After practically per week rolling round city within the 2023 Bentley Bentayga, having fun with its energy, consolation and the flexibility to make a grand entrance mainly wherever, it dawns on me that I’m doing this improper. Sure, the V8 is nice, however after all it’s. The story is within the again seat.
I’m testing an prolonged wheelbase Bentayga Azure First Version outfitted with the Airline Seat Specification. It’s enterprise class, plain and easy. As darkness falls, I make up a cheese plate and head to the backseat, inserting my charcuterie on the veneered picnic trays under the ten.1-inch screens. Leaning again on the pillowy headrest, I really feel like I’m about to settle in for a comfortable trans-Atlantic flight.
There’s a lot room. The wheelbase extends 7 inches past the usual Bentayga and there’s sufficient house to do calf stretches. The First Version gives Diamond Illumination on the door panels and the purple ambient lighting casts a royal glow. It’s not as dramatic because the Starry Night time Sky within the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, however with 22 LEDs shimmering by means of leather-based perforations, it’s fairly cosmic.
The Airline spec seats are the opposite a part of the Bentayga’s allure, with 22 doable methods to calibrate positions. Positive, you’ll be able to cue up any variety of massages, however you are able to do that in lots of Jeeps. Bentley’s seats additionally provide a Postural Adjustment System that’s stated to use as much as 177 stress modifications over a three-hour interval to maintain you cozy. Dialing into work conferences with my ft up, I loved it, largely. I didn’t keep there for 3 hours, however for my roughly one-hour stint, the changes have been usually appreciated (I may have up to date my Google calendar location to ‘Bentley’, however that appeared pretentious). The cupholders are strong, too.
Bentley moved the sunroof again about 5 inches to additional give attention to the rear passengers, and it’s an ethereal setting, particularly when reclined. There’s additionally an auto local weather perform that adjusts the floor temperature. After taking part in round with the various settings, I finally discovered the one which pushed the entrance passenger’s seat all the way in which ahead, a footstool prolonged down and I leaned again for a quick relaxation.
Totally different Bentayga EWB pictured
So I did truly drive a Bentley for per week, and it gives a sure gravitas each in movement and at relaxation. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 provides loads of energy to the tune of 542 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque, and it’ll get you and your passengers to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, ought to the necessity come up. It’s an enormous SUV, roughly related in measurement to the Chevy Tahoe, and it’s a bit to deal with on the street. I wasn’t intimidated, however the hood is lengthy and visibility out of the again isn’t nice (the passengers are clearly the precedence). All-wheel steering helps, and the Bentagya is fairly maneuverable, even pulling off some spectacular U-turns in tight conditions.
It’s a bit louder on the expressway than I anticipated. Throughout rush hour site visitors on Interstate 75 in Detroit’s northern suburbs, I used to be stunned that the standard soundtrack of street noise and wind infiltrated the cabin. It wasn’t offensive, but it surely was typical of most SUVs touring on the posted speeds on the freeway. The sleek sounds produced by the Naim audio system did overcome many of the exterior intrusions.
I drove in sport mode for a superb chunk of time, as I discovered it tailor-made the eight-speed transmission’s shifts greatest with the V8. Getting on the throttle will produce a bark, although the powertrain is calmer — Bentley would posit extra couth — than potent eight-cylinder SUVs from Jaguar and Maserati I’ve examined. I briefly ventured off pavement onto a compacted dust street with chuck holes, and the Bentayga was composed and succesful, thanks partially to the 48-volt energetic anti-roll system, known as Bentley Dynamic Experience.
At $263,500, this Bentayga appears to be like costly. The massive, round headlights have diamond-shaped accent particulars, there’s a number of chrome, and the grille is suitably big. My tester wore a shade of purple that was truly refined throughout overcast climate. Driving on 21-inch painted machined wheels, the Bentayga has a commanding presence. Although it’s blingy, it’s inline with issues just like the Cullinan and Lamborghini Urus. At this value level, you’ll be able to afford to be unassuming, however luxurious SUV designers appear to imagine the other
The Bentayga EWB gives status and decadence, but in a artistic manner. It’s one factor to make an enormous SUV with comfortable seats, it’s one other to make them actively work to make the passengers extra snug. It’s a bit a lot, however frankly so is all the pieces at this value level. You might additionally spend your quarter of 1,000,000 bucks on a Continental. Or a Lamborghini Huracan. It depends upon the expertise you’re on the lookout for. In that sense, the Bentayga delivers a singular efficiency that’s past terrestrial. Airline Spec, certainly.
