Here is the rewritten article about the Lamborghini Urus SE, optimized for the US market and reflecting industry expertise in 2026.
Lamborghini Urus SE Review 2026: The Hybrid Beast That Refuses to Soften
If the world of high-performance luxury SUVs were a fantasy realm, the Lamborghini Urus once stood as the undisputed king of raw aggression. With a body sculpted from the very essence of velocity and a soundtrack that rattled cities, it was the super-SUV that redefined the term “attention-seeking.” Yet, as 2026 dawns, Lamborghini took an even more audacious step: it injected the Urus with electricity.
But this isn’t your typical eco-conversion. By axing the thrilling Performante and the balanced S variants, Lamborghini has pushed the Lamborghini Urus SE to the absolute pinnacle of its game. This is not a compromised vehicle; it is the most powerful and advanced Urus ever conceived, blending the brute force of its iconic 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with the technological sophistication of a plug-in hybrid system. The result? A staggering 789 horsepower delivered with the surgical precision only Lamborghini can engineer.
While some might assume this evolution renders the Urus docile, they would be mistaken. The SE embraces its wild nature while adding a layer of versatility previously unseen. It offers up to 37 miles of electric-only driving and significantly reduced emissions (140g/km CO2), making it a surprisingly practical choice for the daily commute. Yet, for those craving the visceral thrill that defines the Lamborghini badge, the SE does not disappoint. It remains an outlier—a machine that sacrifices passenger-car comfort for pure driving ecstasy.
As the landscape of luxury SUVs continues to evolve in 2026, the Urus SE faces stiff competition. Can it retain its edge against rivals like the Audi RS Q8, Bentley Bentayga, and Porsche Cayenne—cars that share its underlying DNA but take different paths in their execution? For buyers seeking the ultimate expression of power, speed, and style, the Urus SE offers a compelling argument that hybridization is simply another weapon in Lamborghini’s arsenal.
What’s New for the Lamborghini Urus SE (2026)?
The arrival of the Urus SE marked a paradigm shift in Lamborghini’s approach to the super-SUV segment. Understanding the progression of this iconic vehicle is crucial for buyers considering their next purchase.
May 2024: The Lamborghini Urus SE plug-in hybrid goes on sale. This groundbreaking model integrates a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with an electric motor and a 22kWh battery, culminating in a total output of 789 horsepower.
April 2024: The Urus SE is officially unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show, signaling Lamborghini’s commitment to electrification in the performance sector.
September 2022: The standard model receives a significant update, now designated as the Urus S, featuring 657 horsepower.
August 2022: The Lamborghini Urus Performante is introduced, boasting 657 horsepower, a weight reduction of 47kg, and recalibrated driving modes and aerodynamics.
April 2018: Initial deliveries of the Urus begin in the UK. These early models come standard with carbon ceramic brakes, adaptive air suspension, all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, and six distinct driving modes.
December 2017: The production model makes its global debut and orders open. This original Urus is equipped with a 641bhp twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine, capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds and reaching a top speed of 189mph.
April 2012: The concept version of the Lamborghini Urus is showcased at the Beijing Motor Show, hinting at the brand’s future direction in the SUV market.
Overview: The Lamborghini Urus SE—A Financial Decision for the Bold
From a financial perspective, the Lamborghini Urus SE is less a vehicle and more a statement of intent. It occupies a unique niche where hypercar performance collides with luxury SUV practicality.
If raw driving dynamics were the sole criterion, the Urus SE would achieve a perfect five-star rating without question. It handles with astonishing agility for a vehicle of its size, offers blistering pace, and arguably stands as the most fun and capable sports SUV available in 2026. It is unequivocally the choice for those who prioritize exhilaration and theater over a pillow-soft ride and quiet cruising manners—though it is eerily silent when operating in electric mode.
However, luxury automotive ownership in 2026 is a complex balancing act of cost, performance, and brand prestige. The Urus SE earns a four-star rating for practical reasons. While the Aston Martin DBX is nearly its equal in driving prowess, it executes the luxury aspect with a level of interior finesse that feels more aligned with the premium price tag. Similarly, the Porsche Cayenne delivers around 90% of the Urus’s performance at a considerably lower acquisition cost.
Despite these comparisons, many buyers will find the Urus SE utterly irresistible. Choosing Lamborghini over these rivals is a decision driven by emotion, brand legacy, and a desire to own something beyond the conventional. This guide explores the total cost of ownership and the financial implications of choosing the Urus SE in the current market.
Performance & Drive: Is the Lamborghini Urus SE Worth the Hype?
The question dominating the minds of potential buyers in 2026 isn’t just about raw speed; it’s about whether the Lamborghini Urus hybrid system dulls the iconic hedonism of the brand. Could one find better value in rivals like the Audi RS Q8, Bentley Bentayga, or Porsche Cayenne? Ultimately, many of these competitors share the same underpinnings, prompting the question: is it better to opt for something completely different, such as the Aston Martin DBX or Range Rover Sport SV?
How Fast Is It, and Which Engine Is Best?
With the discontinuation of the Urus S and Performante, the Lamborghini Urus SE stands alone as the sole powertrain option. And we use the term ‘powertrain’ advisedly, because the SE isn’t just equipped with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. It is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), meaning it incorporates an electric motor and a 22kWh battery. The V8 produces slightly less power than its predecessors (612bhp versus 666bhp), but when combined with the electric motor, the total output reaches 789bhp and 701lb ft of torque. That’s… a lot of power.
This makes the Urus SE the most powerful Urus ever, but oddly, not the quickest. The reason is weight: the SE, with the added weight of the hybrid battery and electric motor, is also the heaviest Urus ever. Consequently, the extra power and weight essentially cancel each other out—0-62mph takes 3.4 seconds in the SE, while the lighter but less powerful Performante clocked in at 3.3 seconds.
If this seems like a disappointment, perhaps it’s time for some perspective. On paper, the Urus SE remains a hair quicker than similar high-end sports SUVs, including the quickest Porsche Cayenne (the Turbo E-Hybrid GT Package), the Aston Martin DBX S, Audi RS Q8, and Bentley Bentayga Speed.
On the road, it feels breakneck fast. In the raciest drive modes, which prioritize performance over efficiency, the electric motor provides an instant kick when you hit the accelerator; the V8 then adds its barrel-chested, unrelenting surge—up to 194mph if you have enough runway. There is also an overtake button on the steering wheel that delivers a quick burst of heightened performance, and a launch control function for the perfect drag-race getaway.
The eight-speed automatic gearbox shifts gears quickly in the sportier drive modes—much faster than the Aston Martin DBX’s automatic transmission—but it does take slightly longer to downshift when the car is in hybrid mode, running solely on the electric motor.
In full electric mode, the Urus SE can achieve up to 84mph and feels more than brisk enough for urban commuting. The official electric range is 37 miles, which isn’t impressive for a plug-in hybrid, but again, the hybrid system is designed more for performance than ultimate efficiency. Still, the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid manages nearly 45 miles (WLTP) using the same 22kWh battery.
You can charge the battery using the engine, which is pointless because it just burns more petrol. It’s more sensible to charge it from 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 USP, which is astounding considering it weighs around 2.5 tonnes. You wouldn’t know that from behind the wheel, though, because there’s a host of technology designed to overcome the basic physics of getting its sheer bulk to change direction and corner quickly.
For starters, the Urus is all-wheel drive, with a center differential distributing the power between its front and rear wheels
