Is This 2023 Lamborghini Urus S In Verde Mantis Really Worth $250,000? No, and Here’s Why

Can you believe it’s been over 10 years since the Italian carmaker brought its initial Urus concept to the 2012 Beijing Auto Show? Looking at the two side-by-side (the concept and the production model), you’ll quickly realize that they didn’t really change much in terms of design language. They took the concept, raised the ride height a little bit, added conventional mirrors and door handles, tweaked the front and rear fascias a bit, and they were off to the races.

Also, the Urus concept may have been more of a crossover utility vehicle, but the production Urus is clearly an SUV. Why? It’s simple, really. They could have gone for a sleeker vehicle, with four-doors and all-wheel drive, while not fully embracing all the characteristics of an SUV. But that recipe was untested as far as the luxury car market was concerned.

Meanwhile, they had proof of concept in the Porsche Cayenne, so they knew that route was the safest to take.

The only problem with the Urus, as far as I’m concerned, is the MSRP. It’s a very expensive vehicle, and not necessarily because it’s that much better than its competitors (it’s not). The only reason why it costs as much as it does is because of the styling and the Lamborghini badge.

Take this 2023 Urus S for example. It’s up for grabs to the highest bidder with just 1,200 miles on its twin-turbo V8. It’s relatively new, and yes, the fact that it’s an ‘S’ is definitely worth certain considerations, but in the end, we’re still talking about a 600+ HP super SUV that’s going to set you back way more than any new Audi RS Q8 or Porsche Cayenne Coupe.

That’s basically the problem. The Urus is not fundamentally better than the RS Q8 or something like the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe or Turbo GT. Yet, it costs over $100,000 more than any of those, except for the Turbo GT. They’re all just as well-built, just as quick, just as luxurious, so yeah, you’re basically paying a premium because of that Lambo badge.

Still, if you’re OK with that, well, then you’ll probably want to know more about this 2023 Urus S, seeing as how it’s got a pretty nice spec.

The exterior is finished in Verde Mantis (optional extra), and comes with black accents, ‘Urus S’ rocker panel badges, tinted windows, black roof rails, carbon-ceramic brakes with green-finished calipers, plus a set of 23-inch gloss black wheels with Pirelli P Zero rubber.

Meanwhile, interior highlights include the Nero Ade leather upholstery with green contrast stitching, ventilated front seats, four-zone automatic climate control, the 3D Bang & Olufsen sound system, and more.

As for that twin turbo V8, it’s got 657 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque, with power going to all four wheels via an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.