Bentley Bentayga V8 2018 Review

Super luxury

Just when most other car-makers are dropping powerful petrol V8s from their line-up Bentley has decided to introduce one in its Bentayga. On paper, it doesn't make sense. Especially since it's set to be priced in spitting distance of the far more advanced V8 diesel that can cover 1000km between tankfuls. Worse still, the less efficient V8's fractionally quicker acceleration is, in the real-world, negated by the oil-burner's towering torque peak - but rule out the new V8 at your peril because if you're in the market for a Bentayga it's the best version Bentley currently makes.

Bentley's gamble to create a super-luxury SUV has paid off. Just two years after it risked its near 100-year heritage the small volume British car-maker is celebrating 10,000 sales worldwide.

That's a drop in the ocean compared to the number of Range Rovers that Land Rover makes, but for Bentley it's a real success story — especially since most of those cars have ended up in the hands of customers new to the brand.

Capitalising on its success, this year Bentley wants to broaden the appeal of the Bentayga.

Sadly, this hasn't involved trying to make it any prettier but by adding a new V8 and a plug-in hybrid. The latter is set to be revealed at next month's Geneva motor show.

It seems an odd decision, in Australia at least, because on paper the diesel makes it completely redundant.

After all, how can a petrol compete with a 4.0-litre V8 diesel that possess not only two turbos but a trick 48-volt driven electric compressor that gives it a towering 900Nm torque peak?

The need for the new engine and plug-in version no doubt comes from Europe where the backlash against diesel is in full swing. Think of the petrol V8 as a wise piece of future-proofing.

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Not an old V8

Of course, it's not just any V8 that Bentley is introducing but the same compact 4.0-litre twin-turbo you'll find under the bonnet of the Cayenne Turbo.

The British car-maker is quite happy to admit Porsche did most of the engineering -- with the Brits only getting involved to completely re-engineer the V8's cooling system to help it cope with the unbelievably high under-bonnet temperatures involved with cruising in hot climates at the V8's maximum 290km/h top speed.

You read right. The new V8 petrol is currently the second fastest SUV money can buy after its 300km/h Bentayga W12 sibling. Completely irrelevant for us Down Under but an engineering feat, we're sure you'll agree.

More relevant to us is the V8's acceleration. Producing 404kW/770Nm, the big Bentley can shrug off its near-2.4-tonne kerb weight and hit 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds - only 0.4 seconds slower than the 6.0-litre flagship and 0.3 seconds faster than the diesel.

We keep mentioning the diesel because many buyers who own the oil-burning Bentayga, we're told, love how little they have to replenish the 85-litre tank.

On that front, the petrol V8 struggles to compete.

Helping boost real-word efficiency is new deactivation tech that effectively converts the V8 into a 2.0-litre V4 up to 3000rpm but, officially, the Bentley averages 11.4L/100km and can only manage 746km before it drains the tank or, so we're told, just 22 minutes at a constant 290km/h.

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On the road

Live with that and, from then on, the V8 makes for an effortless match for the luxury SUV.

Only scratching the potential of the 4.0-litre V8 that cleverly packages the two twin-scroll turbos with the cylinders "hot-vee", Lamborghini had little trouble squeezing an additional 74kW/80Nm out of it for its forthcoming Urus and behind the wheel of the Bentley it feels unstressed.

In fact, delivering its maximum torque from just 1960rpm, the thrust on tap is borderline alarming. Better still, the V8 also loves to rev all the way to 7000rpm - but the main reason you'll fall for its charms is not how flexible it is but just how wonderful it sounds in situ.

Potter around town and there's a deep, meaningful rumble that builds to a glorious snarl as it nears its red line. It sounds far more natural, and interesting, than the unusual off-beat V6 sounding W12.

Perhaps the cleverest trick is the tuneful V8 knows its place. On the highway, when you're not in the mood (the Sport mode opens a valve in the exhaust) the engine is almost imperceptible.

Same goes for wind and road noise even on the large 21-inch winter tyres.

Bentley said it would have been tempting to create a sportier version of the Bentayga, and a more powerful Speed version is "entirely feasible", but for the standard version engineers decided to make it as comfortable and relaxing as the W12 and diesel.

That means the adaptive air suspension and trick 48-volt active anti-roll stabilisation carry over with the same comfort bias.

Like the other Bentaygas, the V8 come with a Comfort, Sport and 'Bentley' auto mode that sharpens up or slackens-off the responses of the engine and transmission, while adding weight to the steering.

Select sport and it is remarkable how much speed can be carried along an alpine road and, with the active roll-stabilisation, big body movements are largely kept in check. There's some roll, but that's understandable given the size and weight management involved.

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Nit-picking

Criticisms? Throttle response feels overly sharp at low speed in town but, according to the man who calibrated it, it's deliberate to help broadcast the performance on tap to its customers. For us it adds unnecessary jerkiness.

Same goes for the steering responses too, which feel a little too darty off-centre for a luxury car.

Our car also came with the huge 10-piston carbon-ceramic discs that feature enormous 440mm front rotors. Unless you tow, or live in Germany and regularly max out your Bentayga, it's difficult to justify the incredible $20,500 they're likely to cost in Australia.

Since the Bentayga V8 was launched overseas we also were given the opportunity to drive off-road on ice and snow, allowing us to test the 'Snow + Grass' setting that pre-arms the car for those conditions.

It's impressive as the Bentley didn't get stuck and, if there's enough space, it's even possible to coax the big SUV into lurid drifts, if you have a spare few acres of space handy.

Finally, just two years on sale and the cabin is beginning to feel its age.

The infotainment isn't as sharp or precise as what's offered by the likes of, ironically, sister brand Audi and some of the detailing, like the exposed plastic cup-holders and gear-shifter surrounds, look desperate for an update.

That said, overlook these small details and the majority of the materials and finishes used are, as you would expect, beautiful but be careful of getting too carried away in making your car your own. Our test car had a sobering $150,000 worth of options.

Which brings us to pricing.

In Australia the Bentayga V8 is priced $300 less than its diesel sibling. That means the V8 petrol-powered SUV weighs in at around $334,700 - a huge sum of money and an amount difficult to justify considering both a Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz GLS offer similar levels of refinement and comfort.

But if you want the very best luxury SUV money can buy, the Bentayga still has all its rivals beat with added exclusivity to boot and, if it were our money, we'd choose the new petrol V8 every time.

Bentley Bentayga pricing and specifications:
On sale: June
Price: $334,700 (plus ORCs)
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol
Outputs: 404kW and 770Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 11.4L/100km
CO2: 260g/km
Safety rating: N/A