Bentley first rolled out the Bentayga in 2016. At the moment, the mannequin’s first-ever SUV was the start of 1 factor. You’ll measure the enterprise sooner than and after the Bentley Bentayga, very such as you would with the Porsche Cayenne. It took the levels of luxurious current in a single factor like a Flying Spur and transplanted it into a way more well-liked physique mannequin, with a plethora of producers following go properly with. Instantly, the Bentayga is a cornerstone of Bentley’s lineup. In 2021 alone, the Bentayga was the mannequin’s best-seller, with a big 40% of all Bentleys purchased being Bentaygas.
Little query attempting to capitalize on this success, Bentley launched the EWB (extended wheelbase) this 12 months. Briefly, it’s exactly what you’d want out of a Bentayga. Additional luxurious, high-quality provides, and, in any case, additional legroom. To be precise, Bentley has added 7.08 inches of extra space between the axles, correct the place it counts.
On the media launch of the Bentayga EWB in Canada, we frolicked in two variants of the EWB, the Portofino Blue ($294,715 as-tested) and Cumbrian Inexperienced ($307,220 as-tested) cars you see proper right here, with the latter equipped with Bentley’s Airline Seat Specification with two explicit individual rear seats providing unparalleled luxurious for a princely sum of $11,195. Nevertheless additional on that in a bit.
First, let’s get one factor straight. There are particular types of individuals that may afford a four-seater Bentley SUV with acres of leather-based inside and a six-figure MSRP. We’re, regrettably, not amongst them. The individuals who discover themselves in that little circle care an horrible lot about how points look to the pores and skin world. As such, there’s a little little bit of a mannequin hierarchy among the many many wealthy. There could also be moreover, critically for Bentley, a whole lot of identify loyalty.
Correct now, a minimal of, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan sits on the excessive of the “successfully I’ve acquired a” hierarchy. Altering that won’t be easy, and Bentley is conscious of this. That’s the reason better than 2,500 new parts have been used to assemble the EWB, at substantial value to Bentley, we might add.
On excessive of that, whereas the Bentayga begins at $263,500, Bentley expects numerous these cars might be optioned successfully earlier $300K, thanks largely to the mannequin’s Mulliner division. Primarily, it’s the mannequin’s “one thing you want” division. And when you’re going to spend Rolls-Royce Cullinan cash on a loaded-up Bentayga, you’d greater get merely that.
Exterior: Stately And Understated
Now, with that talked about, let’s begin evaluating the Bentayga, notions of standing, mannequin loyalty, and others aside. How does the Bentley stand by itself? Aesthetically a minimal of, it stands tall. Bentley added all of the “extended” bits in correct on the rear passenger compartment. You could uncover it, notably in profile. The rear doorways are noticeably longer (and heavier) than the fronts. Do not fret, there’s a button to close them for you. The model new proportions moreover gave technique to top-of-the-line choices of the Bentayga. Because of the model new geometry, the automotive’s rear “shoulder” is way more pronounced. When you occur to’re asking us, it seems to be like unimaginable and ties the complete profile collectively. It moreover helps to visually shrink the door a tad.
The story is way the an identical on the doorway. This seems to be like like a Bentley, by way of and through. On our drive by way of the mountains exterior Vancouver, Bentley had a few Flying Spurs alongside to shuttle its personnel spherical (perks of the job, we suppose). Sat subsequent to a additional standard Bentley physique mannequin, the familial resemblance is blatantly obvious.
Don’t go pondering this automotive is shouty, nonetheless. The Bentayga likes to combine in, no matter its measurement, notably in darker shades. Our check out automotive’s Cumbrian Inexperienced paint appeared nearly black in some lights and blended into the background until you truly gave it a look.
In any case, while you do, you perceive you take a take a look at one factor explicit. Somehow, the Bentayga supplies off an aura of solidity; no flimsiness proper right here. The brightwork throughout the automotive wouldn’t look chintzy. It’s stately, accenting the automotive in all of the exact areas. That is solely emphasised by the Bentayga’s four-light construction, one factor you’ll uncover on every automotive throughout the current lineup bar the Mulliner Batur, which precurses what future Bentleys will seem like.
Speaking of, the ingredient all through the lights is staggering. There’s a efficient crystalline pattern to the lights that truly stands out while you’re decrease than ten ft from a Bentayga and seems like an ornate crystal whiskey tumbler. Then, the Bentayga modifications your put together of thought from “oh look, a Bentley” to “oh man, that seems pricey.” The lights are, undoubtedly, the easiest exterior perform on the automotive after the model new, additional distinguished shoulder.
Effectivity: Please Sir, May I Have Some Additional
Beneath the Bentayga’s hood, sat merely behind these headlights we like loads, lives the EWB’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. Bentley says the V8 delivers “supercar effectivity,” and they also’re correct. 550 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque rocket the SUV’s 5,542-pound physique to 60 mph in a hilarious 4.5 seconds. That’s faster than the distinctive Acura NSX.
Bentley spent some time getting the power outputs the place it wanted them, positive, nevertheless an even bigger focus has been positioned on effectivity, along with cylinder deactivation that lets the V8 perform as a four-cylinder beneath low plenty.
We’ll take a second proper right here to talk additional about spec. Every of the cars we drove have been Azure fashions, which might be probably the most luxury-leaning Bentayga spec fairly than effectivity; in any case, who buys an extended-wheelbase SUV for effectivity?
The Brits moreover positioned good emphasis on completely different parts of the Bentayga. Bentley reps suggested us {{that a}} majority of Bentaygas might be metropolis cars for lots of their lives, and a specific focus was positioned on maneuverability due to this.
So, after some off-roading, Bentley requested us to indicate spherical on the excessive of a ski bounce at Whistler. Frankly, not quite a lot of cars would’ve made it in a single go. Nevertheless the Bentayga’s all-wheel steering works so successfully that the EWB actually has a turning circle smaller than that of the same old automotive.
There’s one different trick to verify the Bentayga shrinks spherical you: Bentley Dynamic Expertise. Primarily, it’s energetic physique roll administration. The system makes use of the automotive’s air suspension and digital sway bars to persistently counter roll throughout the corners. Normally, you’ll certainly not even uncover it working. That’s how good it is. Solely when sat throughout the Bentayga’s extra-large rear seats did we uncover it. Whereas one different journalist hustled the Bentayga down a mountain freeway, we stayed flat and stage throughout the once more.
You might be on no account isolated from the experience, notably at any precise tempo, nevertheless the system does genuinely make sure that the Bentayga EWB stays flat and stage by way of the overwhelming majority of conditions.
Driving Impressions: To Drive Or Be Pushed
There are two strategies to experience the Bentayga EWB in motion, one among which is ready to pull a few zeroes out of your monetary financial savings account. That’d be searching for one and driving it your self, thereby missing out on all that extended wheelbase opulence. Then, the other; searching for a Bentayga and getting a driver. That’ll take a few additional zeroes out of your presumably substantial monetary financial savings account.
Let’s converse in regards to the second first, simply because it’s additional gratifying to tell anyone “yo, home to Bel Air” than it is to drive there your self. Being pushed is a lot better with the Airline Seat Specification. The seats make full use of the EWB’s additional legroom and add footrests on the doorway seatbacks. You’ll’t pretty lie flat, nevertheless you’ll get darn shut. Had we not been on the clock, it’d have been a superb place for a nap.
The First Model automotive we drove with the Airline seats (pictured below) moreover received right here with the Naim sound system, and it’s frankly top-of-the-line now we have heard in any automotive. It’s also practically the one issue you hear. The within is quieter than whisper quiet, and freeway noise merely wouldn’t exist.
Almost all of our driving was achieved throughout the Portofino (blue) automotive below, and it was a really spectacular issue to drive. The engine is absurdly extremely efficient. Even when factoring throughout the Bentayga’s substantial weight, the speed you resolve up on a whim is hilarious.
On quite a few occasions, we found ourselves speeding by some measure after what we perceived to be common driving. The automotive is an element of momentum. Happily, it stops correctly. The Bentayga will even do an trustworthy Jeep impression, as a quick scramble up the once more of a ski bounce confirmed us. The off-road mode raises the journey prime and makes cruising throughout the one place no one will ever take a Bentayga a breeze.
No matter Bentley’s efforts to make the V8 cleaner and additional setting pleasant, it nonetheless looks like a V8. A couple of of this merely must be piped in given how insulated the cabin is, nevertheless we’ll take it. This isn’t a automotive you drive quickly. It’s one which sits at extreme velocity, cruising alongside in near complete silence. The one time you really need the power is to overtake, which you’ll do numerous.
That brings us to the elegant eight-speed automated transmission. It’s conscious of when to shift, even when it’s going to mean you can do it by the use of tactile metal paddles behind the wheel. Frankly, you’ll certainly not need them. The transmission is the very final thing in your ideas whereas driving the Bentayga. As an alternative, you may be too busy twiddling with the 22-way seats and sound system.
The journey prime quality is supremely good, dare we’re saying unparalleled. Just about nothing is translated into the cockpit. That’s moreover true of the steering actually really feel. The EWB rides so successfully that it’s principally a cloud, incomes the “Magic Carpet” cliche that’ll definitely be uttered by anyone.
The automotive’s energetic roll administration and Bentley drive mode work collectively to keep up the automotive utterly composed. At no degree does the Bentayga actually really feel one thing decrease than utterly fitted to regardless of course of you’ve got received given it, so long as you aren’t driving like a bat out of hell. This, frankly, merely just isn’t the automotive for that earlier a positive degree. It will do it, nevertheless you’ll not truly be rewarded for it. As an alternative, you might be greater off having enjoyable with the within.
Inside: A Seat Match For Kings
When you occur to buy a Bentayga EWB and don’t reap the advantages of the Airline Seat Specification, you might be missing out. These stars of the current are arguably in all probability probably the most superior seat fitted to any automotive. They’re supremely cosy in every, and having a spot to position your ft up with the Airline Seat spec is delectable.
Even with out them, the Bentayga EWB’s seats have full power adjustment, along with lumbar, memory function, heating, and cooling for all occupants, which can all be managed by the use of the detachable coronary heart show. Nevertheless Bentley offers two points that set the Airline seats apart. First, they monitor your physique temperature, adjusting the heating and cooling options to keep up you on the ideally suited temperature. Readings are taken by the use of the seatbelt, and the automotive adjusts from there.
Together with that, Bentley takes activating massages to a whole completely different stage. There’s a explicit therapeutic therapeutic massage function that may robotically switch your physique all through the seat, twisting and pushing it subtly to stimulate blood motion. At no degree in our journey did we actually really feel even the slightest fatigue as a consequence of this methodology. It’s unimaginable how way more refreshed you is likely to be on the end of a drive after using every packages in tandem.
The doorway seats aren’t half-bad each, with limitless adjustability and 1,000,000 and a half therapeutic therapeutic massage options to keep up you from feeling the miles. The switchgear is unimaginable; each factor has a tactility to it you don’t get in cheaper luxurious cars. When you want to know the excellence between a $100K automotive and a $300K automotive, it’s the little particulars like how the switches and rotary knobs actually really feel.
Take the stitching. It’s precise to the millimeter, utterly laid out over leather-based match for royalty. You could spend hours poring over the little particulars throughout the EWB and nonetheless come out asking for additional time. Bentley’s mood lighting even shines by way of the perforated leather-based now.
Now, we do must say that the stalks on the wheel (and probably even the wheel) are correct out of Audi’s parts bin. Small automakers can solely accomplish that loads, nevertheless the buttons on them are a minimal of metal for a additional primo actually really feel. Excessive-quality by us. One different Audi ingredient is the infotainment system, however it feels premium with a Bentley UI, and it’s straightforward to be taught, appropriately.
Verdict: A Class Of One
Holding the Bentayga EWB to its opponents is tough. The Range Rover SV Autobiography, whereas supremely luxe, is, counting on spec, anyplace from $40,000+ cheap than the Bentayga EWB, which begins at $263,500. The Urus will merely arrive at that amount, nevertheless that’s like evaluating an Aventador to a Mulsanne. The Cullinan seems an obvious choice, with prices starting at roughly $300k. Nonetheless, that’s sooner than selections, of which owners will select many. That leaves the Bentayga alone.
Bentley has positioned the Bentayga EWB barely beneath the Cullinan, and it lives there comfortably, leaving us wanting for nothing. At one degree, we joked regarding the lack of a champagne fridge. “That might probably be organized,” received right here the reply. Really, for many who’re wanting additional opulence in your transport, you might be each searching for a Cullinan, which can merely hit half 1,000,000 {{dollars}} after selections, in any other case you are spending double that on a private jet.
You do not need the jet, ideas you; the Bentayga EWB performs that place successfully enough. It is supremely cosy, quiet, and beautifully understated. It will not give off the an identical “Larger than you’ll afford, pal” vibe as a result of the Cullinan, and it’s greater off for it. This may possible merely be our favorite ultra-luxury SUV however.