Looking back, it’s safe to say that the Lamborghini Urus birthed the concept of the super SUV. Its 2017 debut carved a new path for supercar brands in terms of portfolio expansion and profitability potential. At first, some competing brands showed interest in the concept, while others outright rejected it. Today, however, Sant’Agata Bolognese’s gamble has an abundance of rivals, including the Aston Martin DBX707, BMW XM Label, and the Ferrari Purosangue. And I haven’t even included those with whom it shares significant components, like the Audi RS Q8 and Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT.
Anticipating that its niche corner of the market would soon crowd, the Italian brand introduced the first special variant of its SUV in 2022, the Lamborghini Urus Performante. Built by following a formula that’s proved successful in the supercar space, the Performante drops 104 pounds while boosting power by 16 horsepower, making it the lightest and quickest Urus yet. Crucially, however, it substitutes the “base” model’s air springs in favor of a steel set, both firming up its ride while lowering its height by nearly an inch.
Nearly seven years ago, the idea of a super SUV was largely foreign, and today, the concept of taking that platform and hardening it in the pursuit of performance remains largely unexplored. Can the lightest, quickest, and sportiest variant of Lamborghini’s super SUV also be the best?
The Lamborghini Urus Performante first differentiates itself by injecting some much-needed stylistic theatre. Parked next to the car that debuted in 2017, its predecessor seems almost subtle. The Performante incorporates sharper lines in its front bumper, with points sticking out almost like fangs. Its hood features more prominent grooves alongside extractor cutouts adorned with carbon fiber louvers. Its front splitter, fender flares, side skirts, diffuser and upper spoiler also employ the lightweight material.
There’s carbon hiding beneath the skin as well, with a substantial portion of its 104-lb weight loss made possible by a composite hood. Alongside this reduction, adding a spoiler increases its downforce by up to 38 percent. At the same time, its steel springs lower its ride height by 0.8 inches while its track widens by 0.6 inches. A set of 23-inch wheels is an optional extra, as is a lightweight set of forged 22s, with this tester wearing the former. Performante gets titanium wheel bolts and bespoke Pirelli rubber in keeping with the sporty theme.
Its interior also gets the sporty treatment, trimmed almost exclusively in black Alcantara if you select the “Performante trim.” The bits not covered in the suede-like material contrast with glossy carbon fiber or red hexagonal stitching paired with red leather accents. Looking around the cabin, you might as well be in an Aventador SVJ from a textiles perspective, with endless reminders of this SUV’s sporty intentions. And while its screens and overall tech carry over, Lambo’s commitment to the hardcore bit on the materials side effectively sets the tone before you set off.
Firing up the Lamborghini Urus Performante awakens its standard Akrapovič sports exhaust system. Its titanium construction may shave some weight, but it doesn’t change the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8’s burbly engine note; you get more of it. From the first few miles on city streets and highways, detecting its extra 16 horses is practically impossible. Such an incremental bump for a machine that weighs more than 4,700 lb is more effective at awarding titles like “quickest Urus” than genuinely impacting performance.
Still, thanks mainly to its weight loss, a new differential, and a total output of 657 hp and 627 pound-feet output, the Performante is the quickest Urus. It sprints to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds, and like the S model introduced in 2022, it tops out at 190 mph. On a twisty road, you need to know that the Urus has always been extraordinarily quick, and it remains so. Thanks to a healthy helping of torque low in the rev range aided quick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission, you’ll run out of road long before it does steam.
Yet, as familiar as its powertrain feels, its suspension couldn’t be more foreign. The discontinued “base” Urus I reviewed in late 2021 excelled by being firm enough when needed for a weekend drive while plush enough for the daily commute. This versatility is now outside the Performante’s scope. The decision to swap its air suspension setup with steel springs practically defines it, its hardcore persona never quite softening. While Lamborghini did develop new Strada, Sport, and Corsa drive modes, a set of adaptive dampers and springs can’t match its predecessor’s excellent ride quality.
That said, there are some major performance benefits once the road begins to twist. At speed and in Corsa mode, the Lamborghini Urus Performante reveals its payoff. Its firmer suspension and active anti-roll bars effectively dials out body roll. There’s an added sense of stability as you tackle even the tightest bends and an eagerness to respond to steering inputs immediately. This agility is helped by an updated rear axle steering system that responds more quickly, thanks to its updated software.
Its firmer setup simultaneously increases road surface feedback. You feel more of what’s happening beneath you as it’s channeled through the chassis and into the cabin. It’s much easier to detect when you’re approaching its grip limits, even while its steering remains far from talkative. This sets you up nicely to start leaning on its standard carbon-ceramic brakes, which, with 10-piston calipers upfront and enormous 17.3-inch rotors, have plenty of braking force to slow this 4,740-lb SUV down.
As with all special models, its added athleticism commands a premium. For 2024, the Lamborghini Urus Performante starts at $265,890, including a $3,995 destination fee, with this tester coming in at $339,152. The “base” model, the Urus S, costs nearly $24,000 less, starting at $241,843. The recently updated Aston Martin DBX707 costs $253,000, including a $4,000 fee, while a BMW XM Label commands $185,995, including a $995 fee. Only the Ferrari Purosangue stands as an outlier, with a base price just below $400,000.
After a few days on the road, I’m not sure any other super SUV can match the Lambo’s performance on a back road. It is fast, agile, and uncannily stable in the corners, all things a tall vehicle that seats five and sports a massive trunk shouldn’t be able to do. Yet this strength doubles as the Performante’s only real weakness. If we assume that an SUV, super or not, is meant to be used daily, a firm ride ultimately limits how well it can play that role.
Yet, thanks to shifting priorities among enthusiasts, a $339,152 super SUV’s appeal hinges on more than just how well it rides. Its updated styling creates a more dramatic aesthetic, in line with the Ragin Bull’s mantra, while its Alcantara-trimmed cabin conjures up reminders of other special Lambos. As a result, the question of whether the lightest, quickest Urus is also the best is the wrong one to ask. The Performante is a better-driving, better-looking, and more exciting Urus, but how often will you find yourself on the right road to fully experience it?