2024 Bentley Bentayga EWB Azure Review: A German Footballer Dressed In A Fine Savile Row Suit

It’s been nearly a decade since Bentley introduced its first-ever SUV, the Bentayga, to the world. After years of resisting the urge to join the SUV bandwagon, the small-time ultra-lux British automaker and its corporate parent, Volkswagen AG, both acknowledged that it could not financially survive making low-production, ultra-exclusive coupes and sedans. And thus, the Bentayga was born to cash in on the industry-wide cash cow that we all know as crossover SUVs.

Since its introduction in 2015, it’s naturally become one of the the company’s best-sellers, accounting for nearly half (44% specifically) of its total annual sales last year. To keep it fresh and up to date, the Flying B overhauled its exterior and interior with a mid-cycle revision, including the discontinuation of its optional W-12 engine, along with a bunch of other under-the-skin updates. So, how does it fare?

2024 Bentley Bentayga Azure First Impressions

When the first Bentayga arrived back in 2015, it was met with mixed reception. Besides the fact that any traditional Bentley and Rolls fans scoffed at the idea of a Bentley SUV, it wasn’t exactly the prettiest thing to come from Crewe. Heavily inspired by the EXP 9 F Concept, its production form ended up looking like a bloated rendering of the Flying Spur sedan, with some attributing the nickname, “Beluga,” to it.

As a result, Bentley designers heard the criticism and went back to the drawing board to rework the Bentayga for its midcycle update, and so far, it seems to have worked. Today’s Bentayga arrived in 2020 with a fresh face, a new rear end, and a whole range of other updates. But the most apparent were exterior appearances. The Bentayga still inherits the Continental GT and Flying Spur’s overall aesthetic, particularly with its dual-headlights, oval taillight shapes, and front and rear designs. But they’ve all been toned down a bit and all for the better. The new Bentayga comes across as being a bit easier on the eyes, looking more elegant and refined than the original model.

It certainly has a ton of curb presence, especially as it glides by among the sea of other plebeian, round-shaped crossover SUVs. And that’s largely attributed to its excessive size and footprint as well, being a large, full-size crossover SUV. Ultimately, there’s no way anyone is mistaking the Bentayga for anything else.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

Unapologetic comfort and luxury are probably some of the first characteristics that come to mind when it comes to thinking of a posh Bentley, especially if your idea of a Flying B is one of its older square-bodied coupes or sedans or elegant limousines from decades ago. But Bentleys have always been just as much about understated performance as exquisite craftsmanship and opulence. Whereas arch rival, Rolls-Royce, prioritizes immeasurable luxury and extravagance, Bentleys have always balanced it with speed and performance, as exhibited by its incredibly rich history of participating and victoriously making a name for itself in the 24 Hours of LeMans since the early 20th century.

Some of that bloodline and heritage is very obvious in the Bentayga EWB’s behind-the-wheel experience, as it immediately feels significantly smaller than it looks as soon as things get rolling. Not only does it drive like something nearly half its size, it doesn’t skimp or compromise on its rich experience in any way. Its steering is light, but direct and fluid, making it feel as much like an extension of your body as any other expertly tuned automobile.

Sure, its deep German roots contribute significantly to this expert-tuned feeling. But Bentleys have always demonstrated their technical excellence and the Bentayga serves up a considerably greater amount of refinement that only a few other automakers can match. And even despite our tester’s extra-long wheelbase adding size and heft to the equation, the Bentayga is no less difficult to drive than any of its platform mates. Whether it be a swooping B-road or the wide-open interstate, the Bentayga feels as equipped to eat up miles of asphalt with aplomb as any other premium or luxury automobile on the road. It even does so with a healthy dollop of sportiness. You wouldn’t think so from its size or weight, but it maneuvers and behaves as if Buckingham Palace grew a pair of legs and became one of Manchester United’s finest forwards.

Braking And Acceleration

It’s a shame Bentley no longer makes its iconic six-and-three-quarter V-8, an engine that’s been an iconic staple for Bentley for nearly the entirety of its post-war-era existence. But there’s a reason it doesn’t exist anymore, since by the time Bentley retired its famed 6.75-liter V-8 just a few short years ago, its origins meant it was over a half-century old. When the Bentayga first debuted, it arrived with the choice of an Audi-sourced 4.0-liter “EA825” twin-turbocharged direct-injected V-8 and Volkswagen AG’s iconic 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W-12, both of which also served motivational duties in the Continental GT and Flying Spur. European and other export markets also have the choice of a high-output turbocharged diesel V-8 and all markets eventually gained a V-6-based gas-electric plug-in hybrid powertrain a few years later.

With the 2020 mid-cycle refresh, Bentley discontinued the W-12 as parent company Volkswagen slowly phased it out into retirement, leaving the 4.0-liter V-8 as the base engine choice with the optional V-6-based gas-electric plug-in hybrid for North American shores. With our tester’s V-8 and 542 horses and 568 torques in its reserves, even with all that heft to lug around, the Bentayga doesn’t hesitate to make its speedometer climb as 60 MPH happens in the same time it took some older Mercedes-AMG cars, or about 4.5 seconds. So rendering anything in the rearview into a spec on the horizon takes little effort, other than a moderate prod of the go-pedal. Then on comes a massive wave of effortless torque with a subtle under-the-hood rumble from both the engine and exhaust.

And of course, more than adequate brakes complement the Bentayga with six-piston clamps up front and out back. Should you want to hustle the Bentayga EWB like a Continental GT Speed, Bentley offers a big-brake package with 10-piston calipers up front and carbon ceramic rotors all around for a pretty hefty penny.

• Acceleration 0-60 MPH: 4.5 Seconds (Manufacturer Claimed)
• Top Speed: 180 MPH (Manufacturer Claimed)

Performance Specifications

2024 Bentley Bentayga Fuel Economy

If you’re considering an ultra-luxe crossover SUV and one that’s at the very top of the automotive echelon with a sticker price that’s as much as a nice condo, chances are, you don’t really give a darn about its fuel economy. But for the sake of this section of the Bentayga’s review, the Environmental Protection Agency rates it to achieve up to 14 mpg in city, 16 mpg on the highway, with a combined average of 21 mpg.

For a two-and-a-half-ton-plus gluttonous crossover SUV touted as one of the most luxurious in the world with no expense spared, including in the performance department, those are actually very impressive numbers. But in the same breath, they’re not at all surprising given the Bentayga’s Audi Q8-based roots, both of which get similar numbers with the same engine.

In my mixture of New Jersey suburban and highway driving, the trip computer reflected an average between 17 to 19 mpg, even with a slightly lead foot.

Interior Design And Comfort

Because Bentleys are as much about comfort as they are speed and opulence, being surprised by the Bentayga’s supple interior and seats would be like being surprised that the sky is blue. With some of the finest leathers, real wood trim, and polymer materials available festooning all the Bentayga’s surfaces, especially in our tester’s extra-fancy Azure trim, it’s like being in a modern royal tea lounge on wheels.

Noise, vibration, and harshness levels are obviously nearly imperceptible, though surprisingly, there was some perceivable tire noise on the rougher road surfaces that were slightly off-putting for car as luxurious as Bentley. But it was a matter of nit-picking and won’t likely be much of a dealbreaker for anyone truly seeking out a Bentayga for their stable.

Our Bentayga EWB tester didn’t come with a third-row of seating, though it is optional, depending on the choice of seating configuration. Instead, our tester featured Bentley’s “Airline Seating” option, adding reclining and massaging buckets in the back with elevated leg and foot rests. So, depending on the seating arrangement, the Bentayga EWB can be as much of an opulent family hauler as a a chauffeured limousine for the one-percent.

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

Being that the Bentayga roots its origins with Volkswagen AG’s MEB Large modular platform, the same one underpinning the Audi Q8, Porsche Cayenne, and Lamborghini Urus, there’s no shock to find tons of Audi tech inside the Bentayga. It’s no mystery that the luxury British carmaker has been depending on Audi’s and Volkswagen’s high-end parts bins, as that’s been the case ever since the German auto giant purchased its controlling stake in Bentley in 1998 and consolidated it with Audi in 2022.

As expected, the Bentayga continues using a variant of Audi’s MMI infotainment and driver interface systems, along with similar switchgear, and driver and safety assist tech. There are some other overt uses of the Audi parts bin, such as with the steering column turn signal and wiper stalks, as well as the dashboard system audio tones. But by and large, Bentley’s own engineers did well to mask a lot of it to match the Flying B’s overall themes, making it feel much more like an occasion than a Q8 or Cayenne.

Cargo And Storage Space

Because there’s no third row of seating, there’s a decent amount of cargo space behind the second row, with Bentley claiming up to 380 liters, or about 13.4 cubic feet in Yankee numbers. That number may be shockingly small for a full-size crossover SUV and, for comparison, an Audi Q7 boasts about 14.2 cubes. But the Bentayga EWB in our tester’s Azure trim with its “4+1” seating configuration, which means the center console does flip-up to offer a temporary center seat, features the extra-fancy executive seating package in the second row, which compromises rear trunk space to allow for the articulation of the reclining rear bucket seats and their leg rests.

It’s not a terrible compromise, as there’s plenty of stuff for up to four people’s worth of things if a road trip vacation is in order. But those looking for more hauling capacity will want to search out a larger, more pedestrian and utilitarian luxury SUV. Or, should one do without the fancy “Airline Seat Specification,” an $11,530 option and our tester’s 4+1 seating arrangement, second row of seating reverts back to either a two rear bucket arrangement or a conventional three-seat bench. In both cases, the trunk space grows to 392 liters or 13.84 cubes for the four-seater configuration and up to 484 liters or 17.09 cubes, the largest available cargo option.

2024 Bentley Bentayga EWB Vs. Its Competitors

As one of the premiere ultra-luxurious crossover SUVs that sits at the top of the automotive totem pole as an ultimatum and statement of unapologetic and unrivaled luxury and performance, the Bentayga has very few competitors. Those competitors include the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, and maybe, a fully-loaded Range Rover SV LWB, but that’s pretty much it.

Yes, other high-dollar premium crossover SUVs and provide up to 80% of the Bentayga’s experience for a relative fraction of of its cost, but none of them are as prestigious as a Bentley. With its starting price of around $271,400 and our tester’s invoice tallying up to $321,630, the Bentayga is almost in a league of its own as the Rolls-Royce Cullinan is more than a whole $100,000 just at MSRP, while the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 is almost a whole hundred grand cheaper, but nearly just as luxurious, refined, and quick, with its starting price of around $178,450.

That said, while a Range Rover SV LWB is the closest price-wise to the Bentayga, we think the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 is slightly closer as a competitor in terms of brand recognition and cachet, while offering a similarly luxurious experience both as a passenger and a driver.

How The Bentley Bentayga EWB Compares To The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600

With names and badges that are very easily recognizable in the world of the one-percent, the Bentayga EWB and Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 are very formidable competitors, despite the Mercedes being considerably cheaper than the Bentley, by almost six figures. Both offer similar performance and handling, space, luxury, amenities, and even optional second row executive seating. And what makes the Mercedes-Maybach even more of a competitor is that it offers nearly the same experience as the Bentayga, but at a considerably lesser price, meaning the GLS 600, relatively speaking, is significantly better value.

Performance

Both the Bentayga and the GLS 600 utilize twin-turbocharged gasoline 4.0-liter V-8s with 48-volt mild-hybrid assist and well over 500 horsepower to keep things going, even at a swift pace. Interestingly, the Mercedes-Maybach is more powerful with its 579 hp and up to 723 lb-ft of torque, meaning it scoots to 60 MPH almost a half second faster than the Bentayga, taking just 4.1 seconds versus the Bentley’s 4.5.

And both SUVs have the latest and greatest suspension and chassis technology from their respective companies’ parts bins, with the Maybach getting Benz’s extraordinary E-ACTIVE Body Control, and the Bentley getting Audi’s latest 48-volt-powered electric active suspension and anti-roll bars, which they call Bentley Dynamic Ride. Both also feature four-wheel-steering for improved low-speed maneuverability.

Comfort

As both the Bentayga and the GLS 600 seek to fulfill the mission of being opulent ultra-luxury machines and statements in utmost comfort and serenity, both do well in this department and comes down to splitting hairs. The Bentley’s interior may feature softer, more supple leather, and the abundance of high-class polished wood grain and exquisite chrome bezels and trim all over do elevate the Bentayga’s insides a slight bit more than the GLS 600. But it prompts one to ask, does that nicer and warmer ambiance justify the significant price over the Maybach?

Technology

The Bentayga and the GLS 600 utilize all the most advanced tech in either automakers’ parts bins and thus, it’s another matter of splitting hairs and is down to preference. Both feature today’s technology on the inside, in terms of safety and driver assist aids, and power- and chassis tech and so thus, the differences are really down to how they go about doing the same things.

Bentley’s Idea Of a Posh SUV Gets Even Better

As one of Bentley’s flagship models, the variations depend only on how much space you need and how big your wallet is for individualization, options, and your desire for a gas-electric hybrid powertrain. If you don’t need extra space and don’t plan on being chauffeured around, the Bentayga EWB might be a bit excessive as a short wheelbase model exists and still checks all the boxes for buying one of today’s ultimate luxury SUVs.

Should you want to exercise a little more reserve and opt for the plug-in hybrid variant, the cylinder count does drop by two to utilize a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 with an electric motor, with total power output reducing to 443 horses and 516 torques, while enabling up to 31.7 miles of all-electric range.But no matter which way you go, whether it’s short- or long, twin-turbo V-8 or PHEV, the Bentley Bentayga remains to be one of the finest and most exquisite luxury SUVs to ever roam the land.