Bentley Continental GT Convertible review

If you're the sort of person who wonders what it's like to drive at 200mph with the wind in your hair then a) we presume you don't wear a toupee, b) you hopefully have somewhere you can do that speed legally, and c) this Bentley Continental GT Convertible could be the car for you.

In range-topping form, the Continental GT Convertible is the world’s fastest four-seater drop-top, and while its name conjures up images of the so-called golden age of motoring, it’s a thoroughly modern car. In fact, because Bentley is part of the VW Group, it’s not just related to the Bentley Continental GT coupé, but also the Porsche Panamera.

Two engines are available, both of which are twin-turbocharged petrols. There’s the ‘entry-level’ 4.0-litre V8, with its top speed of 198mph, and the 6.0-litre W12, which is good for 208mph.

If you go for the V8, there are two trims to choose from – standard and Mulliner – whereas the W12 comes exclusively in Speed form. Whichever you choose, lowering or raising the roof takes 19sec and can be done at speeds of up to 30mph.

Over the next few pages, we’ll look at the differences between the various versions. We’ll also see how the Continental GT compares with its main convertible rival – the Aston Martin DB11 Volante – as well as more affordable alternatives, including the BMW 8 Series Convertible and the Lexus LC Convertible.

After all, while you’re clearly not short of a bob or two if you’re considering a Bentley Continental GT Convertible, you surely still want to know that you’re not paying more for an inferior product.

Finally, no matter what type of car you choose to buy, don’t forget to check out the deals available through our free What Car? New Car Buying service. They could potentially save you thousands without the hassle of haggling, and there are lots of new convertible car deals.

If you’re seriously considering a Bentley Continental GT Convertible, it’s probably a long time since you bought the ‘base’ version of anything, so let’s instead start with the W12 engine that you get in the Speed variant.

With a whopping 650bhp, it unsurprisingly lives up to its name. What’s more, the combination of a smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox and standard four-wheel drive ensure that performance is delivered in an effortless fashion.

The trouble is, it’s not the most appealing sounding of engines, lacking the deep, bassy bellow of the Bentley twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8. That's one of the reasons we'd choose the V8. Yes, it has four fewer cylinders and 108bhp less than the W12, but it will still get the Continental GT Convertible from 0-60mph in 4.0sec, just 0.4sec slower than the W12.

Also, unlike the W12, the V8 loves to rev, giving it an alluring versatility. Sure, it can do the long-legged GT thing, but it also rewards you when you knock the gear lever over to manual mode and start to press on. Although maximum torque arrives at just 2000rpm, the engine feels at its best between 3000 and 4000rpm, with impressive accelerator response and very little lag.

Adjustable air suspension is standard on all Continental GT Convertibles, and the default Bentley setting strikes the best balance between comfort and body control on most roads. However, despite the engineers’ attempts to stiffen the structure to make up for the loss of a fixed metal roof, larger bumps and potholes do send shudders through the car.

At more than 2.3 tonnes, the V8 model is no featherweight, but it’s 101kg lighter than the Speed, and most of those kilos saved will be over the nose. As a result, the front of the V8 feels reasonably eager to turn in to bends, although the Speed counters with four-wheel steering that improves its turning circle and agility.

While both versions are more nimble than you might expect, the Aston Martin DB11 Volante and Lexus LC Convertible are sharper still. Those rear-wheel-drive machines don’t have the sure-footedness of the four-wheel-drive Continental GT Convertible, though.

Inevitably, the Conti’s wide tyres generate road noise over grainier surfaces, but both engines run at just above tick-over at motorway speeds and the double-glazed side windows block wind noise very well. With the roof down, front seat occupants are well protected from wind buffeting – not something you can say of all convertibles, by any means.

You’d expect a Bentley to be luxurious, and the Continental GT Convertible doesn’t disappoint. Just about everything is trimmed with polished wood or soft leather, and the quality of the fixtures and fittings is exemplary. The Aston Martin DB11 Volante interior feels positively cheap in comparison.

There's a wide range of electric seat adjustment, so drivers of different shapes and sizes can get comfortable. True, you sit quite high up by convertible standards, but the window line is high too, creating a cocooned feel.

The dashboard is pretty user-friendly, with simple rotary temperature controls, and most other functions are controlled through a responsive 12.3in touchscreen that has well-ordered menus.

The touchscreen set-up looks impressive, but if you prefer a more traditional interior, you might want to tick the 'rotating display' option box. It allows you to press a button to choose between the touchscreen, a set of three analogue gauges (outside air temperature, a compass and a chronometer) and a piece of veneer. The way it rotates through its three positions is very James Bond and adds to the sense of occasion. 

Mere mortals will probably find the standard 650w, 10-speaker sound system sufficient, but audiophiles can opt for either a 1500w, 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen, or the range-topping 2200w Naim for Bentley premium audio sound system. The Naim set-up has 18 speakers, two shakers and a 20-channel amplifier, and while it is eye-wateringly expensive, it's also one of the best-sounding car audio systems we’ve ever tested.

In terms of visibility, the Continental GT Cabriolet's steeply angled windscreen pillars are quite restrictive and create sizeable blind-spots at roundabouts and angled junctions, and rear visibility is also restricted with the roof up. Fortunately, the list of standard equipment includes a top-view camera, a pedestrian warning function and a reversing traffic warning system designed to stop you backing into cars approaching from the side.

Space isn’t a problem if you’re in the front of the Bentley Continental GT Convertible, where head, leg and shoulder room are all in generous supply. There’s also a decent amount of oddment storage between the front seats, and the door bins are a useful size.

The news isn’t so good for those in the back, but small adults will have enough space and you can fit a rear-facing child seat behind the front passenger seat. That makes it more practical than the Aston Martin DB11 Volante, BMW 8 Series Convertible and Lexus LC Convertible.

Just bear in mind that you’ll struggle to fit some larger, forward-facing child seats because the fixed rear head restraints get in the way.

At 350 litres, the boot is more than a 100 litres smaller than that of the Bentley Continental GT coupé, plus – as in most convertibles – some space is lost to the roof when it’s down. However, while its capacity is also beaten by the 8 Series Convertible (350 litres), it does trump the DB11 Volante (224 litres) and LC Convertible (149 litres).

Even in V8 specification, the Bentley Continental GT Convertible is far from cheap – and the day-to-day running costs of a car with eight or 12 cylinders are no less intimidating than the asking price. Considering the size of the engines, CO2 emissions are comparatively low, but it still sits in the top road tax (VED) band. 

That said, the tax bill will pale into insignificance when you see the insurance premiums and annual service costs, especially when you need a new set of tyres. The same is true of any of the rival convertibles, though. And while the Continental GT Convertible will cost a small fortune in depreciation, it should hold its value better than the Aston Martin DB11 Volante.

You also get a lot of equipment for your money, including 21in alloy wheels, wifi and full matrix LED headlights, which can remain on full beam without dazzling other drivers. In typical Bentley style, customers can also specify virtually any other luxury item they might desire.

Safety experts Euro NCAP haven’t crash-tested the Continental GT Convertible, but it has all the regular electronic stability control systems you’d expect. Traffic-sign recognition and rear cross-traffic alert come bundled in the City pack.

On the other hand, automatic emergency braking (AEB) only comes as part of the optional Touring Specification Pack, which is a bit mean considering it's standard on most small cars these days. The pack also includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assistance, and blind-spot monitoring.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here