Although there are only two trims offered, Bentley gives you the option of personalizing the car beyond your wildest imagination. The 2017 Bentley Bentayga First Edition will be exclusive to this model year and comes with a nice set of traditions even compared to the thoroughly well-equipped standard car. Also available is the Mulliner specification which brings you 22-inch wheels, 90 exterior paint options, six optional packages, and so on. The sky is the limit for people looking at the options list but the prices are also bound to shoot through the roof as you go on ticking options.

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With the 2017 Bentley Bentayga price chart already being very heavy when compared to the competition, we would recommend you stick with the base car because it itself is very well equipped. However, do take a look at the options list as well because there are quite a few irresistible features that can be added on. A purchase like this car is bound to be an emotional one and hence, one should miss out on the option to customize.

There is only one powertrain available with this car and that would be a 6 L W 12 engine that is as powerful as it is refined. Although its acceleration feels like wafting, it can also snap your neck in half if you really give it the beans. With 626 horsepower available on tap, along with 664 lb-ft of torque, this car needs all wheel drive to put down all that power gently on the road. This SUV is also one of the fastest SUVs of all time, with a theoretical top speed of 187 mph. That might sound a bit excessive, but so is every other aspect of this car.

People looking for more speed will find that Bentley has a version named exactly that - the Bentley Bentayga Speed which is set to make its debut very soon. In the standard car, 0 to 60 mph is estimated to be around four seconds which is previously unexplored territory for an SUV. The 2017 Bentley Bentayga W 12 engine is a thing of beauty even when you look at the engine bay but is much more impressive when you’re behind the wheel of this super SUV.

We can see that this category has good competition in terms of the powertrains but the Bentley kicks it out of the ballpark in terms of the power output as well as the top speed. One will also note that its price makes the entire competition feel like quite a bargain despite being very expensive individually. In terms of torque, the winner is the Mercedes-AMG G 65 and its capabilities when you run out of tarmac are also unmatched.

2017 Bentley Bentayga Ride and Handling 

The Bentley has good ride quality and cocoons you in comfort. It does not feel very different from the luxury sedans offered by the brand when it comes to the ride quality but the handling is a clear divisive factor. The car is weighty at about 5269 lbs. and you feel all of it when you swing it around corners. Even with the adaptive suspension, the car feels a bit unsettled while cornering hard.

But complaining about the Bentley SUV not being fun around corners is a metric that becomes quite unfair. What you’re looking for here is whether this car can combine the practicality of an SUV along with the luxury of a Bentley. In that regard, the brand has outperformed every expectation we had with the project.

2017 Bentley Bentayga Braking Performance 

The braking performance of the Bentayga is not a strong point either. In terms of size, they are quite huge with the rotors measuring 15.8 inches up front as well as 15.0 inches at the rear. The pedal feel is also quite decent and you feel the brakes really trying to bring that massive momentum down to a stop. However, there is nothing that beats simple physics, and the fact that the car is so heavy does make the job very hard for the brakes. 

For what it is worth, the Bentley does not perform well in terms of braking. The undisputed leader in this regard is the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S with its massive brakes measuring 16.5 inches in the front and 15.6 inches in the back. It is also the lightest by a standing mile and hence can shed speed faster than any other car in this class. The 60 to 0 mph stopping distance of 106 feet makes its benchmark near many supercars.

The question of fuel efficiency is not something that bothers owners of this category and environmentally conscious people aren’t exactly shopping for them either. The 2017 Bentley Bentayga W 12 pretty much understands this and it will not deliver much on the fuel efficiency front as well. The fuel tank size is also generous measuring 22.5 gallons. According to the EPA, this car can return 12 MPG in the city, 19 MPG on the highway, and 15 MPG combined, making it quite thirsty. But given the massive fuel tank size, you can go up to 427 miles on a single tank which should really help people who love to take long journeys.

While the Porsche has excelled in many aspects, it surprises us with the fuel efficiency figures as well. However, it is the Land Rover Range Rover that comes with some of the best range numbers because of its massive fuel tank size. We’re not going to mention the Mercedes because it has the worst fuel efficiency figures and drinks so much fuel even out on the Highway.

Another strong point of this car has been its interior quality as well as design. It truly is top-notch even in the category. When we talk about the price of the car, this is where it begins to pay off. You will find only the best leather used for the upholstery, along with three engine metal and wood trim giving you endless choice according to your taste. Seating capacity can also be changed from 5 to 4 which brings you 18-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated seats along with massage programs for every passenger. The ergonomics of this cabin are spot on and users will never feel uncomfortable.

Some of the options here are extremely expensive like the Mulliner tourbillion mechanical clock by Breitling which almost costs as much as the car. We also find diamond-quilted leather, embroidered seats, custom stitching, ambient lighting, and so on in the First Edition cars. The car also gives you excellent legroom in every row but the cargo capacity is a bit on the lower side with just 17.1 ft.³. There are plenty of cubbyholes and bottle holders in the cabin as well.

The space allocation inside the cabin is not quite as important as the luxury offered in the Bentley and you will find that although the Mercedes has the most cargo area and legroom, the Bentley presents a more well-rounded option. Its cargo area does increase by a lot when you fold down the second-row seats and make way for 62.6 ft.³. This wouldn’t be completely utilized considering owners aren’t exactly here hauling cargo.

Some standout interior features of the 2017 Bentley Bentayga include:

• Heated and power-adjustable front seats
• Nappa leather upholstery on seats and steering wheel
• Driver and passenger seat memory
• Panoramic Sunroof
• Quad zone automatic climate Control

How intuitive is the 2017 Bentley Bentayga’s infotainment system?

The Bentley borrows the best technology available from the Audi group. It gives you features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto capability. The digital gauge cluster also provides you with navigation, media, phone controls, a trip computer, gauges, and so on. The sound systems are excellent but you get several upgrades in that area. You can opt for Bentley Signature Audio or Naim high fidelity audio, both completely immersive experiences on their own.

Listed below are some other standout features available with the Bentley Bentayga:

• Digital driver display
• Touchscreen infotainment system
• Android Auto and Apple Carplay
• Bluetooth and 4G LTE WiFi
• Satellite and HD radio
• Media USB Input
• Auxiliary Audio Input

Designing an SUV for the first time, it is bound to be ground-breaking, coming from Bentley. Although as large as a country mansion, this car does feel distinctively Bentley in the details that have been bestowed on it by the brand. The car comes with excellent color options and incredible paint finishes as well, with all the wheels looking massive. We would opt for the 20-inch wheels because the ride quality drops down by a bit when you go up to 22 inches.

The ground clearance is good at 8.0 inches and the car can make it through most everyday situations with ease. Although it is not an off-roader by any means, it does not have many of the issues that the sedan counterparts have which makes it much more practical. The exterior dimensions make it slightly larger than the rivals in the car is quite heavy at 5269 lbs.

The Bentley Bentayga is the longest car in the segment in terms of both, wheelbase and overall length. The Mercedes-AMG G 65 is the heaviest in the segment and is also the tallest. Surprisingly, it is the Range Rover that is the widest as well as the one with the greatest ground clearance. There does not exist a lot of debate in comparison of external dimensions because each car has a separate audience that thoroughly enjoys it.

Some of the standout exterior features include:

• Heated side-view mirrors
• Rear spoiler
• Body-colored door handles and side-view mirrors
• Panoramic Sunroof
• LED Daytime Running Light
• Rain Sensing Wipers
• Galvanized steel panels
• Power liftgate with power door lock

Offerings from brands such as Bentley has never been under the question regarding safety because they have always kept up a standard that does not filter down to cheaper brands. However, they are not crash-tested like regular cars and hence you would not find a safety rating from either the NHTSA or the IIHS. But taking a look at the safety features of this car gives you an idea about what you can expect.

Some of the standout safety features available with the 2017 Bentley Bentayga include

• Forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-departure warning
• Driver Attention Warning
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Hill Start Assist

2017 Bentley Bentayga vs 2017 Mercedes-AMG G 65

The Bentley is the benchmark in several aspects including straight-line performance, interior design, and so on. But the appeal of the Mercedes-AMG G 65 is that this car does not need an introduction for striking a balance between luxury and off-road performance. Certainly, you will not be able to fill the niche the Mercedes offers. It is also the closest one in terms of price.

2017 Bentley Bentayga vs 2017 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo S is one of the most unique offerings in the segment. It has sportscar-like driving abilities that take you by surprise. In terms of interior quality, the Porsche feels a lot less expensive but one cannot complain because its price tag is a lot less expensive as well. We feel these cars appeal to very different kinds of people and are great in their own respects.

2017 Bentley Bentayga vs 2017 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged SV Autobiography

The Land Rover Range Rover SV Autobiography has been the segment leader for several years now and with good reason. It was always the full-size SUV that buyers would go to when they wanted a lot of luxury appeal. However, next to the Bentley, even the most expensive Land Rovers are not exactly comparable. Then again, you will have no off-road capabilities in the Bentayga.

The Bentley Bentayga has completely succeeded in staying true to the roots of the brand while introducing a new kind of practicality through an SUV platform. It does not have much correlation to the car it is based on and feels very unique. It looks quite dramatic, has powertrains that are refined and powerful, offers some of the most exquisite interiors we have seen in this category and overall, makes for a great buy.