2023 Bentayga EWB Azure First Edition

If your two-car garage already has a Bentley Continental GT coupe or convertible nestled into one of the bays, the other could be filled by a matching Bentayga SUV. Why? For one thing, the Bentayga makes for a more practical daily driver and can seat a family. It can be equipped with a plug-in-hybrid powertrain for those necessary commutes when gas prices are peaking, but can also be had with a twin-turbo V-8 or a mighty twin-turbo W-12. The Bentayga’s luxury experience is much the same as you’ll get in the Conti or the Flying Spur sedan, with rich leathers, tasteful wood and metal trim, and plenty of tech features throughout its cabin. Of course, if you’re not particularly brand loyal, this six-figure segment of ultra-luxe SUVs also includes the Mercedes-Maybach GLS600 and the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, both of which would also make fine sidekicks to a luxury grand touring car. An extended-wheelbase body style has been added to the Bentayga lineup for 2023. The longer body allows for more space in the rear seat so passengers can stretch out and relax. This model comes with a rear-wheel steering system which helps shrink the SUV’s turning radius. It also features Bentley’s new Diamond Illumination ambient lighting system which shines lights through hand-stitched leather panels. The rear seats can recline up to 40 degrees and there’s a footrest that extends from the back of the front passenger seat so that the right rear rider can kick their feet up. The rear seats can be had with massaging functions and your choice of a full-length center console or a middle seat. Two additional plug-in hybrid options join the lineup this year in posh Azure and sporty S guise. Both of the new hybrid trims offer slightly more power and more electric-only driving range than the standard PHEV model at 455 horsepower and 27 miles of range.

We like the V-8 model best. Even though the Speed’s powerful W-12 engine is silky smooth and effortlessly powerful, its price premium over the V-8 is substantial. We’d suggest sticking with the eight-cylinder model and adding some niceties to it, such as the adaptive suspension, the rear-seat entertainment system, and the 20-speaker Naim stereo. And choosing the Touring Specification package will give you a suite of driver-assistance features. If you’re looking to maximize luxury for your rear-seat passengers, go with the extended-wheelbase model, which provides additional legroom and more rear-seat amenities.

Bentley offers a variety of powertrains for the Bentayga. On the low end, you have a 443-hp hybrid arrangement with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 and an electric motor; Azure and S hybrids offer a slightly more powerful 455-hp version of the electrified powertrain. Then there’s the 542-hp twin-turbo V-8 engine. The V-8 emits a hearty burble on its way to 60 mph, which it does in just 3.5 seconds. The Bentayga Speed ups the ante with a 626-hp W-12. Back in 2017, when the Speed made 600 ponies, this supersmooth powerhouse delivered a 3.6-second result in our 60-mph test. The W-12’s power delivery is creamier than the V-8’s, and its performance felt more robust during passing maneuvers. Bentley claims that the Bentayga Speed, with a claimed top speed of 190 mph, is the fastest SUV in the world (although the Lamborghini Urus might have something to say about that). Regardless of what’s under the hood, all Bentaygas utilize an eight-speed automatic transmission and come standard with all-wheel drive.