Bentley bills the Bentayga as the “fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive SUV in the world.”
Every automaker touts the virtues of its new models with a religious fervor. When Bentley Motors billed the Bentayga, the fourth model in the storied British carmaker?s lineup, as the ?fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive SUV in the world,? industry insiders were eager to put the Bentayga to the test.
Few individuals in this world will be lucky enough to drive one, but I can tell you that Bentley?s marketing department did not oversell the experience. The Bentayga may even make converts of the increasingly shrinking number of drivers who still shun SUVs.
Let?s begin with the ?fastest? and ?most powerful? claims: The Bentayga?s twin-turbo 600 horsepower 12-cyclinder engine propels the 7,170-pound beast from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.0 seconds; the Bentayga can reach a top speed of 187 mph. Driving 30 mph on local roads was torturous; the Bentayga seemed to crawl at this speed, as if time were standing still. On the highway, the Bentayga was at ease at 80 mph and could have easily punched 100 mph if I had not been worried about police lurking around the next bend. The SUV effortlessly adapted to each terrain and obstacle; Bentley built the Bentayga with modes specific to snow, sand, grass and trails. I was hesitant to fully gauge the Bentayga?s power, but even with a slight touch on the gas pedal, it sprang to life. I sensed that ...