Lamborghini Urus

The Urus arrived in 2018 as Lamborghini's first SUV since the LM002. It sits on the Volkswagen Group's MLB Evo platform and uses the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 also found in the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and Audi RS Q8 (PistonHeads, Carvago). It became Lamborghini's best-seller, with more than 35,000 sold according to Autocar. In August and September 2022 the Performante and the Urus S replaced the original car (Carvago). Our photos show a white early Urus with green accents and tan leather; its odometer read 57,868 km.

Engines and specs

All have an eight-speed ZF automatic and four-wheel drive, with an active rear differential, rear-wheel steering and active anti-roll bars (PistonHeads). Carbon-ceramic brakes are standard, with 440 mm front discs and ten-piston calipers. Autocar gives a kerb weight of 2,285 kg, a 616-litre boot and up to 3,500 kg of towing capacity. Listings quote 12.6 l/100 km combined.

Living with it

The Urus is a usable car: five seats as standard, a big boot and a gearbox that cruises in the top two of its eight ratios (PistonHeads). One owner told Autocar he values its practicality and reliability and calls it a workhorse that is still fun to drive. PistonHeads notes that the pedals are offset to the right, which can strain your back on long drives, and calls the cupholders poor. The car in our photos has the rear-seat entertainment screen, hexagon-quilted seats and the "Tamburo" drive-mode selector on the centre console.

Running costs are supercar-level. A main-dealer annual service cost £1,074 and a major service £2,358 in 2022 (PistonHeads). Autocar quotes £1,850 for a first-year service at an independent specialist, about £2,000 for a set of tyres that last around 8,000 miles, about £2,000 for brake pads every 25,000 miles and £25,000 for carbon-ceramic discs.

Common problems

• Screens: some cars have screens that occasionally go dark (PistonHeads).
• Doors: the optional soft-close doors can stick, and the windows sometimes don't drop slightly as the door closes (PistonHeads).
• Brakes: heavy use wears the carbon-ceramic brakes quickly (Autocar). Chips or edge damage mean a new disc (Carvago).
• Tyres: fit L-marked Pirellis; other tyres may trigger a warning light (Autocar).
• Paint: crash repairs are common, especially in hard-to-match colours (Autocar).
• Engine: in spring 2021, misaligned castings caused cylinder bore cracks in 12 engines, four of them in Uruses built over two weeks in October 2020 (PistonHeads).

Recalls: in December 2020, 2019 and 2020 model-year cars were recalled because quick connectors in the fuel line could soften and cause a fire risk (PistonHeads). In the US, NHTSA lists 14 Urus recalls for 2019 to 2026, including rear-view camera faults and a fuel pump issue (forcar.org). Check every car's VIN with a Lamborghini dealer.

The V8 is proven. What hurts is the bill for brakes, tyres and paint.

Safety

Options include night vision and a 360-degree camera (PistonHeads), but neither NHTSA (vehicleflaws.com) nor, as far as we could find, Euro NCAP has crash-tested it. Check that the rear-view camera and parking sensors work and that recall work on the camera is done.

Buying checklist

• Buy only with a full main-dealer or recognised specialist history (Autocar).
• Have the brake discs and pads measured. Check the discs for chips at the edges.
• Check the tyres for L marking, age and wear.
• Look for paint repairs and panel gaps with a paint gauge.
• Test all screens, the camera, the soft-close doors and the window drop.
• Ask a dealer to confirm all recalls, especially the fuel line on 2019–2020 cars.
• Check the remaining factory or extended warranty. The standard warranty is three years with no mileage limit, and some cars have an extension up to 10 years (Autocar).
• Sit in it for a while and see whether the pedal position suits you.

Verdict

As a used buy, the Urus makes most sense as an early car with a solid history and a warranty extension, or as an S if you want the later update. It's reliable for what it is, but budget generously for brakes, tyres and servicing. For another fast luxury car, read our BMW M8 Competition guide.

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FAQ

Is the Lamborghini Urus reliable?

PistonHeads and Autocar both describe it as reliable, with few common faults. Known issues are dark screens, sticking soft-close doors, a fuel line recall on 2019–2020 cars and a small batch of engines with cracked cylinder bores in 2020.

What is the difference between the Urus, Urus S and Performante?

The original Urus has 650 PS and air suspension. The S from 2022 has 666 PS and a more comfortable air suspension; the Performante also has 666 PS, but steel springs, a lower ride height, carbon parts and 47 kg less weight.

How much does it cost to run a Urus?

Autocar quotes about £1,850 for a first-year service at a specialist, £2,000 for a set of tyres, £2,000 for brake pads and £25,000 for carbon-ceramic discs. Listings quote 12.6 l/100 km combined.

What does a used Urus cost?

In the UK, Autocar found high-mileage cars from about £130,000, low-mileage 2019 to 2021 cars from £150,000 to £185,000 and S and Performante models from £225,000 to £260,000.

Based on manufacturer data, reviews and owner and recall reports, not on our own test drive. Sources: PistonHeads buying guide, Autocar used buying guide, Carvago, forcar.org (NHTSA recalls), vehicleflaws.com, AutoUncle.