In-Depth Review of the New Bentley Bentayga

When the phone rang and a representative from Bentley Middle East offered us a test drive of the new Bentayga, we pinched ourselves to make sure we were not dreaming. After all, this was a car that will not come to our region until November, but since a pre-production unit couldn’t catch its flight back to Crewe due to the pandemic, we zipped across the city and made our way to Dubai Autodrome to pick it up. With all the formalities signed and out of the way, we had a few short hours with the bodacious Bentley and decided to make the most of it.

Driving Experience

Making our way from the Autodrome to the Al Maha Desert Resort on Dubai Al Ain Road, we got to experience the refined yet ferocious 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 in all its glory. With it set in Comfort mode, the Bentayga is everything a Bentley should be: smooth, quiet, and dignified. A simple twist of the Drive Select switch to Sport mode, however, unleashes the engine's true potential. With 550 horsepower and 770 Nm of torque, the Bentayga accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of 290 km/h.

Interior Luxury

Dripping with class, the interior of the Bentayga is fantastic, especially when customized by Bentley’s Mulliner division. The quilted leather and new cross-stitch embroidery envelop the cabin in a dark green hue, contrasted with red stitching on the door panels, seats, and steering wheel. Our test car featured brushed aluminum inlays, while the standard model has dark wood and piano black inserts.

The new Bentayga is available as a 4-seater, 5-seater, or 7-seater, with the latter being less favored in the Middle East. Rear seat occupants enjoy a new tablet controller to manage the panoramic roof blinds and seat climate. Those seated in the center will have an unobstructed view of the 10.9-inch infotainment screen and the newly designed central A/C vent with an integrated analog clock.

The new Bentayga features every imaginable luxury, including seats with multiple massage options and one of the best adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems available. Notable features include wireless connectivity to Apple CarPlay and an automated parking system that employs numerous sensors and cameras to park the Bentayga autonomously.

Exterior Design

The unique Alpine Green hue of our test car, complemented by the optional Black Pack, enhances its striking appearance. The brightwork, including the grille, headlight surrounds, and window line, is finished in a rich gloss black. The grille has a more upright stance compared to the outgoing model, and the bodylines have been reworked for a more structured design. Notable changes at the rear include new oval taillights, oval exhausts, and a redesigned boot release button integrated into the Bentley logo.

Verdict

Our brief time with the new Bentayga highlighted how special and exquisite Bentleys truly are. The new Bentayga is poised to be a hit when it arrives in our SUV-loving market in November later this year.