A Lamborgini in disguise

The new Lamborghini Urus is a sports car that thinks it’s an SUV. Jasper Spires reports

“The 2023 Lamborghini Urus isn’t just an exotic SUV wearing a supercar badge, it’s a supercar with an SUV shell,” says Eric Stafford for Car and Driver. Not only is that evident in its twin-turbo fourlitre V8 that makes 657 horsepower, but also in its “gob-smacking performance” on racetracks. This is a car that’s light and racy, and lives up to the brand’s exotic pedigree. There’s simply no other SUV like the Urus.

Yet it’s also very much “a road machine”. From standstill, it sprints to 62mph in just 3.6 seconds. That makes it one of the fastest SUVs on sale, says Mat Watson in CarWow. “It’ll also reach 190mph if you’ve got the space – and courage.” Boasting all the confidence of its Lamborghini high-speed pedigree, the Urus makes full use of its V8 engine. Its true strength, however, is in its handling, “which really is exceptionally assured”, says Richard Lane in Autocar.

The Urus makes full use of a marvellous steering rack and sharp throttle response, offering precise, close body control. “On a damp road where grip and traction can be overcome, the hottest Urus can either be flowed or properly manhandled, and it probably prefers the latter.”

The car moves between grip and slip with disarming, casual ease. “A chonky SUV it might be, but it can be neatly rotated on the throttle and at all times disguises its bulk.”

Naturally, this isn’t really a “sensible family car”. But the fact that it can now do a convincing impression of one ought to endear it to its customers – especially as there’s an even “sillier” model available “for those wanting silliness”, says Matt

Bird for PistonHeads. “The driving position is brilliant, the interior laid out smartly, and the build quality apparently unimpeachable.” We probably shouldn’t expect anything less from a modern Lamborghini, although it’s surprising how the Urus does a passable impression of being a sensible family SUV. In short, it’s remarkably comfortable for a brand built on high-octane power and speed. “While cars like the Urus… will remain anathema to the Lamborghini purists who like everything to be below waist height, the updated version is probably the most rounded model ever offered by the brand. With just a bit more silliness on top.”

“The Urus does a passable impression of being a sensible family SUV”

From £159,925, lamborghini.com