Lamborghini has released two flagship V12 supercars since the year 2000, the Murcielago in 2001 and the Aventador in 2011. They're both incredible supercars, and arguably the two best models the brand has produced this century. Sure, there have been many limited edition specials like the Centenario or the Egoista, but those cars are so rare and exclusive that no-one apart from their billionaire owners will ever get to drive one.

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The difference between the Aventador and the Murcielago is that, not only are they attainable options for any buyer in the market for a supercar, but they can also be driven by the general public too. Of course, hiring a supercar is very costly, but there are track-driving experiences out there for those with a more modest budget. Both cars are the essence of what Lambo has to offer, but which car takes the top spot? Let's take a look at the facts to decide.

8 Aventador Is Best: More Powerful

Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Via Motor Trend

One of the most important factors of driving a supercar is the feeling of power available to the driver. It's no good having the most insane-looking automobile if it doesn't accelerate any faster than the neighbor's F-150. Being Lamborghinis, both cars are more than capable in the horsepower department.

Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Via Twitter

The Aventador edges the Murcielago here though, as it offers considerably more horses from its V12 engine. Later-model Murcielagos produced a more-than-satisfactory 631 hp, but a new Aventador from the showroom today will make 730 hp.

7 Murcielago Is Better: Cheaper Purchase Price

Lamborghini Murcielago LP640
Via Curated

Most supercar buyers, despite being wealthy, will still need to consider the purchase price of their new car before they buy it. This is where the Murcielago really excels: it's a relative bargain compared to the Aventador.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP640
Via Curated

As a quick example, the cheapest Murcielago available on Autotrader as of the time of writing is $139,995, whereas the cheapest Aventador is $237,777. That's a difference of close to $100,000, which is enough to get a Corvette C8 and still have change for a few years of maintenance on the Murcielago.

6 Aventador Is Best: Looks Better With A Wide Body Kit

Lamborghini Aventador Liberty Walk
Via Liberty Walk

Love them or loathe them, wide body kits are the trend that never seems to go away. It's one of the most popular modifications for supercar owners, so it's worth comparing the two Lambos to see how they look when kitted.

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Lamborghini Murcielago Liberty Walk
Via Liberty Walk

The Aventador wins here, as its more angular proportions lend itself better to aggressive kits. The Murcielago still looks good but the wide body modification doesn't flow as well with the car's natural shape. It looks a bit stretched, although of course that may well have been what it's owners were going for.

5 Murcielago Is Better: It's A Rarer Car

Lamborghini Murcielago

Rarity isn't the most important factor when buying a supercar, at least not for those who actually plan on driving it. But, the Murcielago is in the sweet spot of being rare enough that it's a head-turner, but not so rare that it's more of a collector's showpiece. The Aventador is a very popular car and helped Lambo expand its audience into the mainstream.

Lamborghini Murcielago
Via WhichCar

But because of that it's unlikely to attract too much attention at a supercar show, unless it's been extensively modified. A Murcielago on the other hand doesn't need mods to stand out, as only 4,099 units were ever built. In comparison, the Aventador had already reached 5,000 units by 2016, and they've continued building them for another five years since then.

4 Aventador Is Best: The J

Lamborghini Aventador J
Via Lamborghini

Yes, this is a one-off that nobody apart from its billionaire owner will ever drive. The main reason the Aventador J is a win for the model is that it shows how versatile the Aventador's design language is.

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Lamborghini Aventador J
Via Lamborghini

Nothing like it was ever created with the Murcielago, and even if it was, it wouldn't have looked as good. It's one of several special variants of the Aventador, but it's the earliest and probably the best. It showcases just how much Lambo could play around with the design of the car and still make it look incredible. It's worth noting that the awesome Centenario is built on an Aventador platform, too.

3 Murcielago Is Better: Approaching Classic Status

Lamborghini Murcielago
Via Mecum Auctions

The earliest models of Murcielago are twenty years old, which means they're already in the realm of "modern classics". Pretty soon they'll have aged into being true classics, which means their value is likely to start appreciating. In comparison, the Aventador has many years more of depreciating before its value might start to go back up.

Lamborghini Murcielago
Via Drivetribe

Not every supercar owner cares about the value of their car in a few years time, in fact many don't. But for any buyer looking to make a smart investment that might well increase in value, the Murcielago is the clear winner.

2 Aventador Is Best: Easier To Drive

Lamborghini Aventador
Via Lambocars

No supercar is convenient to drive, at least not more convenient than, say, an SUV. For any owner looking to do a significant amount of driving in their Lambo though, it's important to consider just how tricky or not it might be. When designing the Aventador, Lamborghini thought the same thing.

Lamborghini Aventador Interior
Via Autodius

As a result, there's a range of improvements that the Aventador makes over the Murcielago in terms of everyday driveability. Most owners report that the newer car is significantly more comfortable to drive and better suited to long journeys. It also features a lot more built-in tech, like an infotainment screen and digital instrument cluster.

1 Murcielago Is Better: Manual Transmission

Lamborghini Murcielago Manual Transmission
Via Ed Bolian

The last Lamborghini available with a manual was the Gallardo, and since then there's only been automatic or semi-auto transmissions offered. That means the Aventador is auto-only, but although they're rare, it is possible to get a Murcielago with a fully manual 'box.

Lamborghini Murcielago SV
Via Top Speed

As almost every gearhead will agree, the experience of rowing through gears on a manual transmission is something that an auto just simply can't provide. It gives drivers a much more immediate connection with the car, and in the case of the Murcielago it means they can let that V12 engine sing.

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