After almost every week rolling round city within the 2023 Bentley Bentayga, having fun with its energy, consolation and the power to make a grand entrance mainly anyplace, it dawns on me that I’m doing this incorrect. Sure, the V8 is nice, however after all it’s. The story is within the again seat.
I’m testing an extended wheelbase Bentayga Azure First Edition 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 beneath 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 area 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 Evening Sky within the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, however with 22 LEDs shimmering by means of leather-based perforations, it’s quite cosmic.
The Airline spec seats are the opposite a part of the Bentayga’s appeal, with 22 doable methods to calibrate positions. Positive, you possibly can 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 strain modifications over a three-hour interval to maintain you cozy. Dialing into work conferences with my toes up, I loved it, principally. I didn’t keep there for 3 hours, however for my roughly one-hour stint, the changes have been generally appreciated (I may have up to date my Google calendar location to ‘Bentley’, however that appeared pretentious). The cupholders are solid, too.
Bentley moved the sunroof again about 5 inches to additional concentrate on the rear passengers, and it’s an ethereal setting, particularly when reclined. There’s additionally an auto local weather operate that adjusts the floor temperature. After enjoying round with the numerous settings, I ultimately 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 every 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 a giant SUV, roughly related in dimension to the Chevy Tahoe, and it’s a bit to deal with on the highway. 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 in all fairness 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 visitors on Interstate 75 in Detroit’s northern suburbs, I used to be stunned that the same old soundtrack of highway noise and wind infiltrated the cabin. It wasn’t offensive, however it was typical of most SUVs touring on the posted speeds on the freeway. The graceful sounds produced by the Naim audio system did overcome many of the outdoors intrusions.
I drove in sport mode for a superb chunk of time, as I discovered it tailor-made the eight-speed transmission’s shifts finest 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 grime highway with chuck holes, and the Bentayga was composed and succesful, thanks partly to the 48-volt energetic anti-roll system, referred to as Bentley Dynamic Trip.
At $263,500, this Bentayga appears to be like costly. The big, round headlights have diamond-shaped accent particulars, there’s numerous chrome, and the grille is suitably large. My tester wore a shade of purple that was truly delicate throughout overcast climate. Using 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 worth level, you possibly can afford to be unassuming, however luxurious SUV designers appear to imagine the other
The Bentayga EWB gives status and decadence, but in a inventive means. It’s one factor to make a giant SUV with comfortable seats, it’s one other to make them actively work to make the passengers extra comfy. It’s a bit a lot, however frankly so is the whole lot at this worth level. You can additionally spend your quarter of 1,000,000 bucks on a Continental. Or a Lamborghini Huracan. It depends upon the expertise you’re searching for. In that sense, the Bentayga delivers a singular efficiency that’s past terrestrial. Airline Spec, certainly.
