*Model Shown is for illustration purposes only.
Vehicle Information
Bentley's Bentayga is one of the fastest, most luxurious and priciest exclusive large luxury SUVs out there. And now it's been improved with PHEV power and an Extended Wheelbase version. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.
Bentley was clever in spotting a gaping hole in the SUV market above the ubiquitous Range Rover and filling it with its Bentayga super-luxury SUV. This car has now been usefully updated and features a smarter look, a much improved interior and a longer Extended Wheelbase body shape. It's available with a petrol V8, with Plug-in hybrid power or even in wild W12 Speed guise. Either way, it can go properly off-road and packs some impressive statistics.
While some may be surprised to see Bentley producing a SUV vehicle, those who've kept an eye on the market have had plenty of time to get used to the idea. We had our first hint at what would become the Bentayga way back in 2012 with the EXP 9 F prototype. Here, elements like as the engine and overall size gave us a good indication of what was to come, though much has changed visually since the first controversial concept was shown. Taking on board criticisms from press and potential customers alike, Bentley have made sure they put the 'sport' into their SUV. All the available petrol engines aim to give best-in-class performance, while the styling looks very Bentley-orientated. Underneath, there's architecture shared with the MK2 model Audi Q7 and the third generation Porsche Cayenne. If the Q7 is anything to go by, that bodes very well indeed.
The first engine alternative is a 550PS 4.0-litre petrol V8. It makes 62mph from rest in just 4.4s on the way to a maximum of 180mph. Or, if you prioritise efficiency, there's a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol Plug-in hybrid model which in standard form has 449PS and an all-electric driving range of 25 miles. The Bentayga S Hybrid has an uprated 136PS electric motor, boosting total output to 462PS. If you've no interest in electrification and just want outright silky speed, go for the flagship petrol-engined W12 Speed model and you get a 6.0-litre 12 cylinder unit with 635PS and 900Nm of torque. Despite this variant's prodigious 2,422kg kerb weight, 62mph from rest takes just 3.9s - faster than a Porsche 911 Carrera. Flat out, you'll be doing 190mph, a figure way beyond any of its competitors. On all Bentaygas, to make sure that this big brute doesn't embarrass itself around corners, there's a fast acting 48v electric anti-roll bar system. Unlike conventional fixed anti-roll bars, this allows the Bentayga to remain supple over bumpy roads whilst still resisting roll around the twisties. It also ensures the big Bentley has plenty of ability off the beaten track even if most owners will probably never try it out. There's even the ability to raise and lower the car on its standard air suspension, perfect to make hooking up a horsebox or speedboat that much easier. The Bentayga S Hybrid gets a stiffer chassis, more dynamic Sport mode ESC tuning and an enhanced sports exhaust. The Extended Wheelbase model is the first Bentayga to get four wheel steering, supposed to improve the car's high-speed stability and low-speed manoevreability: sure enough, an Extended Wheelbase model's 11.8-metre turning circle is 7% tighter than that of a regular Bentayga.
These days there are two Bentayga body styles - the standard SUV one and the longer 'Extended Wheelbase' version which has 180mm of extra length between its axles, longer doors and an overall length of 5,322mm (30cm longer than a Range Rover). All Bentaygas benefit from the design upgrade introduced in 2021 which brought a larger, more upright matrix grille, pushing the LED matrix headlamps further apart and raising them 30 mm higher. These headlamps are elliptical - for the first time on a Bentley. They include the marque's now-signature cut crystal design, which makes them appear to sparkle even when not lit. At the rear, like the Continental GT, the Bentayga now features elliptical tail lamps. The lattice pattern offers a unique jewellery-like appearance when illuminated, with a deep, three-dimensional glow. This is still one of the largest SUVs on the road. Even the standard-shape version, at 5.14 meters long, is bigger than even a long wheelbase Range Rover, although slightly lower to give a sportier feel. Step inside and you can really tell why the Bentayga weighs so much despite the high tech chassis. Everywhere you look, there's acres of leather and wood covering every surface imaginable, while if something looks like metal, it will be. The sweep of the dashboard is said to echo the wings of the Bentley badge and certainly looks very attractive - assuming you've chosen a tasteful colour scheme. With the 2021 year improvements, Bentley added new door trims and a revised steering wheel, plus a redesigned centre fascia and digital instrumentation cluster. These are complemented by rescultped seats that further improve on the industry-recognised benchmark for seat comfort. Infotainment was also been brought up to date with the adoption of a bigger and brighter, high-resolution 10.9-inch centre-dash touchscreen, with an anti-reflection and anti-glare coating and much improved touch functionality. Three seating configurations are available in this Bentayga. Apart from the standard five-seat layout, an optional four-seat configuration features two individual rear seats separated by a centre console. A further three-row, seven-seat configuration offers more practicality and flexibility. As before, a removable 10.2" Bentley Entertainment Tablet can be provided for rear seat passengers. The Extended Wheelbase body shape can't be had with seven seats, but four or five-seat layouts are offered plus, as standard, there's a third '4+1' configuration that puts an occasional middle seat between two larger outer chairs. Out back, there's a 430-litre boot with the standard-shape model. With the Extended Wheelbase version, boot space varies between 380 and 484-litres, depending on the chosen seating configuration.
Bentley describe the Bentayga as the "fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive SUV in the world". It should therefore come as no surprise to hear that it'll cost a pretty penny to purchase. The Hybrid and the standard V8 petrol model both start from around £162,000. The W12 Speed is around £200,000. Those prices are for the standard-shape models; expect to pay around 15% more for the Extended Wheelbase version, which initially is being offered with the V8 engine. As with all Bentleys, the list price figures represent only the beginning. You can pick between a three person bench or two individual seats in the back with a wide centre console. On the subject of seats, you can even get an 'Eventer package' with a fold-out bench in the boot. There's also an offroad package, three levels of hi-fi and fully adaptive cruise control with auto brake. Those who really want to push the boat out can opt for the full Mulliner treatment and even a Breitling Tourbillon clock in the dash. You'll like Bentley's Airline Seat, which offers twenty two ways of adjustment and monitors the passenger's temperature and surface humidity, then adjusting the heating and ventilation automatically to improve their comfort. Standard kit includes a panoramic glass roof, electric massage seats, Bluetooth infotainment with sat-nav, plenty of leather and wood, air suspension, climate control and a very bespoke interior feel. Safety features include the usual airbags, ABS, stability control and brake assist. Optional items include a rear crossing traffic warning, road sign recognition and a parking assist system.
If you have to ask yourself whether you can afford to run a Bentayga, don't bother reading any more of this section. The WLTP figures for the petrol V8 make sobering reading for eco-minded folk seduced by this SUV; a combined CO2 reading of 302g/km and a combined consumption figure of 21.2mpg. Bentley folk will probably be more concerned about how often they'll have to brush their brogues on dirty filling station forecourts; quite frequently is the answer. The quoted WLTP driving range for the V8 is 397 miles. As for the W12 Speed version, well don't expect more than about 15 to the gallon, even on a good day, necessitating a giant 87-litre fuel tank - you certainly wouldn't want to have to fill one up. You can do much better though, by opting for the 3.0-litre petrol Plug-in hybrid version. This delivers combined emissions of up to 79g/km, is capable of up to 81mpg, has an electric driving range of 25 miles and can be re-charged in just two and a half hours. Across the range, the three year manufacturer's warranty is an unlimited mileage one.
You can see why it took the Bentley brand so long to get around to originally bringing us this car, but they didn't wait too long before improving it. Of course, there'll always be people who'll sneer at the concept behind this kind of super-luxury SUV - as one writer put it, 'never again need you be stuck up a creek without a china dinner service'. Still, if you can get over your prejudices and appreciate this model for what it's managed to achieve, there's lots to like here. Contrary to what some people might tell you, it's very much its own car, very much unique and, best of all, very much a Bentley. Which if you'd like one, will be exactly what you'll want to hear.
HC+NOx:Not Available
Particles:Not Available
Standard Euro Emissions:EURO 6
WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb:294
Camshaft:DOHC
Catalytic Convertor:Yes
CC:3996
Compression Ratio:10.1:1
Cylinder Layout:V8
Cylinders:8
Cylinders - Bore (mm):86
Cylinders - Stroke (mm):86
Engine Layout:NORTH SOUTH
Fuel Delivery:TWIN TURBO
Gears:8 SPEED
Number of Valves:32
Transmission:SEMI-AUTO
EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies:No
WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb:13
WLTP - MPG - Comb:21.7
AdBlue:No
Alternative Fuel Qualifying:No
Badge Engine CC:4.0
Badge Power:550
Based On ID:Not Available
Coin Description:V8
Coin Series:S [4 Seat]
Generation Mark:2
Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07:Not Available
NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %:Not Available
NCAP Child Occupant Protection %:Not Available
NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09:Not Available
NCAP Pedestrian Protection %:Not Available
NCAP Safety Assist %:Not Available
Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?:No
Service Interval Frequency - Months:12
Service Interval Mileage:10000
Special Edition:No
Special Order:No
Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage:Unlimited
Standard manufacturers warranty - Years:3
Timing Belt Interval Mileage:999999
Vehicle Homologation Class:M1
0 to 62 mph (secs):4.5
Engine Power - BHP:550
Engine Power - KW:404
Engine Power - RPM:6000
Engine Torque - LBS.FT:568
Engine Torque - MKG:78.5
Engine Torque - NM:770
Engine Torque - RPM:2000
Top Speed:180
Emissions Test Cycle:WLTP
RDE Certification Level:RDE 2
Alloys?:Yes
Space Saver?:No
Tyre Size Front:285/40 R22
Tyre Size Rear:285/40 R22
Tyre Size Spare:TYRE REPAIR KIT
Wheel Style:Not Available
Wheel Type:22" ALLOY
Height:1728
Height (including roof rails):Not Available
Length:5125
Wheelbase:2995
Width:2010
Width (including mirrors):2222
Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres):85
Gross Vehicle Weight:3250
Luggage Capacity (Seats Up):392
Max. Towing Weight - Braked:3500
Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked:750
No. of Seats:4
Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb:12.4
Bentley's Bentayga is one of the fastest, most luxurious and priciest exclusive large luxury SUVs out there. And now it's been improved with PHEV power and an Extended Wheelbase version. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.
Bentley was clever in spotting a gaping hole in the SUV market above the ubiquitous Range Rover and filling it with its Bentayga super-luxury SUV. This car has now been usefully updated and features a smarter look, a much improved interior and a longer Extended Wheelbase body shape. It's available with a petrol V8, with Plug-in hybrid power or even in wild W12 Speed guise. Either way, it can go properly off-road and packs some impressive statistics.
While some may be surprised to see Bentley producing a SUV vehicle, those who've kept an eye on the market have had plenty of time to get used to the idea. We had our first hint at what would become the Bentayga way back in 2012 with the EXP 9 F prototype. Here, elements like as the engine and overall size gave us a good indication of what was to come, though much has changed visually since the first controversial concept was shown. Taking on board criticisms from press and potential customers alike, Bentley have made sure they put the 'sport' into their SUV. All the available petrol engines aim to give best-in-class performance, while the styling looks very Bentley-orientated. Underneath, there's architecture shared with the MK2 model Audi Q7 and the third generation Porsche Cayenne. If the Q7 is anything to go by, that bodes very well indeed.
The first engine alternative is a 550PS 4.0-litre petrol V8. It makes 62mph from rest in just 4.4s on the way to a maximum of 180mph. Or, if you prioritise efficiency, there's a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol Plug-in hybrid model which in standard form has 449PS and an all-electric driving range of 25 miles. The Bentayga S Hybrid has an uprated 136PS electric motor, boosting total output to 462PS. If you've no interest in electrification and just want outright silky speed, go for the flagship petrol-engined W12 Speed model and you get a 6.0-litre 12 cylinder unit with 635PS and 900Nm of torque. Despite this variant's prodigious 2,422kg kerb weight, 62mph from rest takes just 3.9s - faster than a Porsche 911 Carrera. Flat out, you'll be doing 190mph, a figure way beyond any of its competitors. On all Bentaygas, to make sure that this big brute doesn't embarrass itself around corners, there's a fast acting 48v electric anti-roll bar system. Unlike conventional fixed anti-roll bars, this allows the Bentayga to remain supple over bumpy roads whilst still resisting roll around the twisties. It also ensures the big Bentley has plenty of ability off the beaten track even if most owners will probably never try it out. There's even the ability to raise and lower the car on its standard air suspension, perfect to make hooking up a horsebox or speedboat that much easier. The Bentayga S Hybrid gets a stiffer chassis, more dynamic Sport mode ESC tuning and an enhanced sports exhaust. The Extended Wheelbase model is the first Bentayga to get four wheel steering, supposed to improve the car's high-speed stability and low-speed manoevreability: sure enough, an Extended Wheelbase model's 11.8-metre turning circle is 7% tighter than that of a regular Bentayga.
These days there are two Bentayga body styles - the standard SUV one and the longer 'Extended Wheelbase' version which has 180mm of extra length between its axles, longer doors and an overall length of 5,322mm (30cm longer than a Range Rover). All Bentaygas benefit from the design upgrade introduced in 2021 which brought a larger, more upright matrix grille, pushing the LED matrix headlamps further apart and raising them 30 mm higher. These headlamps are elliptical - for the first time on a Bentley. They include the marque's now-signature cut crystal design, which makes them appear to sparkle even when not lit. At the rear, like the Continental GT, the Bentayga now features elliptical tail lamps. The lattice pattern offers a unique jewellery-like appearance when illuminated, with a deep, three-dimensional glow. This is still one of the largest SUVs on the road. Even the standard-shape version, at 5.14 meters long, is bigger than even a long wheelbase Range Rover, although slightly lower to give a sportier feel. Step inside and you can really tell why the Bentayga weighs so much despite the high tech chassis. Everywhere you look, there's acres of leather and wood covering every surface imaginable, while if something looks like metal, it will be. The sweep of the dashboard is said to echo the wings of the Bentley badge and certainly looks very attractive - assuming you've chosen a tasteful colour scheme. With the 2021 year improvements, Bentley added new door trims and a revised steering wheel, plus a redesigned centre fascia and digital instrumentation cluster. These are complemented by rescultped seats that further improve on the industry-recognised benchmark for seat comfort. Infotainment was also been brought up to date with the adoption of a bigger and brighter, high-resolution 10.9-inch centre-dash touchscreen, with an anti-reflection and anti-glare coating and much improved touch functionality. Three seating configurations are available in this Bentayga. Apart from the standard five-seat layout, an optional four-seat configuration features two individual rear seats separated by a centre console. A further three-row, seven-seat configuration offers more practicality and flexibility. As before, a removable 10.2" Bentley Entertainment Tablet can be provided for rear seat passengers. The Extended Wheelbase body shape can't be had with seven seats, but four or five-seat layouts are offered plus, as standard, there's a third '4+1' configuration that puts an occasional middle seat between two larger outer chairs. Out back, there's a 430-litre boot with the standard-shape model. With the Extended Wheelbase version, boot space varies between 380 and 484-litres, depending on the chosen seating configuration.
Bentley describe the Bentayga as the "fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive SUV in the world". It should therefore come as no surprise to hear that it'll cost a pretty penny to purchase. The Hybrid and the standard V8 petrol model both start from around £162,000. The W12 Speed is around £200,000. Those prices are for the standard-shape models; expect to pay around 15% more for the Extended Wheelbase version, which initially is being offered with the V8 engine. As with all Bentleys, the list price figures represent only the beginning. You can pick between a three person bench or two individual seats in the back with a wide centre console. On the subject of seats, you can even get an 'Eventer package' with a fold-out bench in the boot. There's also an offroad package, three levels of hi-fi and fully adaptive cruise control with auto brake. Those who really want to push the boat out can opt for the full Mulliner treatment and even a Breitling Tourbillon clock in the dash. You'll like Bentley's Airline Seat, which offers twenty two ways of adjustment and monitors the passenger's temperature and surface humidity, then adjusting the heating and ventilation automatically to improve their comfort. Standard kit includes a panoramic glass roof, electric massage seats, Bluetooth infotainment with sat-nav, plenty of leather and wood, air suspension, climate control and a very bespoke interior feel. Safety features include the usual airbags, ABS, stability control and brake assist. Optional items include a rear crossing traffic warning, road sign recognition and a parking assist system.
If you have to ask yourself whether you can afford to run a Bentayga, don't bother reading any more of this section. The WLTP figures for the petrol V8 make sobering reading for eco-minded folk seduced by this SUV; a combined CO2 reading of 302g/km and a combined consumption figure of 21.2mpg. Bentley folk will probably be more concerned about how often they'll have to brush their brogues on dirty filling station forecourts; quite frequently is the answer. The quoted WLTP driving range for the V8 is 397 miles. As for the W12 Speed version, well don't expect more than about 15 to the gallon, even on a good day, necessitating a giant 87-litre fuel tank - you certainly wouldn't want to have to fill one up. You can do much better though, by opting for the 3.0-litre petrol Plug-in hybrid version. This delivers combined emissions of up to 79g/km, is capable of up to 81mpg, has an electric driving range of 25 miles and can be re-charged in just two and a half hours. Across the range, the three year manufacturer's warranty is an unlimited mileage one.
You can see why it took the Bentley brand so long to get around to originally bringing us this car, but they didn't wait too long before improving it. Of course, there'll always be people who'll sneer at the concept behind this kind of super-luxury SUV - as one writer put it, 'never again need you be stuck up a creek without a china dinner service'. Still, if you can get over your prejudices and appreciate this model for what it's managed to achieve, there's lots to like here. Contrary to what some people might tell you, it's very much its own car, very much unique and, best of all, very much a Bentley. Which if you'd like one, will be exactly what you'll want to hear.
HC+NOx:Not Available
Particles:Not Available
Standard Euro Emissions:EURO 6
WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb:294
Camshaft:DOHC
Catalytic Convertor:Yes
CC:3996
Compression Ratio:10.1:1
Cylinder Layout:V8
Cylinders:8
Cylinders - Bore (mm):86
Cylinders - Stroke (mm):86
Engine Layout:NORTH SOUTH
Fuel Delivery:TWIN TURBO
Gears:8 SPEED
Number of Valves:32
Transmission:SEMI-AUTO
EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies:No
WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb:13
WLTP - MPG - Comb:21.7
AdBlue:No
Alternative Fuel Qualifying:No
Badge Engine CC:4.0
Badge Power:550
Based On ID:Not Available
Coin Description:V8
Coin Series:S [4 Seat]
Generation Mark:2
Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07:Not Available
NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %:Not Available
NCAP Child Occupant Protection %:Not Available
NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09:Not Available
NCAP Pedestrian Protection %:Not Available
NCAP Safety Assist %:Not Available
Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?:No
Service Interval Frequency - Months:12
Service Interval Mileage:10000
Special Edition:No
Special Order:No
Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage:Unlimited
Standard manufacturers warranty - Years:3
Timing Belt Interval Mileage:999999
Vehicle Homologation Class:M1
0 to 62 mph (secs):4.5
Engine Power - BHP:550
Engine Power - KW:404
Engine Power - RPM:6000
Engine Torque - LBS.FT:568
Engine Torque - MKG:78.5
Engine Torque - NM:770
Engine Torque - RPM:2000
Top Speed:180
Emissions Test Cycle:WLTP
RDE Certification Level:RDE 2
Alloys?:Yes
Space Saver?:No
Tyre Size Front:285/40 R22
Tyre Size Rear:285/40 R22
Tyre Size Spare:TYRE REPAIR KIT
Wheel Style:Not Available
Wheel Type:22" ALLOY
Height:1728
Height (including roof rails):Not Available
Length:5125
Wheelbase:2995
Width:2010
Width (including mirrors):2222
Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres):85
Gross Vehicle Weight:3250
Luggage Capacity (Seats Up):392
Max. Towing Weight - Braked:3500
Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked:750
No. of Seats:4
Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb:12.4
4.0 V8 S 5dr Auto [4 Seat]
*Model Shown is for illustration purposes only.
