2025 Bentley Continental Convertible

How does the Continental drive? We tested the Continental GT Speed coupe. Its new plug-in hybrid powertrain shot this big coupe from 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds and through the quarter mile in just 10.8 seconds. It accelerates so hard that you have to make sure to move the seat up before you launch it; otherwise you'll be pressed so deeply into the front seat that you will be stretching forward to reach the steering wheel. Braking performance is not as mind-boggling. At the Edmunds test track, our test car needed 111 feet to stop from 60 mph even with the carbon-ceramic brake package our test vehicle was equipped with. On our test track, we did wish for a bit more stopping power up top, but the brakes resisted fade well and the nose feels rather stable under even panic braking.

Speaking of the nose, the Bentley's agility is a pleasant surprise. You can get the front of the car down into a corner more ably than you'd think given its 5,435-pound weight, but the suspension does a good job of maintaining the car's balance without overstiffening the ride. There's a touch of understeer at times, but the all-wheel-drive system is smart enough to help mitigate that if you apply throttle at the apex, and it will even hang the tail out a bit in a very controlled manner without much prodding.

On electric power alone, the Continental can travel at speeds of up to 87 mph but it will take a while to get there. The gas engine will kick on gently under moderate throttle application but shuts off again just as quickly when its job is done. For driving around the city and even getting on the highway, you can do it all without having to use any gas and it won't feel too sluggish.

How comfortable is the Continental? As you might expect, the Bentley Continental is supremely comfortable, whether we're talking about the 20-way power-adjustable front seats or the ride quality. Plenty of supportive padding surrounds you and mellows out what bumps (if any) do make it past the suspension, which remains pretty pliant even when dialed up in Sport mode. The seat massagers are also quite good, even though we wish the massage program did last a bit longer as you have to restart it about every 10 minutes. And while you're sitting in the cabin, the outside world might as well not exist with how quiet it is, especially if you're running on battery power alone.

How’s the interior? The gigantic doors act as portals to the Continental GT's fantastically appointed interior. Setting the big chairs up for max comfort and an optimal driving position might take a moment, but once you get it dialed in, you won't want to get up. We found the interior layout to be very ergonomically friendly as well, with physical climate controls and easy-to-reach buttons to control the car's functions with a well-placed touchscreen.

There is a back seat, but it's not suitable for even children. You might be able to squeeze someone behind the passenger in a pinch, but neither of those passengers will appreciate it. The frameless windows do help provide good visibility over both shoulders.

How’s the storage? Cargo space in the big Bentley suffers. The coupe has just 9.2 cubic feet of cargo room in its trunk, and the interior was not designed with small-item storage in mind. The trunk is quite wide even if it is a bit shallow, so a set of golf clubs or one larger bag will fit back there pretty easily. But anything more than that will have to live on those very nicely upholstered back seats.

Is the Continental a good value? The words "Bentley" and "value" don't really align, but the build quality of the car is impeccable. Nothing creaks or rattles and every surface features fine detailing and craftsmanship, with a wide range of choices when it comes to textures and colors. The only part of the interior we didn't love were the buttons on the steering wheel, which feel merely nice as opposed to opulent. The warranty, however, is surprisingly lean for something of this cost: only three years/unlimited miles for both the standard and powertrain coverage.