Item: Bentley Bentayga
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

This twin-turbocharged, 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine puts out a whopping 542bhp and allows the 2.5 tonne Bentayga to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 4.4 seconds. Given the room, will go on to a top speed of 180mph.


4.0 V8 S Mulliner Driving Spe

In many ways, modern Bentleys offer the best of both worlds, blending traditional British craftsmanship with modern mechanicals developed with the help of the company’s owner, Volkswagen.

The Bentayga SUV, for example, is closely related to Audi’s brilliantly engineered Q7 (another VW Group car). Yet the Bentayga still feels every inch a Bentley, thanks to its hand-finished interior and the fact that it’s available with Bentley’s outrageous W12 engine.

Other Bentleys you can buy today include the Flying Spur and Mulsanne saloons and the Continental GT coupé.

BENTLEY

BENTAYGA

The standard Bentayga, if you can call it that, comes packed with kit that includes full matrix LED headlights with high-beam assist, auto wipers, heated leather seats, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera (with a top view angle), a panoramic roof, a 590W stereo system and the aforementioned 10.9in infotainment system. 


4.0 V8 5dr Auto

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Alpina XB7

Audi Q7

Audi Q8

BMW X5

BMW X7

Bentley Bentayga

Genesis GV80

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Land Rover Discovery

Lexus RX

Lexus RX L

Maserati Levante

Mercedes G-Class

Mercedes GLE

Mercedes GLS

Mitsubishi Shogun

Range Rover

Range Rover Sport 

Range Rover Velar

Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Volkswagen Touareg

Volvo XC90

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

It’s no surprise that Bentley’s self-proclaimed ‘ultimate SUV’ costs a lot to buy, but then again, so do its rivals. Although it’s based on an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n87/buying-owning">Audi Q7</a>, buying a Bentley also brings with it a number of personalisation options, allowing you to create your own completely bespoke, blank-cheque specification, if you so wish.&nbsp;

That said, if you just want to ‘settle&nbsp;for' the standard specification, you’re unlikely to be disappointed. The list includes (but is not limited to):&nbsp;auto wipers, heated leather seats, a panoramic roof, a 590W stereo system and the aforementioned 10.9in infotainment system.

Of course, there’s also a long and expensive options list to peruse, including a box for the truly mesmerising 1780 W (yes, you read that correctly) NAIM audio system – a must for audiophiles.&nbsp;

In terms of running costs, the official fuel economy figures suggest only a meagre 21.2mpg will be possible, and in real-world driving we’ve seen it consistently drop into the low teens. Unsurprisingly, with a 4.0-litre V8 engine under the bonnet, the Bentayga’s <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213">CO2 emissions</a> are on the high side (302g/km to be exact), placing it in the top 37% bracket for <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/company-car-tax-bands/n1255">company car tax</a>.&nbsp;

The same is true, however, for all the Bentayga's closest rivals. They all have reasonably strong residual values, too – the Bentayga is predicted to depreciate at a similar rate as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/dbx/estate/review/n21787">Aston Martin DBX</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lamborghini/urus/estate/review/n17868">Lamborghini Urus</a>. We expect the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/rolls-royce/cullinan/4x4/review/n18282">Rolls-Royce Cullinan</a> to hold its value even better due to the fact that it’s produced in far smaller numbers (no doubt due to it costing almost twice as much).&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/euro-ncap-safety-ratings-2019-%E2%80%93-how-safe-is-your-car/n17044">Euro NCAP</a> hasn’t safety tested the Bentayga, but the Audi Q7 it’s based on gets a full five stars. There’s also plenty of safety kit to help stop you&nbsp;getting into an accident in the first place, including adaptive cruise control, night vision, a forward collision warning system, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic warning, traffic sign recognition&nbsp;and blindspot warning. There are also two ISOFIX child seat attachments on the rear outer seats. Automatic emergency braking&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">(AEB)</a> is standard.&nbsp;

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If you’re disappointed that the Bentley Bentayga is currently available only in V8 form ahead of the range-topping W12 arriving, don’t be.

For one thing, this engine sounds better than the larger W12,&nbsp;with a pleasingly subtle woofle emitted for its two oval exhaust pipes (an optional Akrapovic sports alternative is available for extroverts).

Anyway, it’s not as though it lacks power&nbsp;– it puts out a whopping 542bhp. So, despite the fact that the Bentayga weighs the best part of 2.5 tonnes, in "mere"&nbsp;V8 guise it will still complete the run from 0-60mph in just 4.4 seconds&nbsp;and, given the room, will go on to a top speed of 180mph.

Of course, more focused performance SUVs such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lamborghini/urus/estate/review/n17868/on-the-road">Lamborghini Urus</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/estate/review/n17375/on-the-road">Porsche Cayenne Turbo S</a> are quicker still, but the Bentayga never feels anything less than effortless in the way it demolishes the road ahead of you.

A big part of that&nbsp;is down to the silky-smooth eight-speed ZF-made gearbox. When you push&nbsp;on, it always seems to be in the right gear at the right time, rendering the column-mounted paddles redundant.

That said, we should also point out that it can be a little hesitant around town – a problem that also afflicts the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n19691/on-the-road">Audi SQ8</a>, which shares the same ZF 'box. So if you’re looking for the ultimate, smooth, chauffeur-driven vehicle, we’d advise you to take a look at a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/rolls-royce/cullinan/4x4/review/n18282/on-the-road">Rolls-Royce Cullinan</a> instead.

In dynamic terms, the changes made in 2020 brought improvements in steering precision and made the car fractionally keener on turn in to a corner. However, despite having acres of grip and clever 48-volt anti-roll bars that help to prop the body up in the bends, it’s nowhere near as sharp as an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/dbx/estate/review/n21787">Aston Martin DBX</a> or a Urus. Of course, that’s not to say it's not&nbsp;agile – it feels controlled and flows with a reassuring cohesiveness along fast B-roads – but those cars are more animated in the corners and offer greater steering feel.&nbsp;

What the DBX and Urus&nbsp;cars gain in agility, though, they lose in outright comfort. The Bentayga has four on-road driving modes and four off-road ones that control its air suspension and four-wheel drive powertrain.

In Comfort, the ride is relatively sumptuous. You only feel the occasional disturbance over sharp-edged bumps, and even if you ramp things up to Sport mode, it never become excessively&nbsp;firm – and that can’t be said for the DBX.&nbsp;

Compared with those more ‘focused’ rivals, refinement is pretty impressive, too. At a cruise, the V8 falls silent, while wind noise is kept to a minimum, despite the car’s bluff shape.

Road noise is noticeable on optional 22in wheels, whereas the standard 21in wheels are appreciably better in this regard, barely telegraphing any difference between smooth tarmac and&nbsp;more rambunctious concrete at motorway speeds. Over larger bumps, there is a fair ‘thunk’ from the air suspension, but that’s probably due to the absence of other background noise to disguise it.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

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3.0 V6 Hybrid

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OUR PICK

4.0 V8

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The Bentley Bentayga marked a whole new direction for the prestigious British brand, as its first ever SUV. When it arrived, it was a trailblazer for high-end luxury SUVs and was virtually unchallenged at its price point.

Since then, the competition has hotted up, with cars including&nbsp;the performance-focused Aston Martin DBX and ultra-luxurious Rolls-Royce Cullinan following in the Bentayga's wake. But it doesn't just face rivalry from those. There's no shortage of luxury SUVs that cost far less than the Bentley, such as the Audi Q7, BMW X7 and Range Rover, snapping at its heels.&nbsp;

To help fend off those rivals, the Bentayga was treated to a wide-ranging update in 2020, because although it was the fastest-selling Bentley of all time, the public’s reaction to the car's&nbsp;looks at launch was, shall we say, rather mixed.&nbsp;

Bentley tweaked the exterior to bring it in line with the current generation <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bentley/continental-gt/coupe/review/n17232">Bentley Continental GT</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bentley/flying-spur/saloon/review/n17297">Bentley Flying Spur</a> saloon, so you’ll notice that the latest Bentayga wears&nbsp;a larger and more upright grille, elliptical front and rear lights, a larger rear wing&nbsp;and a more aggressive stance. The bodywork and wide rear track (the distance between the left and right wheels) allow the car's 21-inch wheels (22s are optional) to more fully fill the wheel arches.

Underneath all that&nbsp;new dressing, though, the recipe was much the same as ever. The chassis is still based on Audi’s flagship SUV, while under the bonnet you'll find Bentley’s familiar 542bhp&nbsp;twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine. In time, a&nbsp;range-topping 6.0-litre W12 Speed model will arrive, followed by the tech-laden V6 plug-in hybrid. To no one's surprise, the discontinued V8 diesel won’t be making a return.&nbsp;

So, does the Bentley Bentayga still have what it takes to stand out in an increasingly competitive class?&nbsp;That's what we'll be exploring over the next few pages of this review, putting it up against some of its rivals, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lamborghini/urus/estate/review/n17868/space-practicality">Lamborghini Urus</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/estate/review/n17375/on-the-road">Porsche Cayenne Turbo S</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/rolls-royce/cullinan/4x4/review/n18282/on-the-road">Rolls-Royce Cullinan</a>&nbsp;we mentioned earlier.

Then, if your interest is piqued in buying a new car –&nbsp;even if you can't quite stretch to the Bentayga – you could save thousands of pounds on any make and model of vehicle by looking for the best deals on the free What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying</a> service, which has some tempting <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bentley/bentayga/4x4/deals">Bentley Bentayga deals</a>.

Inside the Bentley Bentayga, and the driver is treated to a suitably luxurious driving position. The standard seats adjust in a wide range of directions (16, if we’re being specific) and the steering column tilts and extends to match.

The seats themselves are beautifully designed – there’s just enough side bolstering to hold you tight in the corners, plenty of lumbar support, and in Comfort Specification versions&nbsp;the venting in the seats extends right to the very edges for better coverage.

As a car in which to while away the hours, it doesn’t get any better than this. It’s thoughtfully designed, too. In terms of visibility, the Bentayga is easy to see out of for such a big car. It also helps that front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera (with a bird’s eye view) are standard.&nbsp;

As part of the Bentayga’s comprehensive 2020 update, its interior received an overhaul. The changes were mostly to&nbsp;the details:&nbsp;gone were the two trademark eyeball air vents, replaced by a winged vent inspired by the Bentley Bacalar concept car and incorporating an analogue clock.

The Bentayga also benefits from digital dials that are great at putting the most relevant information in front of the driver (the sat-nav map or&nbsp;music information, for example). There’s even an optional head-up display&nbsp;with the Touring Specification, which projects info such as speed, street names and distance to your destination on to the windscreen.&nbsp;

The biggest and most welcome change, though, was to the infotainment system. At 10.9in wide, its screen is larger than that of&nbsp; the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/dbx/estate/review/n21787">Aston Martin DBX</a>, and it comes loaded with kit: DAB radio, wireless <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a>, real-time navigation, and an embedded SIM all come as standard.

It also has pin-sharp graphics, is responsive to commands and has menus that are intuitive and easy to use. We also love the way it can be controlled using&nbsp;the screen itself or with a number of hard keys located beneath it – something not possible in the touchscreen-based <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n87/on-the-road">Audi Q7</a>.&nbsp;

This technology, though, is a small part of the Bentayga’s impressive whole – the Bentley ethos is better expressed by the materials that surround you. The rich leather and wood veneer and the turned aluminium air vents with their organ stop adjusters all remind you how much attention has been paid to this interior.

There is a tremendous feeling of quality, especially in the styling on the chrome bezels and the exquisite stitching on the dashboard and seats. The interior quality of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/rolls-royce/cullinan/4x4/review/n18282/on-the-road">Rolls-Royce Cullinan</a>&nbsp;is, admittedly, a cut above still, but there’s quite a price jump between the two SUVs.

While there are still a few clues inside that give away the Bentayga's VW Group roots – such as the electronic controller for the eight-speed gearbox – there are no more than you’d find in other Bentleys such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bentley/continental-gt/coupe/review/n17232/in-the-cabin">Continental GT</a>.

The Bentley Bentayga is one of the most complete and compelling SUVs on sale today.&nbsp;

The front of the Bentayga provides all the space two tall adults could need, and cocoons the driver with a high centre console that flows into the winged dash design Bentleys have become famous for.

There are&nbsp;numerous storage spaces dotted around the interior and a useful tray below the centre console that contains a wireless phone charger. If you prefer to plug in, there are four USB type-C sockets – two in the front, two in the rear.&nbsp;

As standard, the Bentayga comes with a five-seat layout, but you can also specify a four-seat layout or seven seats. The four-seat layout has two throne-like seats in the back that are very comfortable and easy to get in and out of, whereas the five-seat layout is more suitable for families.

There’s plenty of leg room – even if you’re sitting behind a six-footer – and more headroom than you’ll find in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lamborghini/urus/estate/review/n17868/space-practicality">Lamborghini Urus</a>. We’ve yet to test the seven-seat version.

Boot space, meanwhile, is generous but not class-leading. At 484 litres, it’s smaller than both the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/dbx/estate/review/n21787">Aston Martin DBX</a> (632 litres) and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/rolls-royce/cullinan/4x4/review/n18282/space-practicality">Rolls-Royce Cullinan</a> (600 litres), but at least its load bay is flat and long, and big enough for several large suitcases. A powered tailgate comes as standard, but you have to pay extra if you want to be able to open it with a foot-waving gesture beneath the rear bumper.

You also have to open your wallet for optional boot separators to keep luggage in place. In five-seat configuration, the rear seats split 40/20/40 as standard and fold to further expand the boot. Overall, the Bentley Bentayga is a decently spacious and practical luxury SUV, but so are a number of other rivals, not least the vast <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x7/4x4/review/n19102">BMW X7</a>.&nbsp;

Bentayga

bentayga

Mulliner Driving Spec

mulliner-driving-spec

The First Edition is massively expensive but comes with an equally massive equipment list that includes a number of expensive packages such as the Mulliner Driving Specification and the Touring Specification. The former brings goodies such as 22in wheels, diamond quilted seats and jewel fuel and oil filler caps, while the latter includes head up display, night vision and adaptive cruise control. You also get a number of First Edition fascia badges and NAIM audio’s mesmerizing 1780 W sound system. 


First Edition

first-edition

S Mulliner Driving Spec

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The Bentley Bentayga may not be quite as sharp to drive as an Aston Martin DBX, or as cosseting as a Rolls Royce Cullinan, but it strikes a convincing compromise between the two, both in terms of both its price and dynamics. In other words, it’s one of the most complete and compelling SUVs on sale today. 


<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Logical and beautifully built interior, with great infotainment</li> <li>More than enough space for five passengers or, even better, seven</li> <li>Strong performance along with impressive efficiency</li> <li>Composed handling that limits any feeling of unwieldiness</li></ul>

We class a luxury SUV as being anything where our pick of the range costs more than £45,000 – and at this price point, buyers' expectations are high. So, as well as all of the qualities that make regular SUVs such well-rounded choices –&nbsp;such as decent space for passengers and luggage, a classy interior and robust materials – we also want a cosseting ride, the latest driver assistance technology and enough space to really stretch out.

The Land Rover Discovery proves that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get a luxurious SUV, but if you've got a bit more to spend, the Audi Q7 is perennially popular among buyers, and with good reason. Or, at the very top of this market, there are newer additions such as the BMW X7 to consider.

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