If you happen to have plenty of money burning a hole in your pocket, and you’re in the market for a high-performance SUV, the Lamborghini Urus is likely to be toward the top of your shopping list. It’s got one of the coolest badges in the automotive world, looks fast even while standing still, and can back this up with plenty of pace. The thing is, a new one costs around $250,000 in base spec, and even used cars will still cost you over $150,000.
If your budget doesn’t stretch that far, don’t worry, as its sibling is here to rescue your dreams.
The RS Q8 Uses The Same Foundations As The Urus
2021 Audi RS Q8Audi
The answer to this particular riddle is the Audi RS Q8, Audi’s second-largest SUV that sits below only the upcoming flagship Q9 in the brand’s lineup. As its name suggests, the RS Q8 is the performance-focused version of the model, so it gets more aggressive styling and an uprated technical configuration to ensure that gearheads can have their cake and eat it. The thing is, it shares much more DNA with the Lamborghini Urus than you’d perhaps expect.
Since the two brands are part of the Volkswagen-Audi Group, they use several shared parts and platforms, saving money on development and production of vastly different component designs. Both the RS Q8 and Urus usethe same Volkswagen Group MLB Evo platform, which is also used by models such as the Audi A8 luxury sedan and thePorsche Cayenne SUV. That means both cars have the same adaptive air suspension tech, which ensures neither has much of an advantage in how sharp or compliant they feel.
The main difference lies in how each is tuned. The Lambo comes with a sharper but less comfortable base setup, whereas the Audi is softer and therefore more pliant on the road.
The Two SUVs Also Share The Same Powerplant
Audi RS Q8Ian Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet
Both SUVs even sport the same base 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine, though there are some changes to the Lambo’s unit versus the spec used under the hood of the RS Q8. The Urus’ V8 was worked on by Lamborghini’s engineers, with upgrades including revised cylinder heads and a tweaked ECU, while the turbo was also turned up to produce more boost. The exhaust was also worked on to increase airflow, a change that also ensures the Urus emits a throatier soundtrack.
As a result, while the RS Q8 has 591 horsepower, the Urus has 641 hp. Still, the RS Q8 is no slouch, as the engine works well with its Quattro all-wheel-drive system to rocket it past the 60 mph mark in 3.8 seconds. That’s despite the car tipping the scales at over 5,000 pounds. Of course, there’s no getting away from the Urus’ more powerful engine, but it loses its appeal somewhat when you consider it costs around $100,000 more.
With the money you’d save, you could easily upgrade the RS Q8’s engine to not only match the Urus’ output, but far exceed it. Plus, if you prefer the Urus’ sharper suspension setup, the RS Q8 can easily be tweaked with the same layout, since it features an identical arrangement after all. Granted, the RS Q8 isn’t exactly a bargain at $125,000, but a used example could be just the way to go.
A Ton Of Money Can Be Saved With A Used RS Q8
Silver 2023 Audi RS Q8 rear endAudi
When looking for a used RS Q8, there are two ways to go. The first is opting for earlier 2020-2022 examples, though the issue here is that they’re more likely to suffer from annoying reliability niggles, since they were the first cars to be built. Later 2023-2024 cars cost more, but many of those initial problems missed by Audi would have been fixed by then, making it more likely that you wouldn’t run into any unexpected setbacks.
As you can expect, there is a significant difference in value between age groups. While the average price for early examples currently sits at $78,360, the slightly later cars average just over $100,000. Either way, these machines represent a considerable discount on a brand-new model, especially considering how new they still are. If you’re happy with higher-mileage examples, you can pick up an earlier RS Q8 for under $60k, though spending closer to $70,000 to secure a car with around 50,000 miles on the clock will be better for longevity.
By the same token, higher mileage versions of the later 2023/2024 RS Q8 can be had for around the $75,000 mark, while machines with between 30,000 and 40,000 miles are on the market for closer to $85,000. Elevate your budget to the $100,000 range, and you’d be able to pick up a tidy, well-looked-after car with comfortably under 20,000 miles on the odometer. Seeing as you’d have to part with well over double that for an equivalent used Urus of similar vintage, the very similar Audi stands out as truly tantalizing value by comparison.
A top-spec 2026 Lexus GX starts at $82,000 before any options. Sure, it has more seats, but its 3.4-liter V6 has some reliability concerns. It does come with a new car warranty, but would you rather have 350 horses, or 590 for the same price?
The Urus’ Badge Is Worth More Than Anything Else
Lamborghini Urus SE PerformanteGabrielle Schmauderer/CarBuzz/Valnet
The difference in value between these strikingly similar SUVs is eye-opening to say the least, and on the face of it, it’s hard to make much of an argument for the Lamborghini being worth well over $100,000 more than the RS Q8. The Lamborghini badge does most of the heavy lifting, since the heritage and pedigree attached to it holds massive appeal for gearheads with deep enough pockets to purchase such a vehicle.
Status is important with high-end vehicles such as these, and a Lamborghini badge carries much greater weight than an Audi badge. Some buyers may also be more motivated to pursue the Urus due to its more aggressive interior and exterior styling, though this is more subjective. Overall, it shows just how much of a difference a big name and some relatively straightforward engineering tweaks can make to a vehicle’s worth.
The Urus is 95% the same car as the RS Q8, but you’ll have to spend north of $100,000 more to get an equivalent used version of the former compared to the latter. The raging bull may be enough to empty your bank account to a greater degree, but if that doesn’t hold much appeal, the RS Q8 is waiting to provide pretty much the same driving experience, but for a lot less.
Bentley’s SUV Is Also Lurking For Those Who Prefer More Majesty
Bentley Bentayga Artenara Edition from the front three-quarter angleBentley
Forget sportiness, though; sometimes wafting around in comfort is all you need to put you in a good mood. For that, the Bentley Bentayga is the perfect foil to the more performance-focused RS Q8 and Urus. As you might have guessed, the Bentayga is built on the same underpinnings as its brand mates, meaning it is, again, practically the same from a technical standpoint. The base engine available is once again the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 found in the RS Q8 and Urus, though it runs in a detuned state with 542 hp to prioritize smoothness. Plus, this lower power output keeps it from stepping on the toes of its Bentayga Speed sibling, which runs a more refined twin-turbo W12 producing 626 hp.
The Bentayga’s cabin and suspension are designed to provide a luxurious experience, making it the best of the three as a luxury SUV. In terms of price, used 2023/2024 cars sit pretty much between the RS Q8 and the Urus. Higher mileage specimens will set you back around $135k, while lesser-traveled vehicles will demand closer to $150,000. Opt for even older examples built before 2020, and you could get away with spending less than $60,000.
The MLB Evo platform has earned its keep over the last decade, serving as the baseline for not only one of the sportiest SUVs on the market but also one of the plushest. No matter your budget or preference in terms of what you want from a high-end SUV, something built upon it will suit you. When it comes to value though, it’s hard to argue against the merits of a used RS Q8. It provides excellent performance, but also a more civilized drive when the mood takes you.
It may lack the same prestigious badges as its more expensive brand rivals, but that only opens up a fantastic window of opportunity to secure a highly effective premium SUV at a huge discount.
Sources: Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini.
