To say that the Lamborghini Urus‘ arrival back in 2018 was controversial would be a massive understatement. With its SUV form factor and controversial styling, the Urus splits opinions quicker than a political hot take over Thanksgiving dinner. However, as with most things, time goes by, views mature, and minds change.
I, for one, didn’t love the Urus at first glance. A big bulky SUV from one of the most recognizable supercar manufacturers didn’t make sense from a casual observer’s perspective. However, as Lamborghini has found out over the last few years, debuting the Urus was one of the best financial decisions the carmaker has ever made. After spending some time with the latest 2021 Lamborghini Urus in Los Angeles, I finally understand why.
Does the 2021 Lamborghini Urus look like a super SUV?
The super SUV market has exploded in recent years. For the first time, you have dozens of 500+ horsepower SUVs on sale. As a result, standing out in this emerging market takes more than just impressive stats on paper. In this department, the Urus is in a lane of its own. Despite it sharing its architecture with the Audi RS Q8, the Urus looks like nothing else on the road.
Whether you’re a fan of its design or not, the Urus is intentionally controversial, garnering attention in ways that even some supercars can’t. However, how good its design looks is mainly dependent on how a customer orders it. Pick a dark color, and you’ll hide most of the Urus’ wild design lines across its fenders, doors, and front hood. Pick a bright color, and you’ll accentuate these details, directly adding to this SUV’s wild factor.
There are hints of other Lamborghinis throughout the Urus’ design language. For example, we have bits of Aventador in the front hood and rear taillights that take inspiration from those on the Huracan. We also can’t forget the abundance of hexagon shapes throughout the exterior and interior.
Throughout my time with the 2021 Lamborghini Urus, I found myself warming up to its design not because I found it beautiful, necessarily, but instead because it’s a genuinely unique take on a big SUV.
Big Speed With A Big Body
Despite its near-5,000-lb curb weight, the 2021 Lamborghini Urus is outrageously quick. Something this big shouldn’t accelerate as well as the Urus does. That’s all thanks to the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that lives under its hood. The powerplant generates 650 hp and 627 lb-ft, allowing this SUV to hit 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds. For context, the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, Ferrari Portofino, and Mercedes-AMG GT all hit 60 mph slower than the Urus.
All of that power is routed to all four wheels via a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. While the Lamborghini Urus lacks a full-on dual-clutch box, the tuning on the ZF unit is fantastic, delivering quick upshifts and snappy downshifts while moving at speed. Additionally, the Urus counts on an adaptive air suspension system with all-wheel-steering, making this big machine manageable around crowded cities.
The driver can control the Urus’ demeanor by toggling any of its six available driving modes. These significantly affect the SUV’s on-road comfort and driving performance. Switch it into Corsa, the most aggressive mode, and the whole thing hunkers down to eliminate body roll and provide additional stability.
One of my first drives in the Urus was a canyon run, where I first encountered its savage acceleration. However, with the largest carbon-ceramic brakes ever fitted to a production car, the Urus immediately proved that it had the right ingredients for immense performance.
Despite its massive capabilities, the Urus doesn’t feel very exciting to drive once you start to push it around some bends. Thanks to its significant curb weight, the front tends to understeer, and the steering doesn’t provide accurate feedback of what’s going on at the front. This is likely a drawback of the Urus prioritizing on-road comfort over outright performance, a justifiable tradeoff.
Tech And Leather Overload
If you like digital screens, you’ll love the 2021 Lamborghini Urus. That’s because there are three main screens in the dashboard. A 10.1-inch unit houses the primary infotainment system, while a smaller 8.6-in screen hoasts all of your HVAC controls. In front of the driver, you’ll find a massive digital instrument cluster that is highly configurable and changes dramatically depending on your driving mode.
While it’s clear to see the Audi roots in this Lambo’s infotainment system, it works well. Its layout is easy to navigate, and making changes on the fly is a breeze. Additionally, you get smartphone compatibilities such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As standard, you get a Bang & Olufsen 1,700-watt sound system with 21 speakers that are surprisingly powerful and impressive.
As you might expect from a six-figure SUV, the finishing in the 2021 Lamborghini Urus is done exceptionally well. Pretty much every surface is covered in leather with contrast stitching, elevating the feel and aesthetic of the cabin. Despite its Audi roots, the Urus is hand-stitched and assembled in its own factory. As a result, it feels drastically different than the lower-value SUVs whom with it shares many components.
Is The Lamborghini Urus Worth Over $220,000?
If you want a 2021 Lamborghini Urus in your driveway, you’ll face two main hurdles. The first is its price because the Urus commands a base sum of just under $220,000. However, throw in some optional extras, and that number can quickly climb well past $250,000. Whether this SUV is worth that sum or not is entirely up to what its potential buyer is after. The Lamborghini Urus price and specs on paper don’t sell the Urus. Instead, having something truly unique does.
The second hurdle is the wait times. The Urus has been such a massive hit for Lamborghini that they literally cannot build them fast enough. As a result, adding an Urus to any collection will require a healthy dose of patience. Admittedly, this also works to the benefit of Urus buyers as this enormous SUV has seen tremendous value retention over the years, even selling over MSRP well after it has left the dealer floor.
Regardless of what draws you to the Urus, this super SUV makes a case for itself in many ways. For me, I’m glad to see that the Urus still has that classic Lamborghini charm, except now you can take your family along for the ride.
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