This five-star car is, as you saw on p41, now a half-price hero
JOHN EVANS
USED CARSSECOND CHANCEBENTLEY BENTAYGA
With the Bentley Bentayga approaching its 10th anniversary, some 2016- and 2017-registered cars are now within striking distance of £50,000. Of course, you must add running costs to that. How about, for the popular 6.0 W12 petrol version, £700 a year road tax and 19mpg, plus servicing? Still, read Autocar’s summary of the 600bhp W12 and you may still be tempted: “The 6.0 W12 must simply be acclaimed as one of the most complete and compelling luxury products in the world.”
Launched in 2016, this version was the first Bentayga out of the traps. The 2.4-tonne SUV, which has four-wheel drive, dispatches 0-62mph in 4.0sec. Standard-fit, adaptive air suspension, active anti-roll control systems and a range of driving modes ensure it rarely feels flustered, although this magazine noted that it can get a little unshapely near the limit.
The following year, a 4.0-litre V8 diesel version arrived. If our road testers liked the W12, they loved the Bentayga Diesel, awarding it five stars. The Audi-sourced engine produces 429bhp and develops the same torque as the W12, only sooner. The result is even better in-gear acceleration and towing ability. (The Bentayga has a braked towing limit of 3500kg.) Thanks to its extra weight and bespoke air suspension settings, it rides slightly more comfortably than the W12. It’s more economical, returning around 35mpg, and, at just £190, cheaper to tax. Fewer were sold than petrol models but today a used diesel Bentayga is around the same price as a W12, even though they were about £25,000 cheaper originally.
The twin-turbo 4.0 petrol V8 was the next Bentayga to be launched, in 2018. Its engine produces 543bhp and 568lb ft and the car can do 0-62mph in 4.5sec. Thanks also to cylinder deactivation, it can return 24.8mpg. Road tax is just £180. It cost £30,000 less than the W12 and Autocar reckoned it rendered that model redundant. It was certainly popular, such that today there are almost as many V8s for sale as W12s. The sporty V8 S version is rare but worth seeking out.
The later, 443bhp 3.0 TFSI V6 plug-in hybrid of 2019 wasn’t much admired and there are few for sale. It was followed by the 626bhp W12 Speed, generating sufficient thrust to earn it t
