2017 Bentley Continental Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
byCalvin Kim
Vehicle Test Engineer
Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at Edmunds.Pros
- World-class interior craftsmanship and customization
- Smooth and strong power with either engine
- Convertible top available for all variants
- Standard all-wheel drive
Cons
- Not as nimble around turns as some rival exotics
- Rear seats are a tight fit for adults
- Lacking the latest advanced safety features
What’s new
The 2017 Bentley Continental debuts with a new Supersports trim level. Available for the coupe and convertible, the Supersports comes with an upgraded W12 engine that produces 700 horsepower. Carbon-ceramic brakes, a sportier suspension calibration and a revised all-wheel-drive system from the limited-edition 2015 Continental GT3-R are also part of the deal.
Vehicle overview
The 2017 Bentley Continental offers all the sport and luxury you'll want, and then heaps on a seemingly endless array of customization possibilities. It's an ultra-fast and ultra-luxurious grand tourer for those of the most discerning taste.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2017 Bentley Continental GT V8 2dr Convertible AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.15 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$280/mo
Continental GT V8
vs
$184/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Bentley offers this year's Continental in five variants, one of which is the new Supersports version. But the core model continues to be the Continental GT: a supremely confident grand tourer, powered by either a turbocharged V8 or a turbocharged W12 engine. Both send effortless power through an eight-speed transmission and then to an all-wheel-drive system.
The key point for the Continental is that the driving experience isn't diluted with overt amounts of technology. The Continental GT is a car that you can get in and drive with no special instruction, as well as a car you'd want to drive every day or cover some good distance in on a weekend road trip.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
The 2017 Bentley Continental offers all the sport and luxury you'll want, and then heaps on a seemingly endless array of customization possibilities. It's an ultra-fast and ultra-luxurious grand tourer for those of the most discerning taste.
Driving
The Continental is a grand touring machine. It's heavy, but the adaptive suspension and all-wheel drive do their best to keep the car composed when you're driving around turns. Thanks to the stout V8 or W12, there's no shortage of smooth, effortless power.
Comfort
Plush leather seats and a quiet interior make the inside of the Continental a great place to spend time. But the car's high beltline can make it a bit hard to see out for some shorter drivers. The rear seats, while convenient for around town trips, are too small for adults to do any real touring in.
Interior
The Continental doesn't have the latest in-car technology. Instead, Bentley focuses on old-world craftsmanship and the relatively analog nature of the cockpit. The Continental is one of the few performance cars you can just hop in and easily figure out how everything works.
Utility
While the rear seats are beautiful, the seatbacks don't fold down. The trunk itself is deep, but it's difficult to fit larger suitcases or boxes in the back due to the short aperture of the trunk opening. But the trunk carpeting is plush and soft, so you might just want to leave it empty anyway.
Technology
The navigation and climate control systems are easy to use. But the Continental lacks many of the latest in-car technology and advanced driver safety features found on rival cars.
Which Continental does Edmunds recommend?
For our money, the Bentley Continental GT Speed is the one to get. With an uprated version of the W12 from the standard GT, the Speed produces 633 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque. This allows the Speed to accelerate to 60 mph in a claimed 3.9 seconds, with minimal sacrifice to the car's grand touring abilities.
2017 Bentley Continental models
The 2017 Bentley Continental comes in five main versions: GT V8, GT V8 S, GT, GT Speed and Supersports. The GT V8 features the V8 engine, while the GT V8 S version makes a bit more power. The remaining Continentals all come with the W12 engine. The regular GT serves as the base. The line then expands with the Continental GT Speed, which has a more powerful W12, and the Supersports, which produces even more power. All Continental variants have an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, and you can get all as either a coupe or convertible.