Lamborghini Urus SE: The Supercar Hybrid for Modern Drivers
Once, if a high-performance SUV needed to be redefined, the world looked to Lamborghini. The Urus was that definitive statement: a snarling, angular marvel that turned every head on the street. But in the age of environmental consciousness, even legendary automakers must adapt. Lamborghini didn’t just dip its toe into electrification; it dived into the deep end. They dropped the beloved V8-only models, but replaced them with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that is, quite frankly, bananas. Enter the Urus SE.
While the badge still roars with the power of a thousand horses, the heart beats with a dual rhythm. It still houses that intoxicating 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that Lamborghini is famous for, but now it’s joined by a powerful electric motor. The result? An astonishing 789bhp. Instead of taming the beast, Lamborghini has actually supercharged it. This isn’t just a hybrid; it’s the most powerful Urus to ever wear the badge.
The SE is more than just raw power. Lamborghini understands that luxury doesn’t have to be wasteful. In electric mode, the Urus SE can travel up to 37 miles on battery alone, giving drivers a taste of green technology. With emissions hovering at a mere 140g/km, it’s a far cry from the carbon guzzlers of the past. While it might not satisfy the most zealous eco-warriors, it proves that the Urus has evolved.
Styling remains largely the same, retaining that aggressive, angular DNA. However, Lamborghini has introduced subtle changes with the SE’s arrival, including a restyled nose and bonnet, a slightly reworked rear end, and, most notably, a larger 12.3-inch infotainment screen.
But the question remains: can this new hybrid powertrain deliver the same spine-tingling thrills as its predecessor? Has the shift to plug-in hybrid dulled the inherent hedonism of a Lamborghini? Would drivers be better off with established rivals such as the Audi RS Q8, Bentley Bentayga, or Porsche Cayenne? Many of these rivals share the same underpinnings as the Urus, prompting the question of whether buyers should look elsewhere entirely, perhaps to vehicles like the Aston Martin DBX or Range Rover Sport SV.
What’s New in the 2026 Model?
May 2024: The Urus SE plug-in hybrid goes on sale, combining a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, electric motor, and a 22kWh battery for a total output of 789bhp.
April 2024: The Urus SE plug-in hybrid is unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show.
September 2022: The standard model is rebranded as the Urus S, boasting 657bhp.
August 2022: The Urus Performante, a lighter and more track-focused variant, is introduced with 657bhp, recalibrated driving modes, and revised aerodynamics.
April 2018: First UK deliveries take place. All models feature carbon ceramic brakes, adaptive air suspension, four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, and six driving modes.
December 2017: Production begins and order books open. The Urus features a 641bhp twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, achieves 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds, and has a top speed of 189mph.
April 2012: The Urus concept is first shown at the Beijing Motor Show.
Overview: The Driving Experience and Overall Quality
If driving dynamics were the sole measure of success, the Lamborghini Urus SE would effortlessly achieve a perfect score. It handles with astonishing precision, offers breathtaking speed, and is arguably the most fun and capable sports SUV available on the market today. It is definitively targeted at drivers who value exhilaration and theatre over a plush ride and quiet cruising. Yet, in electric mode, it is eerily silent.
The car drops to a four-star rating because while the Aston Martin DBX is almost as enjoyable to drive, its interior feels more befitting of its price. Additionally, the Porsche Cayenne offers 90% of the Urus’s performance for considerably less money. However, if a buyer were to bypass those two and opt for a Urus instead, the decision would be entirely understandable.
Strengths:
Blazing Straight-Line Speed: The sheer acceleration of the SE is intoxicating.
Agile and Playful Handling: Despite its size, it feels nimble and engaging.
Thunderous V8 Noise: That iconic Lamborghini roar is still present and accounted for.
Weaknesses:
Limited Electric Range: At just 37 miles, the plug-in range is underwhelming.
Interior Quality Gap: Some materials don’t match the elite level of its price rivals.
Steep Price Tag: Owning a Lamborghini is an investment, not an affordability decision.
Performance & Drive: What It’s Like Behind the Wheel
With the Urus S and Performante models discontinued, the SE is the only powertrain option currently available. And the term ‘powertrain’ is used advisedly here, as the SE isn’t just equipped with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. It is a plug-in hybrid, meaning it features an electric motor and a 22kWh (usable capacity) battery. The V8 actually produces slightly less power than its previous guise in the Performante (612bhp versus 666bhp), but the addition of the electric motor brings the total output to a staggering 789bhp and 701lb ft of torque. In short, that’s… quite a lot of power.
This makes the SE the most powerful Urus ever, but paradoxically, not the fastest. This anomaly is down to weight: the SE, with the added complexity of the hybrid battery and electric motor, is also the heaviest Urus on record. The extra power and weight essentially cancel each other out; the 0-62mph dash takes 3.4 seconds in the SE, whereas the lighter, less powerful Performante achieved it in 3.3 seconds.
While this might sound disappointing on paper, it is important to consider the broader landscape of high-end sports SUVs. On a statistical level, the Urus SE remains slightly quicker than its most competitive rivals, including the fastest Porsche Cayenne (the Turbo E-Hybrid GT Package), the Aston Martin DBX S, Audi RS Q8, and Bentley Bentayga Speed.
On-Road Experience
On the road, the acceleration is nothing short of breakneck. In the raciest drive modes—designed to prioritize performance over efficiency—the electric motor delivers an instant kick the moment the accelerator is pressed. This is immediately followed by the V8’s deep, relentless surge, which continues to pull aggressively right up to 194mph if you have the space. A specific ‘overtake’ button on the steering wheel provides a quick burst of heightened performance, while a launch control function ensures the perfect drag-race getaway.
The eight-speed automatic gearbox shifts crisply in the sportier drive modes—far faster than the Aston Martin DBX’s automatic transmission—but it does exhibit a slight delay in downshifting 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, which is more than sufficient for leisurely urban driving. The official electric range is 37 miles, a number that, while not groundbreaking for a plug-in hybrid, aligns with the Urus’s focus on performance over pure efficiency. However, the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid manages nearly 45 miles (WLTP) using the same 22kWh battery.
You can recharge the battery using the V8 engine, though this is counterintuitive and simply burns more petrol. It is far more sensible to charge the battery from a home wall box, which typically takes around 3.5 hours for a full charge.
Agility and Ride Comfort
Agility is the Urus’s signature feature, which is remarkable given its weight of approximately 2.5 tonnes. Behind the wheel, however, this bulk feels virtually nonexistent. The car is equipped with a range of sophisticated technologies designed to overcome the fundamental physics of moving such a substantial vehicle quickly and efficiently.
Foremost among these technologies is the all-wheel-drive system, which features a centre differential to distribute power between the front and rear axles. An electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential then meters the torque between individual rear wheels. This setup provides immense traction, but it can also feel remarkably rear-driven—and enjoyable—by sending up to 100% of the power to the rear wheels when necessary.
The Urus is more likely to adopt this rear-driven characteristic in Sport mode, which is the car’s playful setting. Sport mode intentionally increases the tendency for the rear wheels to slide (oversteer) during acceleration out of corners. The Corsa mode (Italian for ‘race’) is the most performance-oriented setting. It is the mode of choice for track driving, as it keeps the handling as precise and composed as possible to deliver the quickest lap times.
The Urus also comes equipped with adjustable air suspension and active anti-roll bars, allowing drivers to tailor the
