Launched in 2016, the Bentayga once was the world's fastest SUV. The 2.4 tonne mammoth could sprint from 0-100 kph in 4.1 seconds and would go on to a top speed of 301 kph. Since then, its competent, the Lamborghini Urus has it beat with a 305 kph top speed. But the Bentayga still has the edge when it comes to the luxury part.
Nothing else that comes close to the level of craftsmanship and personalization offered by the Mulliner department, at Bentley HQ in Crewe. You can choose from 107 colors, or from nine shades of black itself.
This First Edition car we were driving had the optional carbon fibre pack, and dark brightwork instead of chrome which certainly helped, at least in our minds. The front fascia and fenders are sort of like the last gen Bentley Continental GT's, just with added height, and certainly look imposing. The Bentley 'B' vents on the wings are especially distinctive.
The Bentayga W12 comes with air suspension as standard and while the ride isn't super soft, it isn't harsh either, especially when seated at the rear. It takes care of the smaller bumps very well but more extreme road conditions do filter through, with the softer Comfort mode doing a perceptibly better job at smoothing out bumps than the adaptive "Bentley" mode.
The technological masterpiece that is the engine (with up to 50 per cent cylinder deactivation) deserves an entire piece on its own, but here are the important facts. The 12 cylinders are in a W configuration, which can be overly simplified as two V6s on a common crank. The benefit is that it's a smaller package than a V12 but at 5,998cc it's still packing huge displacement for the effortless speed Bentley is known for.
600bhp is the second most important figure to the 900Nm of torque available from a ridiculous 1,350rpm, thanks to two twin-scroll turbos. It wouldn't be fair to call the throttle pedal sensitive, but less than a quarter of an inch of travel has you at triple-digit speeds. Driven by a ZF-sourced eight-speed transmission and all-wheel drive, response isn't manic, as much as it is unnervingly instant.
Verdict
The Bentayga feels like the absolute epitome of motoring, with a cabin that doesn't leave you wanting and an engine that gives more than you could possibly use. Driving the Bentayga feels like an occasion in itself.
JustCar says: The Bentayga is Bentley’s first-ever SUV. It’s big in size, big on power, big on luxury and, of course, big on price too.
JustCar Gives The Bentley Bentayga A Decent 3.5/5!
Comments