Family-Feud: How Lamborghini Urus SE Stacks Up Against The Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid - story Go to full screen story Fullscreen

Family-Feud: How Lamborghini Urus SE Stacks Up Against The Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid

While both pack a similar hybrid powertrain underneath the skin, find out what makes these sports SUVs from within the VW Group, truly distinct

by Amreetam Basu on September 5, 2024, 19:30

Lamborghini is on a roll, electrifying its lineup one model at a time. The Italian automaker kicked things off with the Revuelto, their first-ever plug-in hybrid supercar with a whopping 1,001 horsepower. Then came the Urus SE, a hybrid SUV that’s more than just a green machine - it’s a performance powerhouse. And let’s not forget the Temerario, the Huracan’s electrifying successor, boasting a brand-new V8 hybrid setup that churns out 907 horsepower.

The Urus SE, however, might leave you scratching your head. Why? Well, Lamborghini is still selling the gas-only Urus S and Urus Performante alongside it. It’s a bit of a hybrid puzzle, but don’t worry, the gas-guzzlers are on their way out, and expect it to be gone post-2026.

For now, the Urus SE reigns supreme as the most potent Urus ever. Its V8 hybrid powertrain unleashes 789 horsepower - that’s a whopping 132 more than its ICE-only siblings. And since it shares the same MLB Evo platform as a bunch of other high-performance SUVs in the VW Group, including the Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, it’s the perfect sparring partner for a good old-fashioned showdown.

Speaking of the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, it’s the king of the Cayenne hill in terms of power. Unlike the Urus SE, which comes with minor exterior changes, the 2024 Cayenne got a major glow-up with sleek new LEDs and a tech-filled interior inspired by the Taycan EV. Under the hood, it rocks a similar 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and electric motor combo as the Urus SE, but is tuned differently and it "only" puts out 729 horsepower.

So, which one of these hybrid heavyweights is the right fit for you? Let’s dive deep into the details and see how they stack up in terms of performance, luxury, and overall driving experience.

Key differences: 2025 Lamborghini Urus SE vs. 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid

left right

If you do a quick specs rundown and hop inside both the Urus SE and the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, you’ll figure out which one is the best and why it’s the Lambo. The Urus SE is priced almost $100k more than the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, and even though they are basically the same car underneath the skin, the Urus SE should feel much more sportier, especially on the inside.

The Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid has its own share of sportiness on the exterior, such as the Acid Green brake calipers since it’s a PHEV, aggressive front bumpers, a rear spoiler, and 21-inch wheels in Turbonite (dark grey). On the inside, the GT steering wheel, the leather Alcantara touches, the sport seats - you name it. For the 2024 update, Porsche added a curved 12.7-inch driver information display and an optional 10.9-inch passenger-side infotainment display similar to the Taycan.

However, the Lamborghini Urus SE is a no-brainer if you want a sports SUV that feels more like a spaceship. It looks sharper because it’s a Lambo at the end of the day. I believe the front end doesn’t look as polished as the gas-powered Urus, but the interior is on another level compared to the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid if you crave sportiness. The flat-bottomed Lamborghini-badged steering wheel, the jet-style center console design for the drive selector and drive modes. If you love crazy Lambo stuff, you’re going to love the cockpit of the Urus SE.

For the higher price tag, the Urus SE benefits from some extra standard features that are available as options on the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, such as rear-axle steering and summer Pirelli P-Zero tires. Additionally, the Urus SE gains some serious aero efficiency with its new rear spoiler and underbody vents.

2025 Lamborghini Urus SE 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid
Exterior Features Matrix LED headlights, 21-inch standard wheels, Pirelli P-Zero tires, Y-shaped taillights, quad-exhaust tips, sunroof Matrix LED headlights, 21-inch wheels in Turbonite, LED lightbar, quad-exhaust tips, aluminum roof, all-season tires
Interior Features Flat-bottomed steering wheel, 12.3-inch driver information display, 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display, leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, jet-inspired center console design with drive mode and chassis controls Leather interior with Turbonite accents, 12.7-inch driver’s display, 12.3-inch infotainment display, optional 10.9-inch passenger-side infotainment display, heated GT steering wheel, 18-way power-adjustable sport seats, front and rear heated seats
Aerodynamic Features A new spoiler and diffuser design increases downforce by 35%, and new underbody air vents increase 15% airflow Roof-mounted spoiler, aggressive rear diffuser
Chassis Features Air suspension, electronic torque vectoring, active anti-roll bars, rear-axle steering Two-chamber air suspension, torque vectoring, anti-roll bars
Cargo Capacity  20.3 cu.ft.  15.8 cu.ft.
Price  $275,000 $157,000

Performance: 2025 Lamborghini Urus SE vs. 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid

Family-Feud: How Lamborghini Urus SE Stacks Up Against The Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid storyboard - image 191549

Hardware-wise, both the Urus SE and the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid pack the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and an e-motor inside the eight-speed torque converter automatic, which drives the same rear-biased all-wheel drive system. However, the difference lies in the power figures.

The Urus SE is the more potent of the two. Its V8 produces a healthy 612 horsepower, and the e-motor adds another 189 horsepower to the mix. The combined figure is 789 horsepower and 701 pound-feet of torque. Compared to the gas-only Urus, the PHEV model produces 132 horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque more, which is a nice jump, but considering the weight gain owing to the hybrid hardware, it shouldn’t be any quicker to 60 mph than its pure ICE versions.

Family-Feud: How Lamborghini Urus SE Stacks Up Against The Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid storyboard - image 191548

As for the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, the V8 produces 591 horses, and the e-motor adds another 174. Combined, the hybrid powertrain cranks out 729 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque, making the facelifted Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid the most potent Cayenne ever made!

While both the Urus SE and the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid can accelerate to 60 mph in around 3.5 seconds, the former can go faster, with a top speed threshold of 193 mph, compared to the Cayenne’s 183. Additionally, the battery sizes are pretty similar on both the Lambo and the Porsche, at around 25 kWh. So expect the all-electric range to be very similar, which is somewhere in the mid-30 mile for both models.

So if you’re considering either of these sports SUVs, the all-electric driving range likely won’t be a deciding factor. It is mere convenience. We often complain about Porsche tax, but in this context, the Cayenne Turbo GT looks like a bargain at more than 100+ grand less than the Urus SE. But as I mentioned earlier, if it’s street-cred or curb-appeal that you’re after, it’s a no-brainer and you have to go with the Lambo. I know that design is subjective, but the Porsche simply can’t compete here when it comes to looks. But if you just want the performance, don’t really care about turning heads, and would like to stay a little more understated, the Cayenne Turbo GT could get the job done for a lot less.

2025 Lamborghini Urus SE 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid
Engine 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 + e-motor 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 + e-motor
Horsepower 789 hp 729 hp
Torque (lb-ft) 701 lb-ft 700 lb-ft
Gearbox 8-speed automatic 8-speed automatic
Drive Type AWD AWD
0-60 (mph) 3.4 seconds (mfr. claimed) 3.5 seconds (mfr. claimed)
Top speed (mph) 193 mph 183 mph
Curb Weight 5,522 pounds 5,721 pounds
Battery size 25.7 kWh 25.9 kWh 
EV only range 37 miles (expected) 35 miles (expected)

Amreetam Basu

Amreetam Basu

While Amreetam hustles during the week, free time means one thing: hitting the open road. He dreams of cruising the Alps in a German masterpiece – a Porsche 992 911 GT3 RS or an F87 BMW M2 would be ideal! This 26-year-old automotive journalist loves every part of the job. Read full bio