2013 Range Rover: Are the Bentley SUV & Lamborghini Urus viable?

Does the arrival of the new Range Rover make it almost impossible for the Bentley SUV and Lamborghini Urus SUV to succeed?

For all that forty years, the Range Rover has never really had any competition. Yes, there are other luxury SUVs, but none that hold a candle to the Range Rover and none with its mix of abilities. And none that come close to making you feel as special.

But, even though the new Range Rover seems to have taken luxury SUVs to an all new level (dependant on the new Range Rover driving as well as is promised – and being bullet proof), will it finally have real competition from the new Bentley EXP 9 F SUV and Lamborghini Urus SUV?

Power and performance could be the key, with the Bentley likely to offer models with up to 600bhp. But Land Rover will be able to turn the V8 Supercharged in the Range Rover up to over 550bhp if they choose to compete in that way, and both the Range Rover and Bentley are likely to have a hybrid option available.

Where the difference will be is in price. Bentley are looking at a £150k price tag for their SUV, and even the most expensive Range Rover comes in at £100k (although you can spend much more). There will be some for whom having the most expensive SUV they can buy is important, but that’s a limited market.

So it seems likely that Range Rover holds the aces in comparison to the Bentley SUV, but what of the Lamborghini SUV?

But we’ve yet to see the 2014 Range Rover Sport, which is going to be far more competition for the Urus than the Range Rover. With even more weight shed and performance and handling that has been benchmarked against performance SUVs like the Cayenne and X5, the Range Rover Sport looks likely to have the measure of the Urus on performance and handling. But it will undoubtedly have a far greater depth of abilities than the Urus.

That may not be quite as important to Lamborghini buyers, where the connotations of ‘Lamborghini’ probably matter more than actual ability even if, at £135k, the Lamborghini is a big chunk more than the new Range Rover Sport will be.

If, and it’s still an ‘if’ until we get behind the wheel of the new Range Rover, it offers all it seems to promise, then Bentley are going to have their work cut out to make their SUV viable. The Range Rover offers a name as appealing as Bentley (the Range Rover has often been dubbed a Bentley on stilts), it seems likely to offer just as much luxury as the Bentley and almost certainly more ability off-road. And the Bentley will cost 50 per cent more than the Range Rover.

The Lamborghini Urus SUV is a bit different. Yes, the 2014 Range Rover Sport looks likely to offer as much performance – and far more off-road ability – than the Urus, but that probably won’t impact too much on sales. Lamborghini buyers are, on the whole, interested in making a statement about their cars, and more prosaic considerations  like cost and ability are not as great a factor.

What do you think? Will the Bentley SUV have a chance against the new Range Rover? And will the 2013 Range Rover Sport make it harder for Lamborghini to sell their Urus SUV?

2013 Range Rover Sport Photos >>

Bentley SUV Photos >>

Lamborghini Urus SUV Photos >>

By Cars UK