2020 Bentley Bentayga

The 2020 Bentayga is what fits best all of these demands. Of course, Bentley wasn’t the first to merge the concept of ultra-luxury appointments to an SUV body shell. The Bentayga is more than an ultra-premium SUV; it is an experience that requires hard-earned bucks. But it faces stiff competition from the likes of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Lamborghini Urus, and Land Rover Range Rover SV Autobiography. In this review, let’s introspect various attributes of the 2020 Bentayga, besides the top-notch craftsmanship that the marque has been renowned for.

The 2020 Bentley Bentayga comes in three distinct models, namely the Hybrid, V8, and Speed. These are reviewed separately. The V8 carries a whopping price tag of $203,200, yet it poses as an incredibly equipped SUV. Buyers that are looking for a more peculiar and standout version can opt for the Bentayga Designer Edition that starts from $213,200. And just like its natural rival Rolls Royce Cullinan, it offers an endless number of additional options that money can buy.

Which Trim should you buy?

The base V8 is apt as Bentley equips it with a plethora of standard goodies. The powertrain is also apt for both thrilling and comfy rides, while buyers can always reflect their personality and choice by selecting through an endless number of additional options. The Bentayga V8 brings a wide range of goodies as standard and justifies the price. Not to count the lavish and incredibly crafted interiors, the vehicle comes with exciting additional options that just await the nod of the buyer.

The 2020 Bentley Bentayga hosts a fire-breathing 4.0L twin-turbo V8 under its hood. This engine generates 542-hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. This puts the Bentayga as an amusing and adrenaline-rushing SUV that can turn heads with its stunning attire but also cause your neck to sprain with its blistering quick accelerations. Despite the heft and royal roots, the vehicle can scoot off from zero to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds, while a quarter-mile takes 11.9 seconds. 

The Bentayga is a luxurious experience, but the same machine can easily top 190 mph on clean highways. Mated to the brawny V8 is an 8-speed automatic transmission that does an excellent job with its brisk and super-smooth gear shifts. The all-wheel-drive setup provides the 2020 Bentayga with apt thrust and grip to shoot off the line, hold around the corners, and prevent from skidding off in bad weather.

The Bentley Bentayga doesn’t punch out the most astonishing figures for the class, but it is unbelievably quick for its size. But one has to learn from the Lamborghini Urus, the trick and art of neck-snapping, supercar-embarrassing accelerations. This raging bull is a super-performance SUV, while the likes of Rolls Royce Cullinan and Land Rover Range Rover SV Autobiography carry the classy style but are also nimble enough to bring a smile on the face. 

How well does the 2020 Bentley Bentayga handle?

Don’t jump to conclusions seeing the size and weight of the 2020 Bentley Bentayga because it can easily rock your world. Thanks to a dynamic and potent V8 block under the hood, the vehicle provides brisk accelerations. The transmission does a great job by being effortless and delivers linear power delivery. The Bentayga and its torque vectoring system offer impeccable handling around the corners as well. However, the feedback quotient is still missing out. 

This luxury SUV rolls with poise and elegance, and the standard air suspension soaks almost every road disturbance. There are different driving modes, Comfort, Sport, Custom, and Bentley, but the majority of time will be spent on Comfort only. The Bentayga is an impressive performer during rocky weather as well. With an AWD drivetrain, apt ground clearance, and various driving modes, the vehicle can easily crawl through trails.

2020 Bentley Bentayga Braking Performance

With a heavy curb weight of 5280lbs and a racy V8 at its heart, the 2020 Bentley Bentayga can hurt, but only the pockets. The massive 15.8-inch brake rotors at the front and 15-inch brake rotors at the rear should offer enough stopping potential to bring this big SUV to a quick halt well within 120 feet. The brake pedal feels firm; all the while behaving effectively.

Being a performance-oriented SUV, the Urus weighs the least and with the massive 17-inch rotors, it offers the superb braking potential to bring this supercar to a halt from 60 mph well within 107 feet. The Cullinan, despite being the heaviest of the lot, equals the Urus when it comes to braking performance. The RR SV Autobiography has considerably smaller brakes when compared to the rest of the competition and thus takes 117 feet to stop from 60-0MPH.

The 2020 Bentley Bentayga is fascinating, deluxe, lively, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous inside out. That gives it enough credits to lack in some aspects, and fuel economy is one of them. Also, never has a V8 or a super-rich personality been expected to care about fuel economy. The 2020 Bentayga and its brawny V8 delivers EPA estimates like 14/23/17 MPG on city/highway/combined conditions. But thanks to a 22.5-gallon fuel tank, this lavish ride can last for more than 500 miles on a full tank.

The 2020 Bentayga steals the badge of being the most economic and efficient premium SUV in its segment. The likes of Cullinan and Urus come with massive engine blocks that are meant to waft the hefty weight and imitate supercar sprints respectively. Thus they are gas-guzzlers. The Range Rover SV Autobiography carries the biggest fuel tank at 27.5 gallons which put its driving range close to the likes of the Bentley.

Bentley cut off the 5-seater iterations of Bentayga this year, hence a super-deluxe 4-seater cabin is what comes as standard. In addition to that, for the ones that are planning to haul a larger crowd, a 7-seat iteration can be chosen. The top-notch material quality and craftsmanship are what draws the richer crowd, but the car also brings along the practicality and functionality of SUVs. The lush and grand interiors of the Bentayga are a prime example of artistry and craftsmanship. 

No surface hasn't been left out from being wrapped with premium material and the wood inlays, chrome accents, and other seasoning uplift the aura of the cabin. In terms of spaciousness, the front seats are roomy and comfortable. The big bucket seats with impressive bolsters support the body well. Of course, the quilted leather upholstery adds to the luxury appeal. The dashboard, as mentioned, is wrapped in premium materials, while buyers can also put forward their choice of materials too. In the second row, occupants would appreciate the breezy headroom and legroom than the Bentley SUV poses. 

But the third row isn’t part of the wow factor since it’s tight. Anyhow, opt for the 4-seat variant and it treats the rear seat occupants like VIPs, providing two separate bucket seats with lavish creature comforts like heating, ventilation, and massaging functions, depending on the options. The elimination of the middle seat adds cooler and crystal-cut champagne glasses. 

The quality, fit, and finish of the interiors of the Bentley Bentayga are top-notch and priceless. But for customers that have more than one-third of a million to spare, the Rolls Royce offers unlimited options for interior bits as well. On the other hand, the Lamborghini Urus presents a supercar-inspired interior that is aggressive and sporty in manner. The Range Rover SV Autobiography is no less of a premium car and when it comes to the cabin space, it offers a whopping 46.8 inches of legroom in the rear row. Standout interior features are:

• Eliade Headliner
• Hide and chrome-trimmed gear lever
• 3-spoke leather-trimmed steering wheel
• Three-zone automatic climate control
• Full-leather seating
• 12-way power-adjustable and heated front seats
• Ventilation and massage functions for the front and rear seats
• Optional third-row seats

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2020 Bentley Bentayga fits an 8-inch infotainment screen at the center of the dash that remains the sole infotainment set up for all the models. The system is quite intuitive and the sharp graphics and clear screen are splendid. As standard, you get navigation and Apple CarPlay. A 10-speaker setup that comes as standard is great, but since Bentayga would be a spendthrift ride, opting for a 12-speaker arrangement or Naim's 20-speaker premium audio system is advised. Not to forget, the second row features a removable touchscreen tablet too, to control various creature comforts like heating and ventilation functions. The buyers can also opt for an optional rear-entertainment setup that adds two 10.2-inch displays mounted on the front-seat headrests. Standout infotainment features are:

• 8.0-inch infotainment screen
• Apple CarPlay
• Navigation
• Optional rear-seat entertainment system
• 10-speaker setup
• An optional 12-speaker arrangement or Naim 20-speaker premium audio system

The 2020 Bentayga does carry some exterior cosmetic tweaks, sharp eyes with a more upright and wider grille that matches every other Bentley. From the sides, a lot is happening with the front wheel arches flowing to the rear. The rectangular tail lights end the exterior discussion. 

The exterior can be had in over 100 shades and there is also Mulliner specification that makes this vehicle quite exquisite. Overall, the Bentayga is royal and has the presence of a flamboyant sedan but integrates it with the devilish charm of an SUV. If the standard looks of the Bentayga have anyhow failed to make your jaws drop, the Designer Edition should get the job done.

In the segment of ultra-luxurious SUVs, the 2020 Bentayga has an incredible presence, but the audience would bow down to the entrance of Rolls Royce Cullinan. On the other hand, the Urus imitates the aggressive and intimidating looks of every modern Lambo that has existed. Offering the best of worlds, Range Rover SV Autobiography comes with a rugged and rough attire and a glorious interior inside. Standout exterior features are: 

• Black lower bumper grille
• Full LED adaptive headlights with High Beam Assist
• 21" five twin-spoke alloy wheels
• Panoramic sunroof
• Air suspension 
• Hands-free tailgate
• Twin-quad exhaust tailpipes

The 2020 Bentley Bentayga would be bought by eminent personalities, and hence safety is one of the most important aspects. The Bentayga hasn’t been put through the crash tests conducted by NHTSA and IIHS due to the SUV's expensive price tag and low sales volume. But the minuscule consumer crowd should rest assured of the safety net the Bentley provides as it is hand-built to perfection with utmost attention to detail. It features some advanced safety bits along with a sturdy structure to protect the occupants in case of any mishappening. Standout safety features are:

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Roll Stability Control
• Blind-spot monitor
• Parking assist
• Pedestrian warning
• Top-view camera
• Traffic sign recognition
• Traffic-adaptive cruise control
• Head-up display
• Lane-keeping assist
• Night-vision camera

2020 Bentley Bentayga vs 2020 Rolls Royce Cullinan

The Bentayga and Cullinan are natural rivals to each other and follow the same principles- opulence, excellent craftsmanship, and an endless number of options. But the Rolls Royce badge is more sided towards royalty and high class. You get various bits like the stagnant RR badge on the wheels and star-show on the headliner. The Bentley is more agile and nimble, while the Rolls Royce is like riding in the air. At least you won’t spill your thousand-dollar champagne in the Rolls Royce Cullinan that easily.

2020 Bentley Bentayga vs 2020 Lamborghini Urus

The siblings from the same Volkswagen group, both the Bentayga and Urus are based on the same architecture but are completely different at the same time. The Urus is meant for neck-snapping accelerations and passing over supercar thrills to a practical SUV body while the Bentayga is more versatile and charismatic. The plush and luxurious cabin is meant to keep the occupants in solace and pamper them with an exquisite choice of materials.

2020 Bentley Bentayga vs 2020 Land Rover Range Rover SV Autobiography

The two British SUVs are neck-to-neck competitors since they both excel in beautifully appointed interiors and capable mechanicals. But the Range Rover is more rugged and off-road capable. Even though the Bentley too is strong and muscular, itt bows down to the SV Autobiography in terms of off-road skills. The Bentayga is quicker and has better road manners. The Range Rover is also offered at a much cheaper price tag.

For sure, if you have enough cash in the locker, the 2020 Bentley Bentayga is an absolute winner, since it’s versatile. It blends opulence, agility, nimbleness, strength, and loyalty in the same body. The interiors and exteriors are top-notch and handsome. The brawny powertrain can satisfy the ones wanting brisk accelerations and impressive handling. And at last, there are numerous options to customize your Bentayga and stand out in the exclusive ballroom party of ultra-luxury SUVs.