2023 Lamborghini Urus SUV

　　

2023 Lamborghini Urus Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　When it comes to performance SUVs, it doesn't really get much better than the 2023 Lamborghini Urus. How's that? Well, to start, the Urus' V8 helps make it quicker than most sports cars. It also is shockingly composed and grippy around turns and has enough Lamborghini-based styling elements to make it look Italian, even if much of its underlying structure hails from Germany.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Lamborghini Urus S 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$291/mo  for Urus S

　　Urus S

　　S 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $229,268 MSRPPerformante 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8A) - $260,676 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　Changes are afoot for the 2023 Urus. First off, there are now two models to choose from: the Urus S and the Urus Performante. Both are powered by the same twin-turbo V8 engine as last year, but output has been increased by 16 horsepower to 657 hp. The Performante goes on a weight-saving crusade, shaving off 103 pounds through the help of lightweight carbon-fiber body components. It also gets a lowered adaptive sport suspension for even more capable cornering, some aerodynamic enhancements for greater high-speed stability, and a new Rally driving mode, which sends more power to the rear wheels to let the Urus drift through off-road corners.

　　The Urus doesn't have many rivals, though the Aston Martin DBX707 and Ferrari Purosangue can serve as credible alternatives to the Lamborghini. Otherwise, you can shop the performance-tuned versions of more popular luxury SUVs such as the Audi RS Q8, BMW X6 M and Porsche Cayenne Turbo. (Notably, the Audi and Porsche are related to the Urus.) The Bentley Bentayga may also catch your eye, but it emphasizes luxury and comfort instead of outright speed. Read the zzdcar Expert Rating below for all the ins and outs of this flamboyant super SUV.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.0/10

　　How does the Urus drive? You'd expect staggeringly quick acceleration and riotous, high-limit handling from a Lamborghini, and the Urus does not disappoint. At our test track it posted numbers that fall in line with some of the quickest vehicles we've ever tested. We measured a 3.3-second sprint to 60 mph, a 11.4-second quarter-mile pass and 1.03 lateral g average on our skidpad.

　　Also impressive is that the Urus can generate these extreme performance figures without hurting its day-to-day drivability. The steering is accurate and properly weighted, and the engine doles out the power right when you want it. The sole annoyance we noticed during our evaluation was the noisy and clunky antilock braking during our 60-0 mph test. We'd expect more refinement in a vehicle like this.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Urus? It's remarkable that the Urus makes no perceptible compromises to comfort. The front seats are exemplary in their pampering with heating, ventilation and massage functions. The optional rear captain's chairs ensure adequate lateral support for the entire family too. Climate functions are likewise quiet and powerful.

　　The cabin is quiet in the standard drive modes. But select the Sport or Corsa mode, and the sound of the engine and exhaust makes a welcome appearance. The ride is flat and composed in the standard drive mode aside from the occasional thunk over bumpy surfaces (likely exacerbated by the 22-inch wheels on our test car).

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below