Audi RSQ8 vs Porsche Cayenne vs Lamborghini Urus - Which one has the lowest running costs?
When it comes to big, powerful, luxury SUVs, one would not imagine that fuel conservation is at the top of the minds of their drivers. We delve into the numbers to see which of these Performance SUVs has the lowest running costs.
Cost of power and performance
Not many manufacturers offer a luxury high-performance SUV in their portfolios. Within VAG (Volkswagen Audi Group), a number of their brands do. Consumers expect nothing less than this from the Germans. Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini are all called the group home. With plenty of cross-pollination between engineering departments, you can have your proverbial cake at several different price points.
Related: Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT (2022) Review
All based on the VAG MLB Evo platform and sporting turbo-charged V8 engines and 8-speed transmissions to provide the drive, these luxury sports SUVs couldn't be any more different in their approach to an exhilarating and premium drive, but how much will it cost you to own and run one of these mean machines?
Audi RS Q8 (2021) review - is there such a thing as "too much"?
Important figures
| Audi RSQ8 Quattro Performance | Porsche Cayenne GT Turbo | Lamborghini Urus SE | |
| Engine | 4.0l Turbo charged V8 petrol | 4.0l Turbo charged V8 petrol | 4.0l Turbo charged V8 petrol + hybrid electric |
| Power | 471kW / 850Nm | 485Kw / 850Nm | 588kW / 950Nm (456+141 and 800+483) |
| Gearbox | 8 Speed Auto | 8 Speed Auto Tiptronic | 8 Speed Auto |
| Fuel Cons. (Claimed) | 12.2 L /100km | 11.9 L / 100km | 2.1 in Hybrid mode / 12.9 L /100km |
| Driven Wheels | All (Quattro) | All (Porsche Traction Management) | All |
| Airbags | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Warranty | 1 Year / Unlimited Km | 2 Year / Unlimited Km | 3 Year / Unlimited Km |
| Service plan/Maintenance | Maintenance | Maintenance | Maintenance |
| Duration | 5 Year / 100 000km | 3 Year / 100 000km | 3 Year / 100 000km |
| Price | R 3 266 100 | R 4 506 000 | R 4 875 000 |
Repayments
These vehicles are aimed at the rather well-heeled, so putting down a 25% deposit or trade-in and financing over 72 months, buyers should expect a healthy 11% prime interest rate depending on credit history.
| Audi RSQ8 Quattro Performance | Porsche Cayenne GT Turbo | Lamborghini Urus SE | |
| Price | R 3 266 100 | R 4 506 000 | R 4 875 000 |
| 25% Deposit | R 816 825 | R 1 126 500 | R 1 218 750 |
| Monthly Installment | R 46 625 | R 64 326 | R 69 593 |
Service and maintenance
Brand equity plays a big role here; these vehicles may all be running similar drivetrains and platforms, but the out-of-plan services and parts pricing get more expensive as the brand value does. Replacing parts on an Audi is not cheap, but the difference is costly compared to what you may pay for Porsche or Lamborghini parts.
As these new vehicles are available with service and maintenance plans that cover the costs of your services and maintenance for the first few years of ownership. Click here to see the difference between service and maintenance plans.
Keep in mind that these are performance cars with specific parts. The brakes and suspension parts may not always be shared with other variants in the range and will most likely cost more should they need to be replaced. This could affect you before your service or maintenance plan runs out, which is important to remember: once these are out of service/maintenance plan, they will get costly to service and repair.
Verdict
These SUVs may be aimed at the upper end of the clientele base, but these consumers also keep a keen eye on their finances. The Audi RSQ8 may have the cheapest purchase price, but it may cost you more over time versus the Urus, which is the most expensive but has a much leaner running cost and a much better warranty. At this level, the purchase decision comes down to the individual choices and style of the buyer.
