Lamborghini Urus S Review: Performante Power with Daily Drivability

What we like:

Superb engagement with perfect daily usability

Sense of occasion

What we dislike:

Is it differentiated enough versus its VW Group siblings?

There are other super SUVs around, including those that are closely related to the Urus like the Audi RS Q8 and Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. But there’s still nothing quite like the Lamborghini Urus, which has captured the imagination of SUV junkies. Never before in modern Lamborghini history could you ferry the family in a car adorned with a badge from Sant’Agata Bolognese, but with the Urus you can. Now an update to the car comes in the form of the Urus S, which becomes the ‘entry-level’ Urus model, if you could call it that.

Is the Urus S more powerful than the Urus?

Equipped with the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 as before, the ‘S’ in the name denotes an update that includes a bump up in power to 666 CV and 850 Nm. That in fact is the same output as the top-dog Urus Performante. I guess the ‘666’ figure is intentional.

The result is a 305 km/h top speed (only 1 km/h less than the Performante) and 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds (0.2 seconds off the Performante). For our thoughts on the Urus Performante, click here for our Sepang drive impressions.

Does the Urus S come with air suspension?

Unlike the Performante with conventional adaptive dampers, the Urus S comes with air suspension, which in my mind is more suitable for daily driving comfort. You get to adjust it in a whole host of ways, and if you so desire it can aid you to get  across mud or ice. Not that you ever would, I suppose. However, it gives excellent comfort like you wouldn’t believe from a Lamborghini. The Urus S is totally usable all day, every day.

What is the EGO mode in the Urus S?

It also now comes with a curiously named ‘EGO’ mode. Instead of stroking your, erm, ego, it is actually a fully customisable drive mode designed to let you input whatever settings you want, instead of just the pre-set modes. Having more options is always better, I reckon.

In Corsa mode though, the car is at its meanest and probably the most Lamborghini it would feel. The idling exhaust note is knee-tremblingly menacing, and the whole car feels geared up for speed and excess. It’s not difficult to live with though by any measure, and could even be a mode to be used on the road for extended periods. Just watch out because ESP has been pared back.

Is the Urus S worth waiting for?

The Urus S is a useful upgrade over the standard car and one that maintains its allure and mystique. If you’re in the market for a super SUV, there’s simply no comparison for its presence and wow factor.

Photos by James Wong

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