With its posh interior, superlative road manners and eye-watering price tag, the Bentley Bentayga is undoubtedly one of the most exclusive SUVs on the planet. It's been around since the 2017 model year and now, for 2021, gets its first significant update.
Inside, the Bentayga receives a much-needed substantial overhaul with a new 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. But there's also a new look for the 2021 model. The grille is larger and more upright than before, and new oval-shaped headlights are pushed farther to the outside. Out back, Bentley has relocated the license plate frame below the now full-width hatch, and there are new oval taillights that recall the ones found on the Continental GT. Overall, these changes help introduce Bentley's newest styling traits as well as make it easy to differentiate the refreshed Bentayga from previous-year models.
Another major development for the Bentayga is the introduction of a plug-in hybrid version. The 2021 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid, which can go an estimated 17 miles on a fully charged battery, might seem a bit incongruous alongside the thumping turbocharged V8 and W12 engine offerings. But this new Bentayga is the first step of Bentley's quest to fully electrify its lineup as either plug-in hybrids or pure EVs by 2026.
As exclusive as the Bentayga may be, manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz and Range Rover have their own take on what an opulent SUV should be. Mercedes-Benz offers both the GLS 580 and the legendary AMG G 63. And from Bentley's own backyard, Range Rover offers its top-of-the-line SVAutobiography trim. And not to be outdone, ever, Rolls-Royce builds the opulent Cullinan. All of these SUVs will take a house-sized dent out of your bank account but offer nearly unrivaled comfort and status.
Bentley trim levels are usually differentiated by engine choice. In the case of the Bentayga there's the V8, the W12 and the new Hybrid. A mind-boggling array of interior and exterior color choices are available, as well as a fair number of stand-alone options to tailor any of the three Bentayga models to your needs. There are several more traditional (and eye-wateringly expensive) option packages, which Bentley refers to as Specifications.
2021 Bentley Bentayga
2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Not to be outdone, Rolls-Royce introduced the opulent, and highly controversial, Cullinan in 2019. With love-it-or-hate-it exterior styling, the Cullinan demands recognition. Inside, Rolls-Royce has spared no expense in creating the ultimate luxury SUV. Build quality is unmatched, with exquisite attention to detail. But all of this lavishness will set you back over $300K to start.
A favorite of new money everywhere, the G-Class offers military-grade looks, a wide array of customization options, and genuine off-road capability. We're far less enamored with the terribly awkward driving position, ponderous handling, lack of interior space and Mercedes-Benz's last-generation infotainment system. If you must, the AMG G 63 offers a powerful V8 engine.
When equipped in its most luxurious SVAutobiography trim with the extended wheelbase, the Range Rover delivers similar sights, smells (there's so much leather) and sounds as the Bentayga. Unfortunately for the Range Rover, it can't really hold a candle to the way the Bentayga goes down a road, and it feels cumbersome and a little slow by comparison.
With its posh interior, superlative road manners and eye-watering price tag, the Bentley Bentayga is undoubtedly one of the most exclusive SUVs on the planet. It's been around since the 2017 model year and now, for 2021, gets its first significant update.
We've never had an issue with the Bentayga's powertrain lineup, so it's good news that engine choices are unchanged from last year. The 2021 Bentayga will launch with the turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, which produces 542 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. In previous Edmunds testing, this burly engine propelled the Bentayga from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds. That's an impressively quick time. A V8-powered Land Rover Range Rover we tested, for example, needed 5.0 seconds for the 0-60 mph sprint.
The Bentayga's expertly crafted interior is one of its defining features, and the 2021 model ups the ante with a greater selection of materials and enhanced usability. There's a new steering wheel and redesigned center stack up front, plus a single central air vent that replaces the twin vents from last year.
While these updates are all good and fine, we're most excited about the 2021 Bentayga's revised touchscreen system. The previous 8-inch screen suffered from low-resolution graphics and a thinly veiled Volkswagen interface — not exactly becoming of one of the world's preeminent luxury brands.
Edmunds saysThe updated 2021 Bentley Bentayga features a restyled exterior and new customization options among its enhancements. But it's the more modern touchscreen interface with better smartphone connectivity that has us most intrigued.
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Bentley Bentayga:
The least-expensive 2021 Bentley Bentayga is the 2021 Bentley Bentayga V8 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $180,500.
Other versions include:
