Bentley Bentayga Review 2024

Bentley Bentayga At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
If you’re bored of Range Rovers, you want something a bit more easy-going than an Urus, and you think the Cullinan looks too much like a stately home on wheels, then the Bentayga could well be the car for you.

+Unbelievable refinement and super quiet twin-turbo W12 engine, staggering acceleration from petrol and diesel models, beautiful build quality along with hand-built exclusivity.

-Costs twice as much as a Range Rover but not not twice as good.

New prices start from £136,505
Insurance Group 50
On average it achieves 85% of the official MPG figure

Even when considered against other luxurious SUVs, the 2016 Bentley Bentayga is a very tempting option. Granted, there are far cheaper SUVs - such as the excellent Audi Q7 - that do a fairly similar job, but none of those have the quality, craftsmanship or heritage of a Bentley. Of the other super-SUV choices, the Lamborghini Urus is the racy option and the Rolls Royce Cullinan is the wafty option, while the Bentayga sits slap bang in between and provides a good mixture of both. Strong in every area, so a great all-rounder.

It wasn’t all that long ago that the Range Rover had the luxury SUV market all to itself, but those days are long gone as every luxury car maker with an ounce of business sense attempts to cash in on the enormous popularity of SUVs.

Bentley isn’t alone in chasing this piece of the pie with the Bentayga. Porsche did it years ago with the Cayenne, while Rolls Royce and even Lamborghini have since followed with the Cullinan and Urus, respectively.

Aston Martin will shortly join the party with the DBX, and every time the Ferraris and McLarens of the world proclaim for the zillionth time that they’ll never offer an SUV, their words are met with increasing amounts of scepticism.

Some will argue that all this constitutes these great brands selling out and dumbing down, while others will argue that they’re merely giving the people what they want. Whatever the case, these cars are here to stay.

Judged purely on its own merits, you’d have to say that the Bentayga does a very good job of giving buyers what they want.

You’ll make your own judgment on the way it looks, but the brash styling and desirable Bentley badge ensure that it always gets noticed. Climb inside, and you’ll find every ounce of the quality, craftsmanship and class that Bentleys are famous for, with beautiful materials and flawless assembly standards.

The cabin is big enough and practical enough to serve the needs of a well heeled family, or to ferry colleagues between business meetings, and there’s lots of luxury kit, too. On the road, it’s comfortable enough and quiet enough to deliver the first-class experience to all those inside, yet it’s also agile enough to let the driver have some fun when the working day is done.

Yes, none of this comes cheap. Even when you’re buying used, you’re probably facing a six-figure sum at least, and no matter which of the various engines you pick - with power outputs that range from potent to preposterous - your running costs will be off the chart. The thing is, if you’re wealthy enough to even entertain the idea of buying a Bentayga, then the costs involved are unlikely to bother you one bit.

Bentley Bentayga handling and engines

Driving Rating
Whichever version of the Bentayga you choose, you’ll be getting a very fast car. The only question is how fast.

Bentley Bentayga 2024: Handling and ride quality

Today’s super-SUVs are very distinct in character. The Lamborghini Urus is basically a jacked-up supercar that aims to out-handle all-comers, while the Rolls Royce Cullinan prefers to waft its occupants along on a wave of peace and sophistication. The Bentayga’s character, meanwhile, sits slap-bang in the middle.

Importantly, it does a good job on comfort. It doesn’t really matter which of the car’s four driving modes you select, the air suspension will mop up most minor marks in the road surface, and only a big bump or pothole will cause you any disturbance.

It’s not as comfortable as a Cullinan, then, or a Range Rover for that matter, but it’ll drive away from both around a set of bends. Again regardless of mode, the air suspension does a really impressive job of keeping body lean in check, helped in no small part by active anti-roll bars, while there’s also bullish grip and meaty, satisfying steering.

That said, while the Bentagya changes direction far more crisply than the Rolls or the Rangie, it doesn’t have the outright athleticism of the Urus.

Bentley Bentayga 2024: Engines

The fastest version, the Speed, uses the flagship twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 petrol engine that the firm is famous for, tuned up to give 635PS.

We haven’t tried the Speed yet, but we have tried the engine in its standard form, which still delivers a very healthy 608PS. It’ll sprint from 0-62mph in just 4.0 seconds, but while that’s an impressive figure for a car weighing two-and-a-half tonnes, what’s more impressive is the smooth, effortless way it achieves that acceleration.

You put your foot down, the engine growls, the world immediately starts moving past your windows much more quickly, and then you ease off and there’s peace once more.

The 550PS V8 petrol engine is half a second slower on the standard sprint, but it’s very similar in character and still feels brutishly quick. For a very brief time, Bentley also did a version with a V8 diesel engine, and if you can find one, it might just be the version to have.

With 435PS, it’s only marginally slower than the petrols, yet it can go far longer between fill-ups, useful when you’ve got a continent to munch through in a hurry. A plug-in hybrid version is also offered, that combines a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with an electric motor to deliver 449PS, but we haven’t yet had the chance to try it.

All Bentagygas have an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and it’s fabulous. It shuffles up and down the gears smoothly when you’re pootling along, quickly when you’re getting a move-on, and when you nail the throttle, it kicks down instantly and always finds the right ratio first time.

Bentley Bentayga 2024: Safety

The Bentayga hasn’t been crash tested by Euro NCAP yet, and because it’s sold in such low numbers, it probably never will be. Mechanically, however, it’s related very closely to the Audi Q7, and that’s a car that’s scored the full five-star rating.

In terms of the safety gear you get as standard, the Bentayga does an adequate job, but it doesn’t go the extra mile as you might expect in a car costing this much. You get six airbags and an autonomous emergency braking system, but most other clever safety features - such as radar-guided cruise control, head-up display, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, pedestrian detection and self-parking functions - are bundled up into option packages that cost extra.

Bentley Bentayga 2024: Towing

If you’re buying a Bentagyga, you probably don’t indulge in too many caravan holidays, but you might well need to tow your speedboat to the south of France occasionally. And it should do the job without a problem. With a maximum towing capacity of 3500kg for braked trailers, it’ll pull as much as pretty much any other passenger car on the market.

Engine MPG 0-62 CO2
3.0 Hybrid - 5.5 s 82 g/km
3.0 PHEV - 5.1–5.5 s 68–82 g/km
4.0 V8 24–25 mpg 4.4–4.5 s 260–302 g/km
4.0 V8 D 36 mpg - 210 g/km
4.0 V8 S - 4.4–4.5 s 294 g/km
6.0 W12 22 mpg 4.1 s 292–296 g/km
6.0 W12 Speed - - 308 g/km

Real MPG average for the Bentley Bentayga

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

85%

Real MPG

17–21 mpg

MPGs submitted

3

Bentley Bentayga interior

Interior Rating
Everywhere you look in the Bentayga, there’s soft leather, turned aluminium and polished wood veneers, all of which has been painstakingly prepared by highly skilled masters of their various crafts
Dimensions
Length 5125–5305 mm
Width 1998–2224 mm
Height 1710–1742 mm
Wheelbase 2993–3175 mm

Full specifications

Bentley Bentayga 2024: Practicality

The front seats have bags of room and there’s enough headroom and legroom in the back for lanky adults to get comfy, too. Granted, a Range Rover provides a smidge more, but you’ll hardly be feeling like you’re cooped up.

Early on in the car’s life, five seats came as standard, and in these versions, there’s enough shoulder space for three people across the rear bench.

Whoever’s in the middle will have to straddle the large hump in the floor made by the transmission tunnel, though. The seats are split 40-20-40, allowing you more versatility when carrying bigger loads. With all the seats in place, the boot is large, if not as gargantuan as in many rivals.

You might also find Bentaygas with four seats instead of five. This was an option on early cars, and standard in later ones.

The two individual seats can recline electrically and massage you, but they don’t fold down. At the same time these were made standard, Bentley also started to offer the Bentayga with seven seats. We’ve not encountered one of these versions yet, but with the limited amount of space available, we’d expect the two extra pews to be on the snug side.

Bentley Bentayga 2024: Quality and finish

This is the whole reason you buy a Bentley in the first place. Yes, you’ll recognise many of the switches and dials from cheaper Audi models, but most of the rest of the cabin is made and finished by hand. And the intricacy and precision with which it's all stitched-, screwed- or slotted together shows just as much attention-to-detail.

The feeling of quality this brings cannot be overstated. Yes, an Audi feels posh, but this is another level entirely. If you’re being super-critical, a Rolls Royce Cullinan feels even plusher, but in fairness, the price difference between the two cars is colossal.

Bentley Bentayga 2024: Infotainment

The Bentagya’s 8.0-inch colour touchscreen looks a little bit small set into the chunky dashboard of such a huge car, and because it’s an older system than the one found in newer Bentleys like the Continental GT and Flying Spur, it looks dated as well.

The graphics are old-hat, and the responses and screen transitions can also be a little slow. That said, the menus are reasonably logical in their arrangement, so it’s a pretty easy system to find your way around.

The shortcut buttons running down the sides of the screen come in handy, too. It’d be better if there was a rotary dial or some other controller to act as an alternative to the touchscreen functionality, though, because it’d be less distracting to use on the move.

The system supports most of the functionality you’d expect to find, including sat-nav, Bluetooth, DAB radio, a (60GB) hard drive and a wifi hotspot. There’s Apple Carplay, too, but Android Auto isn’t supported.

Bentley Bentayga value for money

Value for Money Rating
This is unlikely to be an area of priority for Bentayga buyers, because all versions are very expensive to run.

Bentley Bentayga 2024: Prices

At the time of writing, prices for brand new Bentaygas ranged between £130,000 for the hybrid and £200,000 for the Speed.

The Lamborghini Urus costs around £160,000, meanwhile (but don't forget that there’s only one high-powered version with 650PS, more than the Speed), while high-end versions of the Range Rover and Porsche Cayenne sit in the same ballpark. However, all those pricetags look positively puny compared with the Rolls Royce Cullinan, for which bids start at quarter of a million. 

However, with cars like these, the list price is little more than a starting point for negotiations. Every buyer will add their own bespoke cocktail of optional extras and luxuries, which will quickly an a five-figure sum to the cost of your car. If you don’t spec at least £30,000-worth, then frankly, you’re not doing it properly.

When such vast sums of money are involved, depreciation losses will be huge, and do bear in mind that depreciation on the Bentayga is heavier than on most rivals.

That’ll be music to the ears of used car buyers, but could prove ruinous for new car buyers. Then again, if you can afford to spend what it costs to buy the Bentayga, you can probably stomach the loss without too much trouble.

Bentley Bentayga 2024: Running Costs

Even if you're considering the PHEV or the diesel, you’re probably far more interested in the tax breaks available, or the distance you can go between fill-ups, than you are about exactly how much motion lotion you’re getting through.

Even so, you’ll have virtually zero chance of matching the official figures, key examples being 20mpg for the W12 and 35mpg for the diesel. Meeting the hybrid’s claimed figure of 80mpg, meanwhile, will probably happen the same day that Hades experiences a stiff frost.

Obviously, it’s going to sit in group 50 for insurance, the highest, most expensive one there is, and you’ll also pay comparatively high rates on VED tax.

Having said all that, though, if you can afford to buy a Bentayga, a steep insurance premium, or the cost of a now-metaphorical tax disc, is unlikely to put you off. Bentley doesn’t feature in very many reliability surveys, so it’s tough to predict how reliable it’ll be as it gets older, but if something goes wrong on an out-of-warranty car, you’ll be facing a big bill.

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Bentley Bentayga models and specs

Trim levels aren’t really a thing where Bentleys are concerned. The various different versions are separated by their level of power, rather than the kit they come with, which is fairly standard across the board. That said, there’s no such thing as a ‘standard’ Bentley.

The level of equipment that comes included - which includes climate control, LED headlights, automatic wipers, cruise control, a panoramic roof, heated leather seats and all the various infotainment and safety gear mentioned earlier - is merely a starting point for how you spec your car using the vast array of weird and wonderful options available, many of which will set you back five figures.

Dimensions
Length 5125–5305 mm
Width 1998–2224 mm
Height 1710–1742 mm
Wheelbase 2993–3175 mm
Miscellaneous
Kerb Weight 2340–2648 kg
Boot Space 484 L
Warranty 3 years / Unlimited miles
Servicing 10000 miles
Costs
List Price £136,505–£233,525
Insurance Groups 50
Road Tax Bands A–M
Official MPG 22.1–35.8 mpg
Euro NCAP Safety Ratings
Adult -
Child -
Pedestrian -
Overall 5

Currently on sale

SUV
Version List Price MPG 0-62
A Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.4 s
A Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.4 s
A EWB Bi Turbo V8 Auto LWB Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.4 s
A EWB Bi Turbo V8 Auto LWB Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.4 s
A TFSi 462 18kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 5.1 s
A TFSi 462 18kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 5.1 s
Azure Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.4 s
Azure Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.4 s
Azure EWB Bi Turbo V8 Auto LWB Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.4 s
Azure EWB Bi Turbo V8 Auto LWB Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.4 s
Azure TFSi 462 18kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 5.1 s
Azure TFSi 462 18kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 5.1 s
Entry Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.4 s
Entry Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.4 s
Entry EWB Bi Turbo V8 Auto LWB Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.4 s
Entry EWB Bi Turbo V8 Auto LWB Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.4 s
Entry TFSi 462 18kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 5.1 s
Entry TFSi 462 18kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 5.1 s
Mulliner EWB Bi Turbo V8 Auto LWB Start/Stop 5dr - - -
Mulliner EWB Bi Turbo V8 Auto LWB Start/Stop 5dr - - -
S Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.4 s
S Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.4 s
S TFSi 462 18kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 5.1 s
S TFSi 462 18kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 5.1 s

On sale until December 2023

SUV
Version List Price MPG 0-62
Azure Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.5 s
Azure Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.5 s
Azure Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.5 s
Azure EWB Bi Turbo V8 Auto LWB Start/Stop 5dr - - -
Azure EWB Bi Turbo V8 Auto LWB Start/Stop 5dr - - -
Azure TFSi 449 17.3kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - -
Azure TFSi 449 17.3kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - -
Azure TFSi 449 17.3kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - -
Entry Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - 23.5 mpg 4.5 s
Entry Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - 23.5 mpg 4.5 s
Entry Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - 23.5 mpg 4.5 s
Entry EWB Bi Turbo V8 Auto LWB Start/Stop 5dr - - -
Entry EWB Bi Turbo V8 Auto LWB Start/Stop 5dr - - -
Estate 3.0 V6 Hybrid Auto 5dr £155,660 - 5.5 s
Estate 3.0 V6 Hybrid Mulliner Driving Specification Auto 5dr £145,185 - 5.5 s
Mulliner Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - 23.5 mpg 4.5 s
Mulliner Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - 23.5 mpg 4.5 s
Mulliner Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - 23.5 mpg 4.5 s
Mulliner TFSi 449 17.3kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr £192,020 - 5.5 s
Mulliner TFSi 449 17.3kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr £197,665 - 5.5 s
Odyssean Edition TFSi 449 17.3kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - -
Odyssean Edition TFSi 449 17.3kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - -
S Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.5 s
S Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.5 s
S Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.5 s
S Mulliner Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.5 s
S Mulliner Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.5 s
S Mulliner Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - 4.5 s
S TFSi 449 17.3kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - -
S TFSi 449 17.3kWh Tiptronic S Auto Start/Stop 5dr - - -

On sale until December 2022

SUV
Version List Price MPG 0-62
First Edition Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - 23.5 mpg 4.5 s
First Edition Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - 23.5 mpg 4.5 s
First Edition Bi Turbo V8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr - 23.5 mpg 4.5 s

On sale until November 2020

SUV
Version List Price MPG 0-62
Estate 4.0 V8 435ps Auto 5dr £137,615 35.8 mpg -
Estate 4.0 V8 435ps Mulliner Driving Specification Auto 5dr £144,870 35.8 mpg -
Estate 4.0 V8 550ps Auto 5dr - 24.8 mpg 4.5 s
Estate 4.0 V8 550ps Auto 5dr - 24.8 mpg 4.5 s
Estate 4.0 V8 550ps Auto 5dr - 24.8 mpg 4.5 s
Estate 4.0 V8 550ps Mulliner Driving Specification Auto 5dr - 24.8 mpg 4.5 s
Estate 4.0 V8 550ps Mulliner Driving Specification Auto 5dr - 24.8 mpg 4.5 s
Estate 4.0 V8 550ps Mulliner Driving Specification Auto 5dr - 24.8 mpg 4.5 s
Estate 6.0 TSI 608ps First Edition Auto 5dr £230,675 22.1 mpg 4.1 s
Estate 6.0 TSI W12 608 Mulliner Auto 5dr £233,525 22.1 mpg 4.1 s
Estate 6.0 TSI W12 608ps Auto 5dr £164,825 22.1 mpg 4.1 s
Estate 6.0 W12 635ps Speed Auto 5dr - - -

On sale until April 2017

SUV
Version List Price MPG 0-62
Estate 4.0 V8 435ps Auto 5dr £136,505 35.8 mpg -

Model History

September 2015

Bentley Bentayga revealed

Priced from £160,000 with extensive options list that can bump the price up to £225,000.

Engine is a longitudinally mounted 6.0 litre W12 developing 600PS and 900Nm torque from 1,250rpm. Via 8-speed ZF transmission and Torsen centre diff propels the behmoth to 60mph in 4 seconds and on to 187mph.

Fuel saving features include stop/start; cylinder de-activation below 3,000rpm; and frewheeling torque converter on lift-off in 5th-8th gear. Fuel economy is 22.1mpg combined. 292g/km CO2. 87 litre fuel tank.

Actually designed to tow (an Airstream, horsebox or a classic car trailer, perhaps). Trailer assist lets driver select the maximum articulation between car and trailer both forwards (motorway) and when reversing. Braking stability system apparently controls sway. Variable rack and pinion steering, higher geared at the extremes of lock helps with low-speed parking manoeuvres. Special anti roll sysgtem.

Computer controlled air suspension. Four on road and four off road suspension modes and features like hill descent controlled by driver using console knob.

September 2016

Bentayga Diesel launched

The first ever diesel from Bentley is powered by a 4.0-litre V8 engine. Developing 435PS and 900Nm of torque, the Bentayga Diesel hits a top speed of 168 mph and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds (0-60mph in 4.6 seconds).

An immense amount of torque is available from very low speeds, with peak torque achieved from just 1000 rpm, for both seamless on-road performance and exemplary off-roading ability. The new model has also been made with a number of specific developments to provide peerless refinement. For example, the bespoke exhaust system has been acoustically engineered to be as quiet and refined as possible.

Official economy is 35.8mpg while emissions are 210g/km of CO2. The Bentayga Diesel demonstrates the same authentic and modern British luxury design as its W12-powered stablemate, while also benefitting from a number of unique styling additions.

A V8 Diesel badge is embedded on the lower front door edge, complemented by a new Bentley ‘twin-quad’ exhaust tailpipe design, which provide a further subtle reminder of the new engine specification.

Further distinctive external styling cues include a bold, black matrix grille with chrome surround and central bar, which serves as a signature for the powertrain that lies behind. A new optional Mulliner Driving Specification 21” wheel – available in a silver or grey painted finish (the latter with machined accents to the spoke and rim) – can be specified, with a 20-inch ten-spoke alloy wheel offered as standard.

March 2017

Bentayga Mulliner introduced

New interior and exterior features – including optional Duo Tone paintwork, unique 22-inch wheels, Mulliner Bottle Cooler and a new veneer concept – complement the Bentayga’s sculptural, modern design.

Featuring Bentley’s class-leading 6.0-litre, W12 engine, the Bentayga Mulliner combines efficiency and refinement with ultra-luxurious levels of power and torque. With 608PS and 900Nm delivering a 0-62 mph time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 187 mph (301 km/h), the Bentayga is the world’s fastest SUV.

Produced in very limited numbers due to the highly complex, handcrafted nature of the Bentayga Mulliner’s luxurious interior features, this new flagship model will be available to order in Spring 2017.

A new Mulliner designed interior colour split – with the front and rear seats finished in different hide colours and offered in seven suggested colour ways – complements the optional Duo Tone exterior paintwork. The hand-stitched hides are finishedwith unique Mulliner embroidery and contrast stitching.

Bespoke features by Mulliner include a new Mulliner Bottle Cooler in the rear of the cabin, featuring an illuminated chilling cabinet and bespoke Cumbria Crystal flutes, all seamlessly integrated into the generously proportioned, rear centre console.

Ombré Burr Walnut Veneer is exclusively introduced to the Bentayga Mulliner model. This showcases a unique wood transition from Black through to Burr Walnut as the veneer wraps around the interior and a special veneered panel replaces the standard central console fascia.

Mood lighting, comprising six different ‘moods’, together with illuminated Mulliner tread plates and Bentley LED Welcome Lamps, create a luxurious night-time ambience. Bentayga Mulliner also offers owners the chance to create their own bespoke ambience, with ‘My Mood’, which allows occupants to choose from 15 different colours, while also adjusting the brightness in doors, armrests and footwells.

January 2018

Bentley adds V8 Bentayga to range

At the heart of the latest Bentayga model is a new-generation 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine. It also has twin-quad exhaust pipes and optional carbon-ceramic brakes.

The unit develops 550PS and 770Nm of torque, resulting in a top speed of 180mph and 0-62 mph in 4.5 seconds. Efficiency is 24.8mpg with emissions of 260g/km of CO2.

For the first time, optional carbon-ceramic brakes are offered on the Bentayga. The braking system is the largest and most powerful ever fitted to a Bentley, and the largest front brake system available on any production car.

Also introduced on the Bentayga V8 are sporting red brake calipers for the front and rear standard iron brakes. The calipers are painted in special, high-temperature resistant Tornado red paint, and signal strongly the dynamic intent of this performance-oriented Bentayga V8.

In front of these sit a choice of 11 wheel designs, including an all-new 22-inch five-spoke wheel with black painted and polished finish.

A purposeful black and chrome grille at the front is complemented by Bentley ‘twin-quad’ exhaust tailpipes at rear, both of which provide a further subtle reminder of the new engine specification.

For the first time in a Bentley, a high-gloss carbon-fibre finish is offered to customers seeking a contemporary, technical feel. Bentley has traditionally offered a matt carbon-fibre surface to replace the veneer on panels including the fascia, centre console and door waistrails, but this is the first time the finish has been offered with a high gloss, which enhances the technical weave.

Another first – the wood and hide trimmed steering wheel – can be specified in the Bentayga V8. Uniquely, the new three-spoke, wood and hide trimmed wheel (available in seven different veneer finishes) uses a solid wood base and thus maintains the integrity and authenticity of interior features offered by Bentley.

Cricket Ball leather makes its debut in the Bentayga V8. The evocative new colour is inspired by the traditional and instantly appealing deep chestnut hue of a new cricket ball, and fits perfectly into the inspiring range of 15 interior colours and five colour splits offered by Bentley.

March 2018

Bentayga Hybrid launched

The new plug-in hybrid model combines an advanced electric motor with a powerful and efficient new-generation V6 petrol engine. The hybrid version of the world’s most luxurious SUV will be the company’s most efficient model ever with CO2 emissions of 75g/km (NEDC).

At the heart of the Bentayga Hybrid are two power sources – a highly efficient electric motor and a new turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine. The E Motor acts as both an electric motor and a generator to offer a seamless driving experience and guaranteeing maximum electric-only range.

The Hybrid adds a new dimension to the existing range of luxury Bentayga models. It features all the flexibility associated with the W12, V8 Diesel and V8 derivatives, with the same sure-footed permanent four-wheel drive and four on-road modes – Sport, Bentley, Comfort and Custom.

The Automatic Start-Stop switch is replaced with a control for the three E Modes – EV Drive, Hybrid Mode and Hold Mode. These will enable the driver to manage battery usage during a journey.

The Bentayga Hybrid requires new and different information to be relayed to the driver. As a result, a revised infotainment screen and Driver’s Information Panel with E Motion information have been designed to provide details on performance, consumption and energy source.

The traditional tachometer that displays engine speed is replaced with a dial showing when the car is operating in pure EV Drive, or engine speed if the combustion engine is operating. A battery status dial replaces the coolant temperature gauge.

The infotainment screen can display energy flow in each of the three E Modes, showing whether the vehicle is being powered by energy supplied by the battery, or the combustion engine – or whether energy is flowing back to the battery in order to charge it.

The Bentayga Hybrid’s Vehicle Charge Point is located on the opposite side to the normal fuel filler. From here, the car can be connected to either a domestic power supply, or a public charger point. The rear luggage compartment will hold two bespoke bags containing the necessary cables to connect the car to either.

With an electric range of over 31 miles in the NEDC cycle, a full charge of the battery from a domestic household socket will take 7.5 hours. However, customers with an industrial connection installed at home can reduce the charge time to just 2.5 hours.

June 2020

Bentley Bentayga updated

Features updated looks including a larger, more upright grille and dual LED Matrix headlights. The interior gets a new 10.9-inch touchscreen display with Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. From launch, the revised Bentayga will only be sold with the 4.0-litre V8 engine. a facelifted version of the 6.0 W12 Bentayga Speed will follow.

April 2024

Bentley Bentayga S Black Edition launched

Bentley has announced the Bentayga S Black Edition, complete with the first application of black-tinted wings to a Bentley logo in 105 years.

The Bentayga S Black Edition features gloss black details all over the exterior, 22-inch black wheels and special badging. The black makeover continues to the car's interior, with gloss black air vents and controls.

Customers can choose from seven accent colours: Mandarin, Signal Yellow, Klein Blue, Pillar Box Red, Ice, Hyper Green, and Beluga. These are used on exterior details including the brake calipers, and on interior trim.

The Bentayga S Black Edition gets electronic all-wheel steering, a sports exhaust and recalibrated chassis tuning for a sportier driving feel. Buyers can choose either the 550PS 4.0-litre V8 engine, or the 462PS Bentayga S Hybrid Black Edition.

April 2024

Bentayga and Mulliner launch Bentayga Apex Edition

Bentley has announced the launch of the Bentayga Apex Edition. Limited to just 20 cars worldwide, each features ultra-strong, lightweight 22-inch Mulliner carbon wheels and carbon ceramic brakes, and will be offered in a choice of six unique specifications curated by Mulliner’s design team.

All include a central painted livery stripe extending over the bonnet and roof, a first for the Bentayga. Even rarer will be a specification offered only to owners of the Continental GT Le Mans Edition who will be able to commission an Apex Edition Bentayga in matching trim and livery.

With 550 PS and a specification that includes active anti roll and rear-wheel steering, the Bentayga S is the sporting flagship of Bentley’s luxury SUV line-up.

Now the Bentayga Apex Edition delivers even greater agility and braking performance thanks to its carbon wheels and carbon ceramic brakes, making it the most dynamic-looking and driving Bentayga ever.

What does the Bentley Bentayga cost?