• Urus becomes a plug-in hybrid for 2025
• Decent electric range, but still uses a twin-turbo V8
• Performance is off-the-scale fast

Hybrid engines

While the Lamborghini Urus has always used a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, for the 2025 update this engine has been paired with a rear-mounted electric motor and 25.9kWh battery to make it a plug-in hybrid. It’s now the only version of the Urus you can buy. Drive is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. 

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Performance is really the main motive for Lamborghini electrifying its range. With 800hp and 950Nm of torque (pulling power), the Urus is certainly not lacking performance. The key metrics get a significant uplift from the previous pure-petrol Urus. Accelerating to 62mph takes just 3.4 seconds and it would go on to a top speed of 194mph if given the space and opportunity. Hard to believe that an even more extreme Performante will follow in due course. 

What’s it like to drive?

• Impressive all-rounder behind the wheel
• Mighty performance but still quite comfortable
• Hybrid integration is seamless and beneficial

The Urus has many sides to its driving personality, depending on which mode is selected. As standard, the driver can choose from Strada, Sport, Corsa and Neve (translating from Italian as Street, Sport, Race and Snow) or you can opt for the Ego mode where each of the sub-systems can be altered to the driver’s preference. These include the power steering, suspension and four-wheel-drive system.

In the default Strada mode, the Urus is fairly tame. It’ll start up in EV mode and happily pootle around town in near-silence without seeming anti-social. But turn the dial to ‘Sport’ and the engine instantly fires into life, accompanied by a louder exhaust as the valves inside open up. 

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Combined, they make a great noise and the performance is incredible, with a smooth power delivery and noticeable extra shove from the electric motor. Because it’s mounted at the rear of the Urus, the power has a certain level of rear bias that makes it feel quite playful for an SUV of this size. The integration of the hybrid system is excellent, too, the car seamlessly flicking between power sources depending on the conditions. 

It also handles incredibly well considering its weight, with four-wheel steering and an active anti-roll bar that helps to keep the car flat through the corners. What this means is that as the car begins to lean as it takes a bend, the suspension’s dampers stiffens to keep it almost level. The responsiveness that results from the additional grip this brings means you always feel in control and the Urus feels endlessly agile. Very impressive. But there’s no disguising the Urus’s sheer width. It’s about as wide as a large van and you really notice that in a car park or on a tighter country road. 

The ride quality is generally good, but is smoother at higher speed, at which point it’s better able to deal with undulations in the surface. The damping at 50mph-plus is excellent, too, practically ironing out bumps in the road. But around town it’s not the most comfortable, the large 22-inch alloys on our test car struggling to cope with rougher surfaces at low speed.