2023 Bentley Bentayga EWB Review

The Bentayga SUV has been an unqualified success for Bentley, accounting for 40% of all of the automaker's sales globally. We love it too — after a significant refresh in 2021, the Bentayga rose to the No. 2 slot in our list of the best Super Luxury SUVs thanks to its exceptional comfort, blistering performance, and impeccable interior materials and design. The Bentayga doesn't really have many faults, though we will admit it doesn't have the enormously spacious interior that you'll find in the Flying Spur or the old Mulsanne.

That minor issue will be solved by the upcoming 2023 Bentley Bentayga Extended Wheelbase. The Bentayga EWB adds over 7 inches between the wheels, which should give the midsize crossover the vast amount of rear legroom that you'd expect of a Bentley. The Bentayga EWB also debuts a number of features that should make living in the back seat even more relaxing and luxurious. Here's everything we know about the poshest Bentyaga, which Bentley says will account for nearly 50% of Bentayga sales when it's released later this year.

Bentley currently offers three engines for the standard Bentayga, but only one powers the EWB. That would be the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with 542 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. In Edmunds' testing, a standard Bentayga with this motor accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds, which is an incredible result for an SUV this heavy. Forbidden fruit for the EWB is the Bentayga Speed's twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 that produces an enormous 626 hp and 664 lb-ft, as is a fuel-sipping turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 paired with a plug-in hybrid system (456 hp, 516 lb-ft).

Also worth noting is that the Bentayga EWB will come standard with all-wheel steering, which turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction as the fronts at low speeds, reducing the Bentayga's turning circle. This should make the Bentayga EWB drive smaller than it actually is.

The Bentayga's interior is immaculately trimmed in sumptuous leather and decorative aluminum, and that's before you explore the expansive range of veneers that include wood, carbon fiber and machined aluminum. Customization is the name of the game for Bentley and other ultra-luxury automakers. Indeed, customers can specify contrast stitching and piping or a two-tone leather treatment, choose from multiple option packages, and even add a bottle cooler in the back, complete with a pair of crystal flutes. If you can dream it, Bentley's team can build it for you.

The interior of the standard Bentayga has an acceptable amount of headroom and legroom for passengers of most sizes, but the second row doesn't have enough space to truly stretch out. The EWB adds 7 inches to the wheelbase and should make this version even more spacious than the Flying Spur sedan. Unfortunately, Bentley positions the EWB as the ultimate specification for four to five passengers only; it's currently not available in a three-row configuration.

The Bentayga EWB also introduces several new features not previously seen on a Bentley. The available Airline Seat Specification adds sensors that can automatically introduce seat heating and cooling for keeping passengers and the cabin at the desired temperature. It even adjusts the seat for maximum comfort based on seat pressure data. You can further spec ambient lighting viewable through perforations in the door trim, or wood veneers decorated with thin strips of metal. Power-closing doors are also offered for the first time on a Bentley.