Used Bentley Bentayga 2016-present review

At one time, the very idea of a Bentley luxury SUV would have been about as likely as a donkey winning the Grand National. Then, in 2016, the firm struck out in a new direction and launched this Bentley Bentayga. It’s a 2.4-tonne, four-wheel-drive, 187mph SUV laden with goodies and reeking of luxury, and at the front of it is the familiar mesh grille of the Bentley.

The Bentayga catapulted itself into a class that didn't exist a few years ago: the luxury SUV. Now, the Bentayga finds itself up against a crop of similarly huge and opulent cars, such as the Volvo XC90, Range Rover and even the car on which the Bentayga's underpinnings are so closely based, the Audi Q7. And, like the Q7, the Bentayga could be specified from new with seven seats, and as a hybrid.

Bentley initially offered a 6.0-litre W12 petrol engine, though this was dropped from the range in 2022, as was the 4.0-litre V8 diesel, the firm's first diesel. There's also a 542bhp 4.0-litre V8 petrol and a plug-in hybrid model which uses a smaller 3.0-litre V6 paired with an electric motor to produce a combined output of 443bhp.

Performance is therefore very much the order of the day. With any unit, the drive is suave, refined and velvety smooth, and the speed colossal – the sense of isolation is extraordinarily good.

With 542bhp, the V8 petrol has plenty of power. Despite this luxury SUV weighing the best part of 2.5 tonnes in V8 guise, it will sprint from 0-62mph in just 4.5sec, matching the Aston Martin DBX. The heavier Bentayga EWB is only 0.1sec slower. The hybrid has plenty of grunt available, with a 0-62mph time of 5.5sec, and while performance is far more sedate in pure-electric mode, you can still glide in near silence to motorway speeds.

A big part of its refienement is down to the silky-smooth eight-speed ZF-made gearbox. When you push on, it always seems to be in the right gear at the right time, rendering the column-mounted paddles redundant.

The Bentayga has air suspension and, as a result, rides poor surfaces well. Allowing for the compromises inherent in such a large and heavy car, it actually handles quite well, too. However, if you value a truly engaging driving experience, we’d recommend the V8 S. It comes with tweaked suspension, a more dynamic stability control (ESC) tune and a revised torque vectoring system.

Inside is an interior of rare craftmanship, beautifully made and swaddled with everything you could possibly want, never mind need. It’s a luxury cocoon that feels utterly convincing, even if the space available isn'tas huge as you’d expect judging by its external proportions.

The materials are very impressive – from the rich leather and wood veneer to the aluminium air vents with their organ stop adjusters. There is a tremendous feeling of quality, especially in the styling on the chrome bezels and the exquisite stitching on the dashboard and seats. S also models get Alcantara inserts on the steering wheel, seats and gear lever.

At 10.9in, the infotainment screen is larger than that of the Aston Martin DBX and it comes loaded with kit. A DAB radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, real-time navigation and an embedded SIM all come as standard.

The front seats themselves are beautifully designed. There’s plenty of rear leg room even if you’re sitting behind a six-footer, and more headroom than in the Lamborghini Urus. Those wanting to fully stretch out (or are very tall) should look at the EWB and its additional 180mm of rear legroom.

The 484-litre boot you get in five-seat versions of both the regular and EWB models is generous, but it’s beaten by the Aston Martin DBX (632 litres) and Rolls-Royce Cullinan (600 litres). The Hybrid loses out by a small amount (at 479 litres), but if you opt for the four-seat configuration, it drops to 392 litres. The optional 4+1 layout on the EWB offers the least amount of space, with 380 litres. The Bentayga load bay is flat and long, and big enough for several large suitcases. A powered tailgate comes as standard, and can be opened with a foot-waving gesture beneath the rear bumper.

So, the Bentley Bentayga is capable, competent and opulent. It’s blindingly expensive, too, but buying used may well be the way to knock a few bob off its outrageous asking price.

If you're interested in finding a used Bentley Bentayga, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

It is worth buying a used Bentayga. You can pick up a 2016 W12 from £66,000, with the majority starting at around £70,000. Spend between £75,000 and £90,000 on good models of all sorts from 2017 to 2019, £90,000 to £120,000 on good 2020 and 2021 cars and upwards of £120,000 on 2022 and 2023 models.

Obviously, it will cost a small fortune to run. The W12 petrol versions have a claimed fuel consumption of just 21.6mpg, under the older NEDC fuel tests that were prevalent at the time, so you can expect even less than that in real-world terms. The V8 diesels have a claimed 35.8mpg – good considering the size but, again, you’re unlikely to match that in everyday motoring.

Under the newer WLTP fuel tests, the 4.0 V8 petrol averages 21.7mpg, and the 3.0 plug-in hybrid 83.1mpg.

An insurance grouping of 50 means high premiums, while tax bills will be suitably large. Servicing is best carried out by a Bentley main dealer, and that won’t come cheap. Expect four-figure bills.

Our pick is the 4.0-litre V8 petrol. For one thing, the V8 sounds terrific, emitting a pleasingly subtle woofle from its two oval exhaust pipes, plus it sounds even fruitier if you opt for the Bentayga V8 S with its bellowing sports exhaust. Thanks to a whopping 542bhp, you also have plenty of power.

There’s only one trim. You’re paying a massive amount of money, so Bentley does at least provide a lot of standard equipment. Sat-nav, Bluetooth, a DAB radio, USB connections, automatic LED headlights, auto wipers, heated leather seats, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera are all included. The V8 S adds a sports exhaust and black exterior highlights.

Our favourite Bentley Bentayga 4.0 V8 petrol

The Range Rover set the standards in this class, with its brilliant blending of opulence and go-anywhere ability. It’s great on road and off it, and the interior is a fabulous place in which to spend time. It’s pricey, build quality isn’t the best and push it fast on the road and it can feel cumbersome – but, overall, it’s a remarkable world-beater.

The Audi SQ7 shares its underpinnings with the Bentley Bentayga. It offers prodigious performance, thanks to its 4.0-litre diesel engine, as well as excellent handling and a roomy, high-quality interior. It doesn’t carry the prestige badge of the Bentley and the Range Rover, but it is superbly built and, like its more modest Q7 siblings, it’s superbly refined. It should be a much cheaper used purchase, too.

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If you're interested in finding a used Bentley Bentayga, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.