Road Test: Bentley Bentayga S
The Bentley Bentayga S promises to be Crewe’s most dynamic SUV yet, but can it really put the ‘sport’ back in sport utility vehicle?
WORDS: Mark Rose | PHOTOS: Matt Price
I’m going to say something sacrilegious among hardened car enthusiasts. I think SUVs are cool. Before you come after me with pitchforks and fire, or worse, unfollow me on social media, hear me out. Not all SUVs are born equal. I don’t care much for the dull crossovers that volume manufacturers churn out for people who have long forgotten the benefits of the estate car. No, I’m talking about the good stuff. Cars like the new Bentley Bentayga S I’ve been road testing.
Where a Flying Spur has a whiff of old boy about it – my father has owned three of them so you won’t convince me otherwise – a Bentayga is rather silly and therefore more interesting, because no one actually needs a 542bhp manor house on wheels. I also don’t think the car’s success has anything to do with status or superiority because as we’re about to discuss, there isn’t a huge amount to dissuade you from buying one unless you’re a member of the anti-SUV establishment. I promise this isn’t an opinion piece.
However, before I get in to what’s objectively great about the Bentayga S, I’d like to comment on how much I enjoy the way it looks. This is a car with real road presence and the facelift has done well to sharpen up the aesthetics. The S model also comes with some visual extras to help differentiate it from ‘lesser’ variants. These include a larger rear wing, gargantuan 22-inch wheels, gloss black exterior trim and split-oval tail pipes. It’s stately and upright in the traditional Bentley way, but the extra visual bling brings with it a level of aggression that sets it apart from other models in the range. To observe, this might actually be my favourite car Bentley currently sells, but that’s purely subjective.
Anyway, with the Speed model now off sale in the UK and Europe, the S is the highest spec Bentayga you can currently buy. Interestingly, it doesn’t offer any performance gains over a standard V8 but tweaks have been made to make it a sportier proposition. Not that the 4.0 litre twin-turbo motor needed any more grunt to begin with. Peak power is at 6,000rpm and the 568lb ft. is available between 1,960 and 4,500rpm. Zero to 62mph in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 180mph are hilariously quick for such a large vehicle, and the way the gearbox kicks down and fires you in to the distance is addictively fun. Best of all though, is the noise that accompanies it. You can tell that the engineers at Bentley have a sense of humour because a new sports exhaust has been specially developed for the Bentayga S. In Sport mode, you rumble along like an approaching thunderstorm, but when you open the taps, it roars its way to the rev limiter. The powertrain is deeply entertaining and undeniably characterful, but Bentley know enough about self-restraint to ensure that it never comes across as obnoxious.
In addition to the new exhaust, Bentley has stiffened the air suspension by fifteen per cent and slackened off the stability control to help sharpen up the driving dynamics. The Bentayga has never lacked dynamically, but these changes combined with the lighter V8 engine and 48V anti-roll system make for a physics defying experience. It’s almost spooky how well the nose tucks in to corners and the body resists roll. You know there’s a lot of clever engineering stopping you from toppling over, but it doesn’t detract from the sense that you’re hustling 2.4 tonnes of SUV in a manner that shouldn’t be possible. It could do with some weightier steering because sometimes you lose touch with where the front wheels are, but I suspect it’s been set up this way to help the Bentayga feel light underfoot. It’s also worth noting that the car does without four-wheel-steering but it will push some extra torque rearwards to get it rotated in to turns.
Fortunately, the fun doesn’t come at the expense of comfort. While the Bentayga doesn’t quite possess the same dynamic prowess as a Lamborghini Urus, it makes up for it with plenty of luxury. In Comfort mode, it’s easy to forget what this car is capable of on a country road, such is the level of refinement and ride quality. Admittedly, Sport mode is markedly firmer, but it’s never crashy and it still rounds off larger road undulations with the suppleness we’ve come to expect. If you want a set up somewhere between the two, then there’s the default Bentley driving mode, and if you want to delve deeper in to the configuration then there’s an Individual setting. At a cruise, it relaxes you by cosseting you from the outside world. In Comfort mode, the eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox slips through gears without interruption, and only large potholes send unwanted vibrations through the cabin.
As a place to be, the Bentley feels a world apart from every other premium marque in the VW Group empire, even if it is the oldest car in Crewe’s line-up. The odd flash of Audi means it’s not quite as bespoke as a Flying Spur or Continental GT, but it’s still exquisitely made by the same craftspeople as its limo and coupe siblings, resulting in the highest levels of fit and finish. Leather is punctuated by swathes of Alcantara for the headlining, steering wheel and seats – all of which adds to the S model’s sporting disposition. There are a myriad of colour and trim options available to customers, and whatever you choose, you know you’re getting the finest materials used in the making of your car. Everything you touch has a depth of quality to it and it’s Bentley’s attention to the finer details that elevate their interiors from those who merely produce premium cars. Our spec included Hotspur and Beluga leather, with fascias and door trims in diamond-brushed aluminium. Against the Candy Red paint, this is probably the most outrageous looking car Bentley has sent us.
Then there are the mod-cons. Not only are the seats supremely comfortable, but they’ll heat and cool your bottom while massaging your back. Our press demonstrator came with the optional four-seat configuration so rear passengers benefited from individual bucket seats which also have temperature and massage functions. Rear occupants also benefit from window blinds which prevent the lower classes from glancing in while you’re motoring along or stuck in traffic, and there’s a separate screen for rear climate control and the aforementioned seat functions. And that’s only what was included in our test car. Bentley will offer you all the creature comforts you desire, as long as you have the funds to pay for them. Because this is a midlife refresh as opposed to an all-new car, the Bentayga S does without the three-way rotating display that you get in other Bentley models, but it makes zero difference to the effectiveness of the infotainment system. It’s a 10.9 inch touchscreen display with gesture control and all the connectivity you could ask for, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As always, we recommend spending the additional £6,725 on the upgraded NAIM hi-fi for one of the best in car entertainment experiences money can buy, but if you’re not that fussed, you’ll be happy with the less expensive B&O system which is also excellent.
The Bentayga S starts from £182,300 and with options, our press demo came in at £213,065. As mentioned, the S is now the top-spec Bentayga in the UK and Europe, but if you want the full luxury SUV experience and aren’t as fussed about the way it performs, then you can buy in to the range for around £40,000 less. Still expensive, but not quite as eye watering. However, if you’re looking for a charming blend of performance, refinement, and luxury, then the Bentley Bentayga S is not to be missed. As I said at the top of this review, not all SUVs are born equal, and this one is arguably the finest you can currently buy.
Engine: V8, twin-turbo
Displacement: 3,996cc
Power: 542bhp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 568lb ft @ 1,960rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto, AWD
0-62mph: 4.5 secs
VMAX: 180mph
Kerbweight: 2,416kg
Price: £182,300+
Technical Specifications
Gives a Lamborghini Urus a hard time in the corners and leaves a Range Rover feeling inexpensive. The Bentley Bentayga S represents a high watermark for the performance and luxury SUV segment.
9/10
Verdict & Rating
“In Sport mode you rumble along like an approaching thunderstorm”
