Bentley Bentayga 2017 Review - International

What’s it all about?
The Bentley Bentayga is currently the world's fastest and most luxurious SUV. It's the SUV you buy if money is no object. Loaded with German ingenuity, in true Bentley form, the Bentayga exudes British old-world charm, as evidenced by an opulent cabin that will make your Mercedes-Benz mates melt with envy.

The Bentley Bentayga Diesel – powered by a triple-turbocharged V8 diesel - is a veritable bargain compared to its faster, louder $420,000 6.0-litre W12 sibling. This vehicle is quieter and more discreet than the petrol model and in some ways is more appropriate for the badge.

The Bentayga's reason for being is to provide Bentley an SUV, because car-buyers right across the globe have gone ga-ga for these high-riding wagons. It will also help the company widen its buyer demographic and the profits could potentially bank-roll future new models.

How much will it cost?
Clearly, the Bentley Bentayga Diesel will cost you the equivalent of a small single bedroom capital city apartment. Although the recommended retail price is $335,000, just dealer delivery and statutory costs will see you shatter the $400K barrier. Tick a few options boxes and you might need to steel yourself for the final figure – for example Extreme Silver Satin Prestige paint will require an extra $61,667. Gulp!

Bentley is doing a special $399,000 drive-away deal, with repayments set at a mere $3999 per month.

The warranty is three-years, unlimited kilometres with three years roadside assistance lumped in. Service intervals are every 12 months or 16,000km, whichever occurs first.

Why should I buy it?
If you want the world to know you’ve made it, the Bentley Bentayga is the SUV to buy.

Perhaps for some, a Bentayga is a reward for working hard or, for others, achieving a particularly impressive life goal. Whatever the case, Bentley’s first SUV certainly makes rival vehicles from the likes of Maserati, Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW look commonplace.

At present, the Bentley Bentayga is the ultimate luxury SUV, sporting an interior with more hand-crafted elements than a Swiss luxury chronograph.

Even in stock standard trim the Bentayga is a beautifully finished car. From the gorgeous hand-stitched dashboard coverings, to the fluted leather seats and little touches like coat hooks in the back seat and the metal pulleys to open and close the vents, this is without doubt a Bentley.

The seats have 17 different types of foam cushioning to ensure comfort levels are, well…above and beyond…and almost every surface is slathered in leather or suede.

There's a weightiness to the Bentley Bentayga’s doors which, once closed, thoroughly seal off the outside world.

Ride comfort is generally very impressive for a vehicle riding on mammoth 21-inch alloy wheels. The suspension does crash a little over big bumps and road imperfections but the occasional thuds are heard more than felt.

Back seat occupants enjoy a pop out wireless digital controller for seat heating and ventilation and if you really want the chauffeur treatment, just option the Comfort Seats with rear console. Sure, that’s an extra $24K but everyone gets massaging and power adjusted seats – even in the back!

Seat comfort is excellent, front and rear, and although there's room for five, restrict occupants to four and a lavish experience is guaranteed. For family buyers, the diesel version of the Bentley Bentayga introduces a seven-seat option, with a pair of kid-friendly seats that pop up in the cargo area.

The term ‘good-value’ might be stretching things with the Bentayga but the usual Bentley attention to cabin details, technology, convenience and mega power from that 320kW/900Nm V8 triple-turbo diesel all contribute to an SUV which is special by any measure.

On the one hand the Bentayga will rip from zero to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds but, when cruising, it’s very efficient with a claimed 8.0L/100km fuel consumption rating. Helped by an 85 litre fuel tank, Bentley says the big bruiser is good for a cruising range of 1050kms.

Unlike most prospective buyers, we even took the Bentley Bentayga off road and although its massive tyres mean you'll never make new tracks in the bush, the downhill descent control was excellent, automatically engaging when a descent is detected. Bentley reckons the Bentayga performs better than a Range Rover off road, but the jury remains out on that until we do a comparison test.

When is it available in Australia?
The W12 turbo-petrol Bentayga has been available for a while in Australia but the new triple-turbo diesel has just landed. Bentley's local arm reckons the diesel – while less powerful – will be the most popular model here.

Who will it appeal to?
The buyer demographic for the Bentayga will be mature-aged buyers who want the world to know they've made it and highly successful professionals seeking to reward themselves. Hard-core off-roaders? Probably not.

Realistically the Bentayga can fit five adults. But it's best with four. The boot is sizable with 484 litres, or 431 litres when fitted with the luxury twin rear seat massage option.

The triple-turbo engine – which features two regular turbos and a third electrically driven unit – generates peak torque of 900Nm at just 1000rpm, making it the most powerful V8 diesel on the planet.

And yes, it can tow. Horse trailers, large boats, caravans and even earth moving equipment can be accommodated thanks to capacities of 750kg (un-braked trailer) and 3.5 tonne (braked trailer).

Start with the Bentley Bentayga's 2.5-tonne kerb weight, add a 3.5-tonne trailer and you're looking at 6 tonnes on the road all-up. Impressive.

Where does it fit?
The Bentley Bentayga does share its chassis platform with some Audi models, but put simply, at 5.14 metres in length this big, brash SUV will see most fellow road users getting out of your way. VFACTS, the authority that records how many new cars are sold (technically "registered") in Australia categorizes the Betayga as an ‘upper large SUV over $100,000’ but the fact is it currently does not have any real rivals.

On the horizon is the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV but until then Range Rover's top-shelf SVR and long-wheel base variants are currently the closest competitors. Mercedes-Benz and BMW SUVs don't come close in terms of price or hand-crafted finishes.

The Bentley Bentayga is an incredibly refined SUV, sumptuously finished, easy to drive, fast but frugal and generously equipped. Okay, so it costs a fortune but really, with a 263km/h top speed and the title of world's fastest SUV (for now), if you’re seeking bragging rights, you won't do better than this.

2017 Bentley Bentayga pricing and specifications:
Price: $335,000 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 triple turbo-diesel
Output: 320kW/900Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 210g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: N/A

Related reading:
>> Bentley Bentayga 2016 Review