2023 Bentley Continental Review

The 2023 Bentley Continental GT embodies an old-world sense of motoring that might be dead and gone. The grand-touring car of nearly a century ago was a stately car built for supreme comfort over long distances. Now people just fly to far-off destinations. But like its name suggests, the big Bentley is still built with one thing in mind: road trips. And who doesn't love a road trip, especially in an elegant cabin, carried forth by copious amounts of engine power and performance?

Available as a coupe or convertible, the Continental GT is sleek and muscular, with a lavish interior and exceptional ride comfort. A standard air suspension manages to soak up rough, rashy road surfaces and still deliver responsive handling. The Bentley's big mass is inescapable, but an optional anti-roll system helps curb excessive body movement when the turns get tight and entertaining. For 2023 a new S trim debuts, largely a blacked-out exterior appearance package, but including a sport exhaust system and more aggressive style . A wireless phone charger is now standard equipment.

The base Continental GT, with its 542-horsepower V8 engine, should be plenty of ponies for most buyers. But ultimate bragging rights come with the GT Speed trim, which uses a 650-hp 12-cylinder engine. That's astounding power, which you'll be hard-pressed to find proper use for in America, but it's still an intoxicating sensation. Get your fix while you can because Bentley has announced the end of the line for the W12 with next year's model.

Drivers more in tune with the Continental's overall mission of comfort and well-being may steer over to the Azure trim. Its spa-like approach to cabin comfort includes heated, cooled and massaging front seats, heated armrests, and even customizable cabin lighting. Regardless of trim, however, the Continental GT offers a compelling alternative to hyperluxury rivals like the Rolls-Royce Wraith and Aston Martin DB11, or ultra-performance competitors like the new Ferrari Roma, Porsche 911 Turbo and BMW M8. While it seems counterintuitive to drive thousands of miles in an ultra-high-horsepower car that gets just 19 mpg combined, we can think of worse ways to take a road trip.