interior Quality Doesn’t Match Its Price Rivals:
Massively Expensive to Buy:
How Fast Is It, and Which Engine Is Best?
Since Lamborghini ceased production of the Urus S and Performante, the SE is the only powertrain currently available. And we use the term “powertrain” advisedly, because the SE is not merely equipped with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. It is a PHEV, meaning it includes an electric motor and a 22kWh battery. The V8 itself produces slightly less power than it did in the Performante (612bhp vs. 666bhp), but when combined with the electric motor, the total output reaches 789bhp with 701lb ft of torque. That is… a substantial amount of power.
This makes the SE the most powerful Urus ever, but, curiously, not the quickest. The reason for this lies in weight. The addition of the hybrid battery and electric motor makes the SE the heaviest Urus ever produced. Consequently, the added power and weight largely cancel each other out. The 0-62mph sprint in the SE takes 3.4 seconds, whereas the lighter Performante, with less power, managed it in 3.3 seconds.
If this seems somewhat disappointing, perhaps it is time for some perspective. On paper, the Urus SE is still slightly faster than other high-end sports SUVs, including the quickest Porsche Cayenne (the Turbo E-Hybrid GT Package), the Aston Martin DBX S, the Audi RS Q8, and the Bentley Bentayga Speed.
On the road, the performance is breathtakingly fast. In the most aggressive drive modes, which prioritize performance over efficiency, the electric motor provides an immediate kick when you press the accelerator. The V8 then adds its thunderous, relentless surge—all the way up to 194mph, provided you have a long enough runway. There is also an “overtake” button on the steering wheel that delivers a quick burst of heightened performance, as well as a launch control function for the perfect drag-race getaway.
The eight-speed automatic gearbox shifts gears rapidly in the sportier drive modes—significantly faster than the Aston Martin DBX’s automatic transmission—but it does take slightly longer to downshift when the car is in hybrid mode, operating solely on battery power.
In full electric mode, the Urus SE can reach speeds of up to 84mph and feels more than brisk enough for leisurely urban cruising. The official electric range is 37 miles, which, while not impressive for a plug-in hybrid, aligns with the SE’s hybrid system that prioritizes performance over ultimate efficiency. However, the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid achieves nearly 45 miles (WLTP) using the same 22kWh battery.
You can charge the battery using the engine, which is inefficient as it simply burns more gasoline. It is more sensible to charge the battery using a home wall box, and a full charge takes around 3.5 hours.
Is It Agile, and Is the Ride Comfortable?
Agility is the Urus’s unique selling proposition, which is truly amazing considering its weight of around 2.5 tonnes. However, behind the wheel, you would never know this, as there is a suite of technologies designed to overcome the basic physics of moving such a large mass quickly and keeping it planted in corners.
First, the Urus is four-wheel drive, with a center differential distributing power between its front and rear wheels. A subsidiary electronically limited-slip rear differential then meters out the torque between each rear wheel. With all of this in place, the Urus delivers immense traction (grip during acceleration), but it can also feel rear-driven—and fun, like a sports car—by sending up to 100% of the torque to just the rear wheels.
This is more likely to happen in Sport mode, as it is the Urus’s playful setting. Sport deliberately makes the rear wheels more prone to sliding (oversteering) as you accelerate out of turns. Corsa mode (Italian for race) is the most focused setting. This is the mode you would
