Bentley Bentayga

Bentley Bentayga key specifications (W12, 2016)

EXP 9 F concept and the road to Crewe

Bentley first showed its idea of an SUV as the EXP 9 F concept at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012. The concept used a 6.0-litre W12 with about 447 kW (600 hp), and its styling drew mixed reactions. The company confirmed a production model in July 2013 and revealed the Bentayga name in January 2015.

The production car made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2015, and production began in Crewe in December 2015. Bentley invested 800 million pounds in the factory and hired 1,000 new staff. The first 608 cars were a W12 First Edition. Bodies were initially built in Bratislava and, from the end of 2016, at the Volkswagen plant in Zwickau, Germany.

The name comes from the Roque Bentayga, a rock formation in the mountains of Gran Canaria, combined with an echo of "taiga". According to the old 1cars text, Bentley first considered the name Falcon. For the brand's wider story, read the history of Bentley.

Platform, chassis and all-wheel drive

The Bentayga uses the Volkswagen Group MLB Evo platform with a longitudinal engine, the same basic architecture as the Audi Q7 and the Lamborghini Urus. Air suspension with adaptive dampers is standard, and the ride height can be adjusted. Bentley Dynamic Ride, an option, uses electric anti-roll bars to keep the body flat in corners while letting the wheels move freely on rough ground.

All versions have permanent all-wheel drive with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The old 1cars text describes a Torsen centre differential with a 40:60 front-to-rear split, able to send up to 65 % of torque to the front or 85 % to the rear. Carbon-ceramic brakes were optional; the same source quotes 440 mm front discs with ten-piston calipers.

Engines and performance by version

The diesel V8, sold until 2020, was the first diesel Bentley and combined 900 Nm with the lowest consumption of the range. The petrol V8 of 2018 offered almost W12 pace with a lighter engine. By our calculation, the W12 launch car carries about 5.5 kg per kW. That is a strong figure for a 2.4-tonne SUV.

Bentley stopped building the W12 engine in April 2024, after more than 100,000 units since 2003. The 2025 Bentayga Speed replaced it with a V8 that has 15 PS more but 50 Nm less torque. In Germany it was priced from €268,800 in June 2025.

Bentayga Hybrid and electric range

The Bentayga Hybrid arrived in 2019 as Bentley's first plug-in hybrid. It pairs a 3.0-litre turbo V6 with an electric motor for a system output of 330 kW (449 PS) and 700 Nm. The 17.3 kWh lithium-ion battery gives about 50 km of electric range on the NEDC cycle.

According to the old 1cars text, a full charge takes about seven hours from a domestic socket and about two and a half hours with a more powerful charger. The same source quotes 0–100 km/h in 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 254 km/h. For short daily trips, the Hybrid can cover most commuting on electricity.

Cabin, seats and the 2020 facelift

Inside, the Bentayga mixes hand-stitched leather, real wood and metal. Buyers can choose four, five or seven seats. The front seats offer ventilation and massage. A head-up display and an all-round camera system were available from launch. Rear passengers in the four-seat version get their own touchscreen controller.

The facelift of June 2020 brought new tail lights, a larger rear spoiler, new 22-inch wheels and a 10.9-inch touchscreen. The old 1cars text adds that the rear track grew by 20 mm and that rear legroom improved by 30–100 mm in the four-seat car. Mulliner, Bentley's personalisation department, offers the Breitling for Bentley Tourbillon clock for the dashboard.

S, Azure and the long-wheelbase EWB

Bentley widened the range after the facelift. The Bentayga S of May 2021 has firmer damping and a sportier look. The Azure, introduced in May 2022, focuses on comfort and wellbeing.

The Bentayga EWB, also launched in May 2022, has a wheelbase 180 mm longer, at 3,175 mm, and an overall length of 5,322 mm. It took over the chauffeur role of the Mulsanne saloon. At 5.3 metres, it will not fit every garage, so check yours with the 1cars garage fit tool.

Production and sales by year

In 2016, its first full year, the Bentayga was Bentley's best-selling model. By our calculation, Bentley built about 42,560 Bentaygas from 2015 to 2023, and the 2022 record was 31 % higher than the first full year. The 1cars archive also keeps the launch report on the Bentayga.

Bentayga against its rivals

The Lamborghini Urus and the Aston Martin DBX are sportier, while the Rolls-Royce Cullinan is more of a chauffeur car. The Bentayga sits between them, with a wider spread of engines and a choice of four, five or seven seats. To compare two models in detail, use the 1cars comparison tool.