It was also equipped the rear-seat entertainment system, which adds a pair of 10.2-inch Android-based tablets attached to the front seatbacks. And by “acceptable,” we mean we averaged about 13.5 mpg over a week’s worth of mixed driving, which is a little bit under the EPA’s 15-mpg rating. The Bentayga can be had with all the modern driver aids that buyers expect, including adaptive cruise control and parking assist. It should go without saying that leather upholstery and wood veneers also come standard. Two turbochargers help it generate 600 horsepower between 5,000 and 6,000 rpm and an impressive 664 pound-feet of torque starting at just 1,350 rpm. With a base price of almost $230,000, the 2017 Bentley Bentayga is the fastest, most expensive, most luxurious SUV on the market. It’s available in a gorgeous dark green that suits it perfectly in our eyes. that car buying is the way to go. Here’s a quick fun fact: in the early 1990s, the Sultan of Brunei commissioned Bentley to build approximately six examples of a Range Rover-esque 4×4 named Dominator. Everything about the Bentayga is mega, from the price to the performance. The shifts were crisp and predictable, and it was easy to downshift by pressing the gas pedal down a little bit. At its launch, the Bentley Bentayga divided more opinions than a glass of 18-year old Laphroaig. Even in sport mode, we left the eight-speed find its own gears instead of using the paddles. Some Bentleys offer dual-zone climate control for the rear passengers, so some buyers might be disappointed with the Bentayga's three-zone system. The EPA probably didn’t try to verify the manufacturer’s zero-to-60 time, though. Overall, we find the Bentayga looks better out in the wild than in pictures or under the spotlights on the auto show circuit. These traits are accented in the different driving modes; the ride is firmer in sport mode and noticeably suppler in comfort mode. new car every three years or so. The five-passenger model's rear bench is comparatively flat; it lacks power adjustments but is still comfortable. Driving home with parts of the trail embedded in one of the quarter panels is a real risk in a car this big, so we found these two features invaluable. A man in a Jeep Wrangler stopped at a light next to us rolled down his window and asked if the Bentayga can go off road. A Bentley representative told us that’s not going to change anytime soon. We called into question the laws of physics after burying our right foot in the throttle. The Bentayga Mulliner comes with the majority of these packages and features as standard equipment and gets special 22-inch wheels, roof rails, a chrome radiator grille, and unique interior and exterior colors and veneer. There's also mood lighting, privacy glass, a valet key, lambswool rugs and a retractable tow bar. In addition to four standard driving modes, the driver can choose from four off-road modes named snow/wet grass, gravel, mud and ruts, and sand, respectively. Bentley has capitalized on this lead, apparently selling out its entire first year of global production. higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. sale near. We did not get to test out the collision avoidance system; we didn’t want to risk ruining the Bentayga’s proportions. There's even some off-road capability thrown in for good measure. It feels like a million dollars, and it’s timeless; it’s pure Bentley. It can be left in drive, or shifted manually by clicking the steering wheel-mounted paddles. The four-seater model offers 15.2 cubic feet of trunk space, while the five-seater model ups that figure to 17.1. Body roll is nearly non-existent regardless of which mode you dial in. Check out Bentley lease specialsCheck out Bentley Bentayga lease specials. Fitted between the hides are flawless walnut veneers framed by tasteful silver trim, and finely wrought metal knobs and dials. The difference between what these vehicles offer is qualitative more than quantitative. In fact, we certainly wouldn’t mind if Bentley added a few decibels to the exhaust. The various menus are clearly labeled, and the screen responds to input immediately, so there’s not much of a learning curve involved. Here’s a quick fun fact: in the early 1990s, the Sultan of Brunei commissioned Bentley to build approximately six examples of a Range Rover-esque 4×4 named Dominator. We’d also plan to take it on a few road trip, so we’d get the factory-fitted hitch to take advantage of the 7,700-pound towing capacity, the four-seater configuration, the veneered picnic tables, and the upgraded sound system. If you’re considering a Bentayga, odds are you’ve already got quite the car collection in your garage. The Bentayga's massive iron brake discs impressed us with stopping power that has you checking the mirror for a drag chute. Hell yeah, it can! 2017 Bentley Bentayga W12 I have really enjoyed my Bentayga. Bentley's Bentayga is the first of a generation of super-luxury SUVs to hit the market, with vehicles such as the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Lamborghini Urus following soon. Right now, the Bentayga's only competition is the top-level trims of vehicles with much lower starting prices. The Bentley's relatively flat roofline means headroom isn't a problem. First Drives; ... 2017 Bentley Bentayga. Copyright ©2020 Designtechnica Corporation. Its impressive performance chops are made possible by a combination of sheer displacement – six liters is quite large by today’s downsizing-dominated standards – and the boost provided by the turbos after a brief period of lag. If you do manage to get lost, going back to the home screen is as easy as hitting the button with a house on it. The Bentayga is a mono-spec model that comes standard with full leather upholstery, an air suspension, five seats, a panoramic sunroof, soft-close doors, a power tailgate, Wi-Fi connectivity, LED lights, and a heated windshield. The interior is spacious in every direction, and there are plenty of storage compartments for objects like keys and phones. a plug-in hybrid model will join the lineup, Future cars: The best upcoming cars worth waiting for, 2021 Honda Pilot vs. 2021 Toyota Highlander, The difference between diesel- and gasoline-powered cars, From dongles to diagnostics, here’s all you need to know about OBD/OBD II, 2021 Tesla Cybertruck vs. 2021 Rivian R1T. Isn’t that what you’d expect from a 12-cylinder Bentley, though? It displays footage from an infrared camera on the screen wedged between the analog gauges, and highlights pedestrians in red. This rush would be expected of a much smaller performance car, certainly not an SUV. The front seats have plenty of room, but rear legroom is merely adequate. Receive pricing updates, shopping tips & more! On-lookers regularly brandished smartphones and snapped away at our orange luxo-cruiser like they’d just seen Abraham Lincoln blasting down I-80 in a Mazda Miata, top down. Thankfully, the standard surround-view camera and automated parallel and perpendicular parking assist eliminate the guesswork when in reverse. As decadent as SUVs come. We expect it will get a mid-cycle refresh before the end of the decade, though the visual updates will most likely be more evolutionary than revolutionary – think additional trim pieces and new alloy wheel designs, not a full-on make-over.