Bentley Bentayga
Bentley Bentayga – 7 Seater “The fastest SUV in the world.”
That’s the headline that gets the most attention. Bentley itself uses it on its own website in promoting the 2017 Bentayga. With a white-knuckle top speed of 187 mph, the Bentley Bentayga SUV certainly has reason to brag. It may not be the most surprising aspect of this remarkable vehicle, however. Speed, after all, should be considered in context.
It Comfortably Seats Seven
A two-seater or sedan reaching 187 mph wouldn’t cause much of a stir. With the 2017 Bentley Bentayga, however, we are talking about an SUV with a legitimate three rows of seating to accommodate seven passengers, and it can reach 187 mph. Now that’s in context and that’s astonishing. If lack of seating has prevented you from considering a Bentley, you can cross that excuse off your list.
Yes, It Really Can Go Off-Road
In the crowded luxury SUV segment, the 2017 Bentley Bentayga is no pretender. Not only is it an SUV that is actually designed for off-road use, Bentley uses the term “all-terrain” when describing the Bentayga. It certainly is well-traveled, having been tested in the frigid Arctic, the Red Sands of Dubai, the mountains of Spain and the rugged terrain of South American countries like Chili and Bolivia. The Bentayga is full-time four-wheel drive that allows you to select from a Drive Dynamics menu that includes settings for sand, mud, gravel, and snow. Its powertrain delivers an impressive 664 lb-ft of torque. You may never explore the jungles of Bolivia or the sands of Dubai in your Bentayga but it’s nice to know you could…and you could do it in a vehicle with a top speed of 187 mph.
Bentley Excesses are, well, Excessive
As if the speed, additional seating, and off-road superpowers of the 2017 Bentley Bentayaga weren’t enough, this vehicle delivers what Bentley does best. It delivers excess. Bentley has a reputation for allowing their customers more sophisticated ways to personalize their vehicles. Let’s start with a hand-crafted interior trimmed in a choice of seven wood veneers. Front seats adjust in 22 ways and they include six programmable massages. Even leather choices abound with 15 different color options. Want contrasting piping on the leather? Done. Do your backseat passengers require their own entertainment system? Request it as an option. Want a black Bentley Bentayga? You’ll have a choice of 11 different shades. The list of technological and comfort excesses is almost unlimited. Did we mention it has a top speed of 187 mph?
So Let’s Get to the Numbers
The 2017 Bentley Bentayga comes with a list price that starts at $229,000, but aforementioned options and customizations can increase that at will. It is powered by a muscular but decidedly deceptive 6.0L twin turbo W12 engine with a horsepower rating of 600 hp. On or off-road it generates an impressive 664 lb-ft of torque. The turbo W12 paired with the ZF 8-speed automatic transmission will take you and six screaming friends or family members from zero to 60 in about four seconds flat. All this power comes at a bit of a price with mileage ratings that peak at 19 mpg on the highway. If we’re honest, we’re not paying too much attention to that MPG sticker anyway, are we?
Nothing “Faux” About the Bentley Bentyaga
The Bentley Bentyaga is the real deal. It is not just a pretentious vehicle posing as an SUV. It has the seating capacity, the muscles, clearance, performance, and amenities of a world-class luxury SUV that also just happens to hold the title of “The World’s Fastest SUV”.