Bentley Bentayga 2021 Review

With its posh interior, superlative road manners and eye-watering price tag, the Bentley Bentayga is undoubtedly one of the most exclusive SUVs on the planet. It's been around since the 2017 model year and now, for 2021, gets its first significant update.

Inside, the Bentayga receives a much-needed substantial overhaul with a new 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. But there's also a new look for the 2021 model. The grille is larger and more upright than before, and new oval-shaped headlights are pushed farther to the outside. Out back, Bentley has relocated the license plate frame below the now full-width hatch, and there are new oval taillights that recall the ones found on the Continental GT. Overall, these changes help introduce Bentley's newest styling traits as well as make it easy to differentiate the refreshed Bentayga from previous-year models.

Another major development for the Bentayga is the introduction of a plug-in hybrid version. The 2021 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid, which can go an estimated 17 miles on a fully charged battery, might seem a bit incongruous alongside the thumping turbocharged V8 and W12 engine offerings. But this new Bentayga is the first step of Bentley's quest to fully electrify its lineup as either plug-in hybrids or pure EVs by 2026.

As exclusive as the Bentayga may be, manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz and Range Rover have their own take on what an opulent SUV should be. Mercedes-Benz offers both the GLS 580 and the legendary AMG G 63. And from Bentley's own backyard, Range Rover offers its top-of-the-line SVAutobiography trim. And not to be outdone, ever, Rolls-Royce builds the opulent Cullinan. All of these SUVs will take a house-sized dent out of your bank account but offer nearly unrivaled comfort and status.

Which Bentayga does MatoCar recommend?

Bentley trim levels are usually differentiated by engine choice. In the case of the Bentayga there's the V8, the W12 and the new Hybrid. A mind-boggling array of interior and exterior color choices are available, as well as a fair number of stand-alone options to tailor any of the three Bentayga models to your needs. There are several more traditional (and eye-wateringly expensive) option packages, which Bentley refers to as Specifications.

The Bentayga's 2021 engine lineup includes:

• Bentayga V8: turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (542 horsepower, 568 lb-ft)
• Bentayga W12: turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 (626 hp, 664 lb-ft)
• Bentayga Hybrid: plug-in hybrid with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (combined output of 443 hp and 516 lb-ft)

Every Bentayga also comes well equipped with:

• 21-inch alloy wheels
• Full leather interior
• 10.9-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay
• Panoramic sunroof
• Adaptive LED headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves)
• 12-speaker audio system
• Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut)

Notable optional packages include:

Mulliner Driving Specification

• 22-inch black alloy wheels
• Diamond-quilted leather on seats and doors
• Sport pedals
• Unique oil and fuel filler caps

Touring Specification

• Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
• Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if the driver doesn't respond in time)
• Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield)
• Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
• Night vision

Blackline Specification

• Black-painted exterior trim (grille, window trim, headlight surrounds, roof rails, side vents)

All Terrain Specification

• Drive mode controller
• Four off-road settings
• Underbody protection
• Luggage management system