Around the World: 2021 Bentley Bentayga
The British luxury SUV recently underwent a major facelift and with more than 20,000 Bentaygas have been handcrafted since the car’s launch, the latest version is a combination of a “performance grand tourer, a luxury limousine, a spacious family car and an off-roader” says the brand. The new Bentayga arrives in New Zealand at the beginning of next year.
Here is what global motoring experts thought of the SUV.
The luxury SUV had a recent makeover, with a new exterior look. Photo: Bentley
Car Magazine UK
The Brits headed to South Africa early February to drive a prototype.
“Bentley had a good 2019, and the luxury maker was on course for a hugely successful 2020 until the world stopped. Regardless, it’s the Bentayga SUV that’ll do the sales heavy lifting as Bentley works to get back to where it was, just as it would have been the Bentayga propelling it to chunky profits had the pandemic struck.
Now that the Mulsanne’s been retired and the Continental GT and Flying Spur replaced, the Bentayga’s been worked over with a ruthlessly targeting mid-cycle refresh intended to make the car easier on the eye and easier to use, with fresh metalwork front and rear and a revised interior burnished with a new infotainment system and driver’s display.
It’s been with us for some years now, Bentley’s compromise-defeating performance SUV. But the ability of its party trick – 48-volt active anti-roll bars able to generate obscene corner speed in a car otherwise so luxurious you’d forgive it titanic bodyroll – to lightly blow your mind is undimmed. And it’s this, rather than the car’s wanton straight-line performance, that makes it such a mighty long-distance machine. I once drove the length of France in a day in a V8 Bentayga, on a mix of roads, and if it hadn’t been for the fuel consumption’s merciless destruction of my solvency, I’d have happily carried on.
Mechanically, little has changed for the Bentayga’s second coming: same platform; same corner-crushing 48-volt roll control; same choice of W12 (though the 12-cylinder Speed flagship won’t now be available in the UK), V8 or V6 plug-in hybrid powertrains, though the automatic transmission’s had its code tickled for still smoother shifts.”
The Bentayga gets the rear lights from the Continental GT. Photo: Bentley
Car Advice
The Aussies were also in South Africa early February to drive a prototype, they gave it 8.6/10.
“Despite having got to this segment first, Bentley is now facing growing competition from Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Lamborghini Urus and soon to be launched Aston Martin, not to mention a Maybach version of the Mercedes GLS. All of which dictated a more sizeable visual makeover than cars normally get at this point in their life.
The first Bentayga was a major sales success for Bentley, representing nearly half the brand’s total global sales last year, but its appeal has been based on styling more shock and awe than classical elegance.
The revisions haven’t removed the bling that many buyers are clearly drawn to in this part of the market, but have made the Bentayga look a little more chic than freak.
It doesn’t take long to discover that mechanical changes are limited. Very limited: a 20mm increase in the Bentayga’s rear axle track is the only one to have made any discernable alteration to the way the car drives.
But why has the visual makeover hasn’t been matched with a similarly comprehensive mechanical one? ‘Because owners love it,’ says Bentley’s Vehicle Line Director Chris Cole, ‘the overwhelming feedback we have had from customers about the car is ‘don’t change the way it drives’.’”
The interior has had a refresh too, plus new technology. Photo: Bentley
Car and Driver
The American website gave it 7.5/10.
“Keeping up with the Joneses could be a tough feat if that proverbial family has a 2021 Bentayga parked in the driveway. This ultraluxury SUV offers all the comfort of a leather-filled parlour plus plenty of tech features, a trio of powerful engine choices, and enough cargo space that you can schlep home a few cases of Montrachet when the wine cellar needs restocking.
Supple upholstery, rich wood trims, and real metal accents commingle with modern infotainment touchscreens and wireless connectivity features. The Joneses really know how to treat themselves. Apart from the decadent Rolls-Royce Cullinan, other luxury SUVs have a difficult time stacking up to this Bentley in terms of creature comforts.
Bentley freshened up the Bentayga's styling for 2021 with a more upright grille, new taillamps, and updated wheel designs. The SUV takes styling cues from the brand's new Continental GT coupe and the Flying Spur sedan. The Bentayga's cabin sees a new 10.9in infotainment display, tweaked dashboard styling, Apple CarPlay compatibility, a revised rear-seat entertainment system, and a wireless smartphone charging pad.”
The Bentley Bentayga gets a new rear seat entertainment system. Photo: Bentley
