Used 2017 Bentley Bentayga

If your idea of a premium-luxury vehicle is a classic sedan, coupe or convertible, the 2017 Bentley Bentayga will come as a big surprise. Bentley’s first-ever sport-utility vehicle, the Bentayga is everything you’d expect from the British brand — but capable of taking you just about anywhere you could imagine going, on- or off-road, in the quiet, powerful splendor a wealthy motorist is likely to be accustomed to. With the arrival of the Bentayga, Bentley is helping redefine the ultra-premium segment, though it won’t have this niche to itself for long, with new utility vehicles coming from high-line competitors as diverse as Maserati, Aston Martin, Lamborghini and even Rolls-Royce.

They may seem to go together, but “sport” and “utility” are really an oxymoron. Sports cars are seldom very functional and utility vehicles rarely offer much in the way of on-road driving fun, Bentley has brought the two words into surprising harmony with the Bentayga. It’s not just the world’s quickest SUV, capable of hitting 60 in barely four seconds — with a top speed of 187 mph — but it also offers plenty of cargo capacity, towing power and with an adjustable air suspension offering up to 9.2 inches of ground clearance. What that translates into is a 5,672-pound behemoth that is surprisingly nimble to drive on-road, with neutral handling and the smooth and stable feel you’d expect from a Bentley. Yet it also offers the ability to handle some of the roughest trails you might encounter — as long as you’re willing to risk a few scratches.

Close your eyes and let us help you slip inside the Bentley Bentayga. Now open them up. You’d never guess you were in an SUV. The British marque’s first SUV boasts a cabin easily as lavish as any of its more traditional sedans, coupes and convertibles. Outfitted as either a 4- or 5-seater, it envelops you in supple leather, available in 15 different hues, as well as four different veneer trims. Bentayga gets Bentley’s newest infotainment system. Options include a rear fridge, a 3-compartment picnic basket in the rear and the $170,000 Breitling Tourbillon self-winding clock.

Bentley delivered something of a surprise when it pulled the wraps off its first-ever SUV, the Bentayga adopting a relatively conventional SUV design, rather than the more swoopy sheet metal many manufacturers are opting for. That approach has been called out by some critics, but to our eye it’s fitting for a vehicle that really can handle serious off-road driving. The upright grille, massive air intakes and broad shoulders underscore the power of the Bentayga’s 600-horsepower W12 and the ute’s dramatic capabilities.

FRONT-FACING PARKING CAMERA
For the serious off-roader, this system allows you to skip the spotter, even on the toughest trails. Switch it on for a bumper-level view and, like the regular rear camera, it features lines that bend to show where the vehicle is aiming.

MULLINER HAMPER
Whether you’re a serious off-roader or a tailgater, Bentley has you covered — for an extra $32,000. This 3-box system tucks neatly into the cargo bed, rolling out on tracks when needed. One box is refrigerated, the others store dry food and your crystal, china and silverware.

The Bentayga comes with a mix of features balancing its on- and off-road capabilities, including all-wheel-drive, trailer-sway control, a 4-corner auto-leveling suspension and electronic brake controls that largely cover for its lack of locking differentials. The base infotainment system offers a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot and an impressive, 700-watt, 12-speaker package, though the 1,950-watt Naim system is a must option for audiophiles. There are 14 different leather options to envelop the 16-way-adjustable front bucket seats.

From a purist’s standpoint, there’s the 1,950-watt Naim audio package. For safety and long-distance cruising, the Touring Specification adds active cruise, night vision, lane-keeping assist and other technologies. And for bragging rights, go for the $170,000 self-winding Breitling Tourbillon clock.

When nearly three tons of SUV can go from a dead stop to 60 miles per hour in four seconds, everybody notices and most people smile. The new Bentley Bentayga sprints that good, launched by its 600-horsepower twin-turbo W12 engine matched lively to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy takes a hit, but you’re certainly not paying six figures to scrimp on performance.

6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12
600 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
664 lb-ft of torque @1,350 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 12/19 mpg

Note: Due to changes in EPA testing to more effectively reflect real-world conditions, some 2017 models show slightly lower fuel-economy scores than their 2016 versions.