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(Rebecca) If you’ve got a fair bit of cash to spend on your next SUV, and you’d like
to transport the family in unrivalled comfort. You may look beyond the large SUVs from the
likes of BMW & Mercedes, and instead look at something like this, the Bentley Bentayga.
This is a luxury car in every sense of the word. It’s big, bold, and has a price tag
that might require you to sit down first. This is also Bentley’s first ever SUV, and
it’s being pitched into a market which already contains rivals such as the Range Rover, and
high-end versions of Audi’s Q7.
To justify its price tag, the Bentayga needs to be sumptuous inside, great to drive or
be driven in, yet still be practical family transport. In this review, we’ll tell you
what its like to drive, how easy it is to live with, and whether we think you should
buy one.
And remember if you’re thinking about buying one, head to our New Car Deals section of
Whatcar.com where we could help save you thousands. First though lets see what this Bentley SUV
is like on the road.
There’s three engines to choose from, and the most powerful is a 6 litre W12 petrol,
and it gets the Bentayga up-to motorway speeds impressively quickly. It’s also fitted with
some clever technology that shuts down half the cylinders when cruising along. That said,
you’ll still be spending a lot of time and money fuelling it.
More favourable is the V8 Diesel we’ve got here. With plenty of power at low-revs it
feels just as quick as the W12, but, is more fuel efficient and cheaper to tax, so will
keep those bills slightly lower. If you prefer there is a V8 petrol.
No matter which version of the Bentayga you go for, expect a ride that’s generally very
good, with only the occasional sharp edged bump or pothole being felt inside. There are
eight driving modes to choose from, including four for venturing off-road. But no matter
which mode you choose things never become uncomfortable.
The Bentayga is also available with clever anti-roll bars which stiffen to minimise body
roll through the corners and keep this big body in check. And it’s why it stays tidier
though the bends than other SUVs in this price point including the Range Rover.
Whisper it quietly if you want to, but the Bentayga does actually have quite a lot in
common with the Audi Q7, if you know where to look. For example, these paddles behind
the steering wheel and some of the switchgear you can tell where parts have been shared
between the two cars. That said, there are still some unique Bentley touches too, for
example this gearstick, and lashings of high quality wood & luxurious leather all help
to lift this way beyond its Audi cousin. It reeks of quality, especially in the detailing
such as these chrome touches here.
More importantly though, the driver gets a superbly luxurious driving position, the seat
and steering wheel adjust in so many ways I think anybody would find it easy to get
comfortable. Visibility is also excellent, although you do get front & rear parking sensors
& a reversing camera as standard. Also standard is this 8in touchscreen, although good it’s
nowhere near as responsive, intuitive, or feature-packed as the one you’ll find in
the cheaper Q7.
There’s certainly no shortage of space in the front of the Bentayga, and two adults
can easily fully stretch out, and this high centre console just helps to cocoon the driver.
Here in the back of the Bentayga, there’s a choice to make. You can either have three
seats - like this - or you can go for two armchair seats which are really easy to get
in and out of, and are very very comfortable. In the future there’s going to be a seven
seater Bentayga, but it’s likely that the two seats right at the back are going to be
just for children - as they are in the Audi Q7.
Move to the boot and there is plenty of space on offer. You can easily fit two sets of golf
clubs in here, or two or three large suitcases. Plus there’s a flat loading area, and it’s
also very long. To really make the most of this space, you can opt for boot dividers
and you get a power tailgate as standard.
Most owners shouldn’t feel the need, but those rear seats can split and fold to create
an even larger space. Big as the Bentayga is inside, a Range Rover still offers more
space.
There’s no getting away from the fact the Bentayga is expensive to buy and run. But
at least if you go for the V8 Diesel, your fuel and tax bills should be kept to a minimum.
And you get plenty of kit for your money, quite right too. Sat-nav, Bluetooth connectivity,
a DAB radio, Automatic lights and wipers, heated seats, parking sensors, and a rear
view camera are all standard. But there’s also an extensive options list to consider,
be careful though as some options can add more than £10,000 to your price.
Most Bentley owners will want to personalise their Bentayga as well, which is why there’s
17 paint colours to choose from, 15 leathers, and 8 different veneers - all free of charge.
If that’s not enough there is 90 different colours on the options list, or you can go
full bespoke which has no official price.
The Bentley Bentayga excels as a luxury SUV, it offers strong performance, a comfortable
interior, and an impressive list of standard equipment. In fact it is one of the best luxury
SUVs on sale.
For plenty more on the Bentley Bentayga including our full written review head to whatcar.com,
and if you’re thinking of buying one head to our new car deals section where we can
help save you thousands.
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