Bentley Bentayga Expert Review

Imperious and imposing, the Bentayga certainly makes a statement, more so in EWB guise. Though still not everyone’s cup of tea, after its 2022 facelift, the looks became a lot more palatable, especially the rear end with its oval LED tail-lamps. It can be equipped with 23-inch wheels in its Speed guise, and the grille mesh and bumper designs change based on the variant.

The interior is not short on drama, with a bold, ‘maximalist’ dashboard full of intricate detail and a variety of materials. You can even opt for stone inlays, instead of wood or metal, and the configuration possibilities are virtually endless, especially in the Azure and Mulliner variants. Some plastics, however, feel lacklustre. The rear seats are thrones, more so if you opt for the EWB version, which has a 180mm longer wheelbase.

The majority of the Bentley Bentayga range is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 without hybrid assistance. Power ranges from 550hp and 770Nm in standard guise to 650hp and 850Nm in Speed guise. Power delivery feels ample, especially in Sport mode, and buyers will not miss the now-discontinued 6.0 W12. The best part is that it delivers this performance while being superbly refined, and when not in a hurry, the Bentayga can be relaxing too.

While we have yet to do a comprehensive fuel economy test of the Bentley Bentayga, the standard wheelbase version with the 4.0-litre V8 is rated at 7.5kpl on the WLTP cycle. The 3.0 V6 PHEV version meanwhile is rated at a solid 33.33kpl, and is the one to pick if mileage is a priority.

All versions of the Bentley Bentayga ride on adaptive air suspension as standard. The Bentayga Speed features 15 percent stiffer dampers and optional 23-inch wheels which do have an impact on the ride comfort. However, in general, all versions ride incredibly smoothly, giving a pillow-soft magic carpet feeling. Though a large car, it maintains good composure, and the Speed variant in particular feels surprisingly agile, thanks to more lenient ESP, aggressive torque vectoring, and standard active anti-roll bars.

Though there are many options you can add to personalise your Bentayga, these are mostly cosmetic and mechanical. Apart from auto climate control and ventilated seats, there’s even the option for auto seat climate control, which automatically adjusts their temperature to match the environment. Even before options, however, the SUV is well equipped with the likes of four-zone climate control, wireless Carplay and Android auto and 8 airbags.

The Bentley Bentayga is expensive, with prices ranging between Rs 4-6.5 crore (ex-showroom, before options), and as such is positioned well above ‘conventional’ luxury SUVs. It is targeted at buyers who want a blend of luxury and sportiness from their high-end SUV. The Bentayga EWB replaces the old Mulsanne limousine and is effectively the brand’s flagship. With ample road presence, comfort, luxury and performance, the Bentayga is among the most versatile SUVs out there.