Bentley Bentayga V8 2019 Review

SUV... Check... Luxury badge... Check... Ostentatious display of wealth... Check cheque...

It doesn’t matter what part of the auto spectrum people inhabit, it seems a significant proportion simply must arrive in a high-riding vehicle. And as if dealing with the hoi polloi at the same eye-level is literally below them, buyers of prestige, premium and luxury brands are leading the charge – flocking towards SUVs and crossovers at a snowballing rate.

Little wonder Rolls Royce relented and launched Cullinan, Lamborghini succumbed with the Urus and Ferrari freaked out at the potential volume (and profit) boost it might have side-stepped and announced it will follow suit.

But one of the world’s top luxury brands beat all of them to the punch, quickly establishing a bullion-lined beachhead that stole dollars from previous prestige off-road stalwart, Range Rover. That was Bentley, with the ungainly but ever capable, Bentayga.

Debuted in W12 form, the Bentley Bentayga has since been offered in V8 turbo-diesel form and more recently as a twin-turbo petrol V8. It’s the latter that’s the subject of this quickest of quick spins.

And that’s quick as in we were limited to 300... Not kilometres per hour, but kilometres distance – for the extent of the loan period.

At its sticker price of $334,700, the Bentley Bentayga V8 is a relatively benign entry to one of the world’s most prestigious badges. You won’t find many other ways to get the famed winged B on a new vehicle for fewer dollars.

But it’s still three hundred and thirty thousand dollars (!!!) and then some for a car that shares much of its DNA with a Volkswagen – albeit a six-figure VW.

In the rarefied world the Bentayga inhabits, price is less relevant than the statement the car makes about its owner/driver. Witness the fact that the entry price tag is only a starting point.

Our test Bentayga had another $130,000 or so of options, the most expensive of which was the Mulliner Driving Specification dynamics pack that will set you back close to $32,000 including those massive and beautifully painted and polished 22-inch alloys.

The City Specification, which adds driver aids some $20,000 hatches get as standard, is an extra $12K or so, while up-spec seats and stitching added circa $13K. This Graphite beast was replete with upgraded stereo and rear-seat entertainment for the addition of nearly $23,000.

With the full complement of rego and stamps (in Victoria), it arrived at carsales HQ with an onroad price of $499,164.95.

Bentley offers a three-year/unlimited km warranty that's a far cry from the seven-year/unlimited kilometres some mass-market brands deliver. No free or fixed price scheduled servicing program either, but you’ll only need to visit ‘your man’ each 12 months or 16,000km.

We’ve established the Bentley Bentayga is not the prettiest SUV on sale today... Nor even remotely the cheapest. But as the vehicle has matured since its launch in 2015, its designers have cleverly tweaked some detailing and been careful (very) in the colours and finishes it chooses to maximise the menace. Now, most Bentaygas I see driving around the ritzier parts of Melbourne (and there are a few, trust me), minimise the bling.

Indeed, carefully selected, the Bentley Bentayga has real presence. Our test car was a case in point – half a million dollars’ worth of Idris Elba in the metal! And unashamedly so.

Right now. But the chances are you will be among the majority of Bentley Bentayga buyers that will choose to specify your car just so.

There is almost literally a book of options and finishes available to you as a Bentley buyer. Think of an option and/or a finish that you’d like in your Bentayga and you can get it – at a cost of course.

And when it arrives the finished cabin will be exquisite. Our test Bentayga had wonderfully soft and sensuous leather (that smelled like real cow), high-tech finishes (rather than wood) and stitching details which I couldn’t help but keep touching.

As a buyer you’ll have a choice of four, five or (squeezy) seven-seat layouts. The cabin facilities aren’t quite at the level of the Cullinan, but the flexibility is probably a step beyond.

There is some serious room in both the second row of the Bentayga and in the luggage area. As a five-seat SUV our tester also kept the added convenience of a multi-fold rear seat – all electronically operated of course.

And for a bit of extra comfort when picnicking on the tailgate (and for loading), you’re even able to ‘kneel’ the rear suspension.

Talking about the car’s standard specification is a touch redundant – such is the bespoke nature of this segment. Worth noting, however, unlike some of the cars with which the big Bentley SUV shares its platform, the Bentayga will continue to be offered in turbo-diesel form “for the foreseeable future”.

Bentley has also announced a new performance flagship for the Bentayga range. The Bentley Bentayga Speed promises a 309km/h top speed

The Bentayga is better to drive than to look at too. Under the bonnet (in place of that outrageous 6.0-litre W12), the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 should be familiar to Panamera, A8 and Urus drivers.

It’s muscular, lusty even, with heaps of torque from almost zero revs. Indeed, despite dropping four pots, it delivers 95% of the 12’s froth and bubble and a wonderful V8 sound track with the right choice of drive modes.

The performance is outrageous. From 0-100km/h takes just 4.5sec and Bentley quotes a top speed of over 180 – miles per hour.

Those numbers don’t reflect the flexibility of the powertrain, nor the silky smooth performance of the automatic gearbox. Both are exemplary. The only blemish – a touch of hesitation on step off (from standstill) in the non-sport mode which I found I never quite adjusted to.

Also noteworthy was the Mulliner-equipped test car’s chassis performance and steering precision. This was perhaps the biggest surprise to me during my short few days with the Bentayga.

You can never escape the sheer size of the Bentayga, but you can certainly be confident of placing the car within millimetres of your chosen course.

Close to $500K is SO much money to pay for an SUV, but if you had the money why wouldn’t you... Cue the clichés... The Bentayga is like your own private gentle(wo)man’s private club on wheels. The only thing missing is a personal valet and your favourite tipple.

It’s beautifully quiet and every control has a measured, bespoke feel to it. From the rotary drive mode selector to the organ-stop vent slides, there’s tactile nature to the trademark knurled alloy controls that are in a realm all of its own. You really do want to touch and experience the materials and finishes in here... It’s a pretty special way to travel

At its essence, the Bentayga is a great drive. But vehicles in this part of the cost per kilo spectrum go beyond function and, in this case, even form... They’re statements.

And now even four years on from its launch, The Bentley Bentayga still says plenty...

How much does the 2019 Bentley Bentayga V8 cost?
Priced from: $334,700 plus on-road costs (see also text)
Engine: 4.0-litre twin turbo-petrol V8
Output: 404kW/770Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, 40:60 split permanent AWD
Fuel: 11.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 260g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: N/A