We Drive Old Money with a New Look in the Updated 2021 Bentley Bentayga
First introduced in model year 2016, the Bentley Bentayga led the way for a new class of ultra luxury SUV. Bentley has since built more than 20,000 and sold them around the world. With those kinds of numbers for that kind of a brand, you can understand the Flying B folks wanting to leave a good thing alone. But five years on, they felt the Bentayga was due for an update.
At first glance, you’re forgiven to not notice a difference. But Bentley altered the shape of every Bentayga panel. They just did so carefully. In front Bentley enlarged the matrix grill and made it more upright. Furthermore, the head- and foglights are now elliptical in shape and mounted more than an inch higher than before.
Made from 82 individual LEDs, the lights adapt to three levels depending on speed. 0-30mph they give a low and wide beam, 30-60mph they shine higher and narrow, and above 60 mph, they get narrower still and illuminate more intensely. Capping off the front are windshield wipers with 22 heated fluid jets on each blade for a wiping more befitting high society.
Taking the 201.8-inch walk from the front to back, you see the taillights are also elliptical in shape and the tailgate now spans the full width of the rear. Below the tailgate are two more elliptical shapes on the twin exhaust pipes split in half for four tips. It results in a cleaner look than the outgoing model. The rear of the Bentayga is now 0.8 inch wider in track width as well.
Some updates, indeed many of them, really showcase Bentley’s latest design language coming though, with cues taken from the latest Continental and recently released Flying Spur models. That carries on inside as well. First and foremost there’s a new dash and center console with a bigger infotainment screen: 10.9-inches now resting just beneath a beautiful Breitling clock.
The technology tied to that screen includes standard wireless Apple Carplay in addition to the wired version as well as Android Auto. The Bentayga also gets USB-c data ports and wireless phone charging capability.
But, to me at least, it's all secondary to the overall experience inside a Bentley.
This Bentayga’s interior is gorgeous, just like the Continental and Flying Spur. In fact, it’s similar to Flying Spur in layout and amenities. Doors are soft-close and shut with a satisfying ka-thunk. You also enter a nice glow of ambient lighting. It all adds up to a very welcoming environment.
That’s true for the second row as well, more so for 2021 as the rear seats are now both heated and ventilated like the fronts. And, depending on configuration, the second row gets up to four-inches more legroom. Three configurations are available: four-seat, five-seat, and seven-seat. Yup, you can get a third row.
The second row also has access to the touchscreen remote tablet, introduced on the Flying Spur. It’s a neat tablet nestled into the back of the divide between the front seats. Press a button and electric motors whirr it away about an inch making it easy to remove and use the system in your hands as you sit back. The tablet gives you access to most of the infotainment system's functions. It’s quite handy for second row passengers, dangerous if those passengers are children with the parents up front.
Regardless where you sit, it’s easy to get enveloped in sound from the optional Naim sound system with 20 speakers, including two woofers under the front seats, and 1,780 watts of power. That sounds more like the specs of Saturday Night Live’s GE Big Boy appliances than a car stereo. No matter, coupled with the Bentley's extremely quiet interior, it sounds next level.
Overall the Bentayga continues to look and feel big, more than anything. I found myself comparing it to buildings more than other cars. The exterior updates certainly have grand elements: the diamond mesh metal grille is a good example and the jewel encrusted like headlights and, I suppose, to a lesser extent, the newly designed 22-inch wheels. But it’s the interior with new tech, as well as polished wood and fine leathers that stands out, even among other luxury brands.
Behind the wheel, the Bentayga continues to drive much the same, logical enough seeing how it continues to run on the same platform powered by the same twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8. Peak output is quite healthy at 542 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. And you still get that power sent to all four wheels after passing through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
It’s a great V8. Increasing pace comes quick and abundantly, though sometimes the transmission takes its time to downshift. And despite the ample power, acceleration is not overwhelming; 5326 pounds is a lot of pounds, after all. Even with impressive runs to 60 mph from rest in only 4.4 seconds and a 180-mph top speed, I could see plutocrats rationalizing the W12 for a bit more oomph.
But I see no real point in sprinting in the Bentayga. This is a quiet countryside cabin with wheels. What’s the rush? Enjoy the immensely comfortable ride. You can choose your desired cushiness level via the drive mode selector, adjusting engine and transmission behavior, dampers and anti-roll bars, a system called Bentley dynamic ride.
In Comfort mode, the Bentayga is gratuitously so, bounding around with little body control and virtually zero harshness. Bentley mode stiffens things up to comfortable for normal people. Even Sport mode remains awfully comfortable, the steering is still on the light side and there’s plenty of forgiveness in the suspension. That said the Bentayga remains wholly competent through corners, it just leans heavily toward the luxury side of the luxury sporty spectrum.
Which is why I was so perplexed by the Pirelli P Zero summer-only performance rubber wrapped around those 22-inch wheels. What? Why? That tire makes sense on the Porsche Cayenne GTS, not here. And while it’s true they are platform mates, it’s also true they go in two different directions. Speaking of directions, if yours is “going green,” in addition to the W12, a plug-in hybrid Bentayga comes later this year.
Regardless of powertrain, it’s blissfully quiet in the Bentayga; a place of solitude and much import. A collection of leather upholstered chairs worthy of enjoying high tea with the queen. You wouldn’t sully such a place with performance rubber, would you? It’s unbecoming of high society.
On Sale: now
Base Price: $177,000 As-Tested Price: $224,260
Options: Mulliner Driving Specification, $13,180; ‘Naim for Bentley’ premium audio system, $8,880; Touring Specification, $8,555; Bentley Dynamic Ride, $5,365; All-Terrain Specification, $4,815; Colour Specification, $4,215; Sunshine Specification, $2,250
Powertrain: Twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, eight-speed automatic transmission, AWD
Output: 542 hp at 6,000 rpm, 568 lb-ft of torque between 1,960 – 4,500 rpm
Wheelbase: 117.9 inches
Length/Width/Height: 201.8/78.7/68.6 inches
Curb Weight: 5,326 lbs
Fuel Economy: 14/23/17 mpg (estimated) (city/highway/combined)
Pros: Bentley interiors rein supreme. All posh and elegant and comfortable
Cons: Sport mode in the Bentayga is like race walking in the Olympics.