To say that the combustion engine is going out with a bang is an understatement. Within a few months of each other, Aston Martin and Lamborghini unveiled two of the most powerful combustion SUVs ever seen, both with twin-turbo V8s. In the Aston Martin DBX707, we have a 697-horsepower monster that we were fortunate enough to experience in Italy. On the other side of the ring, a new challenger has emerged in the Lamborghini Urus Performante with its 657-hp V8. Brash and loud in both the way they look and the way they drive, where should your money go?

Exterior: Unbridled Aggression

Both of these super SUVs will get you noticed in a hurry, their bulging bodies not so much hinting as they are screaming about the power that lies beneath. The Lambo has the more angular lines, whereas the Aston is a curvier proposition.

For the Urus Performante, there is a more powerful hood and bumper compared with the normal Urus, and Lamborghini claims to have used more carbon fiber parts in the design than any other vehicle in this segment. It has new air curtains in front, new black front air intakes, and an air outlet on the hood. Sitting lower to the ground and riding on forged 22-inch wheels or optional 23s, it is an unashamedly aggressive SUV. At the back, a new rear spoiler with carbon fiber fins is claimed to increase rear downforce by 38%, and there are sizable quad-exit tailpipes at the back.

For the DBX707, there is a colossal grille. As with the Italian, Aston has improved aerodynamics with changes like carbon fiber vanes on the hood and a ducktail-style spoiler at the back. The massive wheel arches are tasked with containing 22-inch wheels, but 23s are available too. At the back, the DBX707's carbon fiber diffuser is comically large and makes the quad-exit tailpipes almost seem subtle by comparison.

Choosing which one looks better is a matter of personal taste, but pushed to make a decision, the DBX707 will probably get our vote.

Performance: Record-Breaking Power And Speed

Both manufacturers have something to brag about here. Whereas the Aston Martin DBX707 is the fastest SUV in the world in terms of its top speed, the Lamborghini Urus Performante recently set a new record for production SUVs on the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Road.

Starting with the Lamborghini, it sports a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that makes 657 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque. That's 16 hp more than the regular Urus. Combined with the Performante's lower weight, this new Urus will scorch from 0-62 mph in only 3.3 seconds as its eight-speed automatic rips through the gears. Keep the loud pedal pinned to the floor and the Performante will reach a top speed of 190 mph. Impressively, the all-wheel-drive Lamborghini conquered Pikes Peak in a time of 10:32.064, shattering the Bentley Bentayga's previous record of 10:49.902.

Despite its incredible speed on smooth roads, Lamborghini saw fit to equip the Urus Performante with a new Rally Mode for optimal performance on rougher surfaces. In this mode, oversteer is more readily initiated. Rear-wheel steering improves agility and front/rear carbon-ceramic brakes slow the large SUV down more effectively.

The DBX707 also has a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 but makes more power (697 hp) and more torque (663 lb-ft) than the Urus Performante. At 3.1 seconds to 60 mph and 3.3 seconds to 62 mph, the two are impossible to separate up to that speed. But in the DBX707, the fun only stops at a ballistic 193 mph - no other current SUV is as fast. A nine-speed wet-clutch automatic transmission and a rear-biased all-wheel drive are standard. Interestingly, Aston decided against rear-wheel steering for the DBX707 as it believes responses are more linear without it. In our test drive of this super SUV, we marveled at the way it shrinks around the driver with consistent feedback from the chassis and a surprisingly supple ride.

The Lambo is over 200 pounds lighter, and its Pikes Peak record speaks volumes, but only a back-to-back test drive will determine which one has the edge. Both are supremely talented performance SUVs.

Interior: So-So Tech Meets Bespoke Touches

Both vehicles have sporty interiors finished in high-quality materials. The Aston looks more stylish and luxurious from behind the wheel, but the Lambo's links to its supercar siblings are obvious.

The Lamborghini comes with Nero Cosmus black Alcantara seats as standard, enlivened by hexagonal seat stitching, and leather is optionally available. There is a black Alcantara/leather steering wheel and black anodized aluminum trim. Standing out is the central Tamburo that groups together the start/stop button and the drive mode selector. Lamborghini also says there is a new HMI graphic for the Performante. In the normal Urus, we found the infotainment system slightly tricky to use, and touchscreen controls for the ventilation system are never quite as intuitive as physical knobs.

With the Ad Personam customization program, the Urus Performante can be personalized with extras like red door handles and matte carbon fiber trim.

While the Aston has a gorgeous interior, it's let down by the older COMAND infotainment interface from Mercedes. There is no touchscreen, and it's disappointing that so many controls are so obviously Mercedes-sourced. On the plus side, the 16-way power front sports seats are supportive if a bit firm, and there are some thoroughly unique color combinations like Titanium Grey/Electron Yellow. As with Lamborghini's Ad Personam, Q by Aston Martin allows almost limitless customization of the cabin.

Although it's easy to forget when you're embarrassing the average sports car off the mark, these are still SUVs, so need to be spacious enough for a family's needs. In five-seater guise, the Urus Performante has 21.75 cubic feet of cargo space. The DBX707 has 17.3 cubes under the load shelf or 22.5 cubes without being limited by the shelf.

Price And Verdict: A Privileged Conundrum

If you're in the fortunate position to choose between these two special vehicles and don't have a specific allegiance to one brand over the other, this isn't going to be an easy decision. At the same time, you can't go wrong with either. Whereas the standard Urus was easily a more dynamic option than the DBX before, the DBX707 is a much tougher prospect - even for the Urus Performante.

The new Lamborghini Urus Performante starts at a steep $260,676, while the Aston Martin DBX707 costs $236,000. At well over $200,000, a difference of almost $25,000 seems negligible and is unlikely to matter much to a buyer considering both of these super SUVs. One also has to consider the customization potential of each vehicle and how this can cause the final price to escalate rapidly.

Having only driven the DBX707 so far, we can't say for certain that it's better than the new Urus Performante. We do know that, like the DBX707, the regular Urus mixes athleticism and comfort spectacularly well. But while the Lambo is lighter, the Aston claws back with more power. There are moments when driving each vehicle that you forget that these are large, fairly practical SUVs.

A dedicated sports car for the weekend and a more docile family SUV for everyday use make more sense, but if you absolutely need both those things in a single package, the Urus Performante and DBX707 are at the top of their games.