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Lamborghini Urus vs Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT: UK Buyer's Guide

Which performance SUV makes more sense for UK roads — the supercar-SUV from Sant'Agata or Porsche's precision-built Cayenne Turbo GT? Here's the honest answer.

If you've been shopping the Lamborghini Urus S against the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, there's a significant update: the Urus S no longer exists. Lamborghini has replaced it — and the Performante — with the new Urus SE hybrid, a plug-in hybrid that changes the comparison entirely. For UK buyers weighing supercar-SUV performance against everyday practicality, that shift matters enormously.

The lineup has changed: Urus S is now the Urus SE

Lamborghini didn't just refresh the Urus — it rethought it. The Urus SE is now the only Urus you can buy, and it arrives with an 800bhp plug-in hybrid powertrain, a 25.9kWh battery, and a claimed 37-mile electric range. That's a radically different proposition from the naturally-aspirated-feeling S it replaces.

The SE adds a rear-mounted 141kW electric motor (189bhp) to the existing 612bhp 3,996cc twin-turbo V8 — the same unit shared with Bentley and Audi — giving a combined system output of 789bhp and 700lb ft of torque. That's a significant step up from the old Urus Performante's 657bhp.

For context, Lamborghini notes the Urus SE shares architectural similarities with the Porsche Cayenne Turbo e-Hybrid — both use a rear electric axle in conjunction with a combustion engine — but the Sant'Agata car applies its own algorithm across 11 driving modes to manage power deployment.

Performance: numbers that defy the SUV label

The numbers are straightforwardly absurd for something with five seats and school-run credentials:

  • 0–62mph: 3.4 seconds
  • Top speed: 194mph
  • System power: 800hp / 950Nm
  • EV-only top speed: 84mph

These figures put the Urus SE firmly in supercar territory. The Cayenne Turbo GT, by comparison, uses a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing around 640bhp in standard configuration — genuinely rapid, but clearly outgunned on headline numbers.

Where Porsche has historically held an edge is in dynamic polish. The Cayenne Turbo GT is widely regarded as one of the finest-handling large SUVs ever built, with a lower, stiffer setup and a focused driving character that prioritises driver engagement. The Urus SE, however, has clearly narrowed that gap: Car Magazine's UK test awarded it five stars for both handling and performance, with testers describing it as an "iron fist in a velvet glove".

Daily usability on UK roads

This is where the comparison gets genuinely interesting for UK buyers — and where the Urus SE makes a surprisingly strong case.

The PHEV system earns its keep in real-world British driving:

  • The 37-mile electric range (around 30 miles real-world) covers most urban commutes entirely on battery
  • EV mode operates silently at up to 84mph — sufficient for A-road and motorway driving in built-up sections
  • CO2 emissions of 51g/km make it eligible for lower company car tax rates and exemptions in some UK clean air zones
  • A 7.4kW home charger tops the battery in approximately three hours

Fuel economy is predictably variable. Car Magazine recorded 30mpg on a 130-mile journey with a full charge at the start, dropping to around 25mpg on motorway runs without charge. Drive it hard and expect closer to 15mpg — but that's the nature of 800bhp.

The Cayenne Turbo GT, as a non-hybrid, carries no such efficiency benefit. On UK roads, where 20mph zones, congestion charges, and rising fuel costs are daily realities, the Urus SE's ability to cover short trips silently on battery power is a meaningful practical advantage.

Boot space and practicality favour the Urus SE in one sense — though it's worth noting the 25.9kWh battery sits under the boot floor, which may reduce loadspace versus the non-hybrid models. Lamborghini hasn't specified the exact impact on boot volume in available UK documentation.

Both cars are large by British road standards. Narrow country lanes and multi-storey car parks will test drivers of either vehicle equally.

Running costs and the PHEV advantage

For UK company car drivers, the Urus SE's low CO2 figure is transformative. At 51g/km, it falls into a dramatically lower Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax bracket than the Cayenne Turbo GT, which — as a non-PHEV — sits at considerably higher emissions.

For private buyers, the savings are less dramatic but still tangible:

  • Cheaper running costs for urban users who charge regularly
  • Potential exemption from London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charges
  • Lower fuel bills for anyone covering meaningful EV mileage

The Urus SE is, predictably, hugely expensive — Car Magazine flags this as one of its main drawbacks, though specific UK pricing wasn't confirmed in available materials. Expect a significant premium over the Cayenne Turbo GT, which already sits well above £150,000 in UK specification.

Which one should a UK buyer choose?

The honest answer depends entirely on what you value most.

Choose the Lamborghini Urus SE if:

  • Maximum performance is non-negotiable (800bhp vs the Cayenne's 640bhp)
  • You're a company car driver where BIK tax savings justify the higher purchase price
  • You cover short daily distances and can charge regularly, making the PHEV system genuinely useful
  • The theatre and drama of Lamborghini ownership — the noise, the looks, the reaction it provokes — matters to you

Choose the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT if:

  • You prioritise driving dynamics and handling precision above outright power
  • You want a performance SUV that's slightly less conspicuous on UK roads
  • Lower purchase price (even in Turbo GT specification) is a meaningful factor
  • You'd rather not manage charging habits and simply want a fast, capable SUV

For most UK buyers who genuinely want to use their performance SUV daily — school runs, motorway miles, weekend drives — the Urus SE's PHEV architecture is now a legitimate selling point rather than a compromise. Lamborghini hasn't diluted the drama; it's added real-world usability around it. That's a harder combination to argue against than it once was.

Key takeaways

  • The Urus S has been discontinued — the Urus SE PHEV is now the only new Urus available, with 800bhp and a 37-mile electric range.
  • The Urus SE covers most UK urban commutes on electric power alone, with EV operation possible up to 84mph.
  • At 51g/km CO2, the Urus SE offers a significant company car tax advantage over the non-hybrid Cayenne Turbo GT.
  • Real-world fuel economy ranges from 15mpg (hard driving) to 30mpg (with a full charge), depending on usage.
  • On raw performance, the Urus SE leads; on dynamic polish and driver focus, the Cayenne Turbo GT remains a benchmark.

Sources

Car Magazine — Lamborghini Urus SE hybrid (2026) review (5 April 2026)

Lamborghini Urus vs Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT: UK Buyer's Guide — Vertar | Vertar