Lamborghini Urus Performante Review: Stunning Best SUV

What has changed compared to the Urus S

The Urus Performante is not a simple trim level. It is a more aggressive version of the super SUV with clear technical upgrades and a different character on the road. Think less “premium SUV” and more “street-legal rally weapon.”

The main changes focus on weight, aero, and chassis setup. The result is a car that feels sharper, more communicative, and more emotional at the limit.

This shift in hardware changes the car’s role. The Urus S leans closer to a daily luxury SUV, while the Performante feels more like a supercar with ground clearance and five usable seats.

Powerplant and dynamics — driving experience

At the heart of the Lamborghini Urus Performante sits a 4.0‑litre twin-turbo V8 biturbo engine with 666 hp and around 850 Nm of torque. It sends power through an 8-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive (AWD) system that can shuffle torque between axles with striking speed.

The numbers are brutal. The Urus Performante sprints from 0–100 km/h in about 3.3 seconds and can reach around 306 km/h. Launch control pins you back in the seat with a clean, hard hit, and the turbo V8 barely pauses between gears.

The sports exhaust is central to the emotion. In the tamer drive modes it grumbles and hums, but switch to Sport or Corsa and the soundscape changes: sharper upshift cracks, more overrun burbles, and a deep mechanical growl as the revs rise. It feels closer to a supercar than a typical charged crossover.

1. Start in Strada for city driving, where the 8-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and the exhaust stays relatively calm.
2. Move to Sport on a country road, where throttle response tightens and the AWD system sends more power to the rear for a more playful balance.
3. Finish with Corsa or Rally on a closed road or track, where launch control, full-bore shifts, and the most aggressive sound profile turn the Urus Performante into a track-ready machine.

Each mode changes the personality of the car. The engine remains the same, but the calibration and torque split create very different moods, from fast luxury cruiser to violent supercar SUV.

Chassis, steering, and tires

The Lamborghini Urus Performante sits lower than the Urus S and trades air suspension for steel springs with a sport setting. This change alone makes the car feel tighter and more direct, especially in quick direction changes and fast sweepers. Body roll is minimal for a vehicle of this size.

Steering is quick, with a light but precise feel in normal driving. In faster modes, the weight builds up and gives more feedback through the wheel. You always sense the mass of the car, but the turn-in is sharper than many smaller SUVs.

The optional Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires play a key role in how the Urus Performante handles. These are track-biased tires fitted to a family supercar, and they deliver very high grip when warm. On a dry alpine road they let you brake late, lean on the front end, and exit corners with strong traction from the AWD system.

• On dry tarmac the tires feel glued to the road and give very high cornering speeds.
• In wet or cold conditions they feel more nervous and ask for more respect from the driver.
• On long motorway drives they generate more noise than a pure comfort tire, which fits the car’s character but may matter to some families.

The chassis is clearly tuned for enthusiasts. It feels more rigid and focused than the Urus S, yet it still manages to filter out the worst surface defects. You feel the road, but you do not suffer it.

Aerodynamics and design

The Urus Performante wears a more aggressive aerodynamic kit with clear functional intent. The front bumper has larger air intakes, new air curtains, and a more pronounced splitter. The rear receives a new spoiler and diffuser. Many elements are available in exposed carbon fibre, which saves weight and signals performance.

These changes are not just visual. Lamborghini claims more downforce and improved high-speed stability compared with the Urus S. On an unrestricted Autobahn stretch, the car feels planted above 250 km/h, with little float or nervousness in crosswinds.

From the side, the lower stance and sharper wheel arch trims make the Performante look more compact and more “supercar SUV” than “standard premium SUV.” The wheel options, often with centre-lock style designs, fill the arches and sit close to the body, giving the car a stance close to a wide-body supercar.

Interior and multimedia

The Lamborghini Urus interior in the Performante version blends daily usability with a very clear motorsport influence. You sit low for an SUV, behind a chunky steering wheel with drive mode selectors and shift paddles within easy reach. The seating position reminds you of a coupé, not a high-riding family wagon.

Materials feel special: Alcantara, leather, contrast stitching, and exposed carbon are common. The Performante gets unique patterns, logo details, and optional colour packs that highlight its place at the top of the Urus range. The start button still hides under a fighter-jet style flap, which adds a little theatre each time you fire up the twin-turbo V8.

Multimedia runs through dual central screens that control navigation, entertainment, car settings, and drive modes. The interface is modern and fast, with clear graphics and a layout that feels closer to a supercar than a family SUV. Smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is smooth, and the digital instrument cluster can show performance data, including G‑meter, lap timing, and more.

Sound systems range from strong standard setups to high-end premium audio. The sports exhaust tends to dominate at high load, but at a steady motorway cruise you can enjoy music without shouting over the V8.

Practicality for real life

Despite its track focus, the Lamborghini Urus Performante still works as a real-life family supercar. It seats four adults comfortably, with a fifth in the centre rear seat on shorter trips. Headroom and legroom are generous for a car with such performance, and rear passengers do not feel like an afterthought.

The boot offers enough space for luggage for a weekend away or a family airport run. The rear seats fold to enlarge the load area, which makes runs to a furniture store surprisingly easy for a 666 hp supercar SUV. The tailgate opens electrically, and loading height is reasonable, though slightly higher than some softer premium SUV rivals due to the sporty springs.

Day-to-day driving in city traffic is less stressful than you might think. The AWD system and 8-speed automatic transmission handle stop‑start traffic calmly, visibility is decent, and parking cameras help with tight European city streets. You still feel the width, but the steering and driving aids support you well.

Fuel consumption is high, as expected for a V8 biturbo engine, especially if you use launch control often. Yet on steady motorway drives with light throttle the Urus Performante can settle into a relatively efficient cruise, helped by tall gearing in the 8-speed automatic transmission.

The story of the Pikes Peak record

The Urus Performante’s launch linked strongly to its record at Pikes Peak. Lamborghini used a pre-production Urus Performante to set a new record for production SUVs on the famous American hill climb, underlining its performance focus.

The course climbs from just over 2,800 metres to more than 4,300 metres above sea level. Air becomes thin, engines lose power, and brakes and cooling systems suffer. The twin-turbo V8, sports exhaust, advanced AWD system, and aggressive chassis setup allowed the Urus Performante to handle this harsh environment and still clock an impressive time.

This record run was not just a marketing stunt. It showed that the changes compared to the Urus S—lighter weight, new suspension, aero kit, stickier tires—translate into real performance on a demanding course, not just faster straight-line numbers on paper.

Comparison — Urus Performante vs Urus S

Choosing between the Urus S and Urus Performante depends on how you plan to drive and how often you plan to push the car on fast roads or track days. Both share the same V8 base and the same broad layout, but they focus on different priorities.

If you want one Lamborghini that does everything—school runs, ski trips, long motorway journeys—the Urus S remains the calmer choice. If you want the most emotional, sharp, and track-ready Urus, the Urus Performante is the right call.

Alternatives

The Urus Performante lives in a small group of charged crossovers and high-performance SUVs that mix supercar pace with family practicality. Each one has a different flavour and set of strengths.

Drivers who want similar acceleration and AWD grip but do not need the Lamborghini badge might look at other premium SUV rivals. Some focus more on luxury, others on pure lap times or electric performance.

Typical alternatives include:

• Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT – track-focused, very sharp handling, superb chassis tuning.
• Aston Martin DBX 707 – strong V8, high drama, British style, less extreme aero than the Urus Performante.
• Ferrari Purosangue – more exotic, V12 power, higher price point, more exclusive, slightly less cargo practicality.
• Mercedes‑AMG GLE 63 S / GLS 63 – huge torque, luxury cabin, more comfort-focused and less hardcore in corners.
• High-power EV SUVs – such as Tesla Model X Plaid or similar, instant torque and brutal acceleration, but with a very different sound and feel compared to a twin-turbo V8 supercar SUV.

For many enthusiasts in Europe, the Lamborghini Urus Performante sits at a sweet spot: outrageous speed, emotional sound, and real family usability. It offers a mix that few rivals match, especially if you want to rent a Lamborghini Urus for a special trip and experience a Pikes Peak-bred family supercar for a weekend.