Bentley Bentayga Speed: The Most Beautiful SUV, Now More Spirited
The newest Bentley Bentayga adds a purist love for driving to refined, elevated surrounds
Not long ago I test drove the Bentley Bentayga Extended Wheel Base, a V8 twin turbo-powered SUV that produces 542 HP and said, this is the one to get and get it while you can.
Well, I was wrong.
Bentley has been on a mission to upgrade all its engines and part of that process has been to phase out the W12, a 12-cylinder, 600 HP beast that is majestic and powerful—and a fan favorite. In the Continental and Flying Spur it was replaced by a more powerful V8 combined with a plug-in hybrid electric powertrain that produces 771 HP, and some fans cried out loud; they loved the gas-powered W12. Despite that, Bentley reports strong sales of these high-powered PHEV models, and I’m not surprised; these hybrid engines are satisfyingly superior.
Would the Bentayga be next in the smaller-engine-more-power trend?
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Additionally, I was Bentley’s guest for this test drive but all opinions are my own.
The Most Powerful Bentley Bentayga Ever: Speed
Continuing the march toward more power, Bentley introduced the newest SUV in the lineup: Bentley Bentayga Speed. But it does not have a hybrid engine. Instead, it’s powered by a V8 twin turbo that generates 641 HP and 627 lb.-ft. of torque. And it goes beyond just delivering more power than the W12; it is loud, rumbly and sporty, as you would expect from a sports SUV.
It also carries all the performance driving details that put it right at home on the track: Four wheel steering, increased suspension damping, a faster response from the accelerator, a quicker-shifting transmission and launch control that allows you to set it off like a rocket—of course on a closed road without other cars around.
Read: What It’s Like to Drive the Most Beautiful Car on the Road, the 2024 Bentley Continental GTC
Where Does Bentley Speed Fit in the Bentayga Lineup?
Bentley makes four Bentayga models—the quintessential Bentayga, a V8 powerhouse that generates 542 HP and is also available in a plug-in hybrid that, paired with a 6-cylinder engine produces 456 HP; Bentayga Azure, which emphasizes wellness and luxury; Atelier, which focuses on design, and Bentayga Speed. All but the Speed are available in Extended Wheel Base, or EWB, which also offers a Mulliner edition, Bentley’s top-tier for personalization, though Mulliner details, from paint choices to expanded colors, textures, leathers, wood and metal finishes, can be added to any model. This is Bentley, after all, and customization is really the point.
The Bentley Bentayga Speed is the most purpose-built of the group: the only one not available in EWB, the only one that is sport-tuned for fast driving, the most purist in its powertrain—all gas, no hybrid, which ensures there’s never a moment without the subtle, or overt, rumble of the engine. It’s for sport driving fans who also want all the luxury of a Bentley.
Read: 9 Reasons the Lamborghini Urus SE is Worth the (Short) Wait
The Ultimate Blend of Luxury and Performance
I don’t usually start out a review ruminating about engines and performance, but that’s really the big story here. As a luxury SUV, Bentayga delivers on certain luxury tenets: It’s powerful, quiet, comfortable and confident. Sporty isn’t an idea that would be instantly paired with this large, luxe SUV.
However its cousins are the sportiest SUVs on the road: The Bentayga shares its DNA with the Porsche Cayenne, Lamborghini Urus and Audi RS Q8. Perhaps a bit of workshopping would put it solidly in the performance category too?
The addition of the more powerful twin turbo V8 engine, the sport-tuned the suspension, carbon ceramic brakes and new 23” wheels enhance the Bentayga Speed’s performance.
To really hit the idea home, though, Bentley added a new exhaust system, visible by four new oval-esque exhaust pipes, that delivers the fully authentic sound of the engine both inside the cabin and outside. Bentley emphasized the idea that the exhaust sound is authentic; none of it is engineered or synthesized for effect.
Read: Just Like A Solid BFF, the 2024 Porsche Cayenne Inspires You to Be Your Best Self
Bentayga is Sill the Ultra-Luxe Beauty We Aspire To
Inside, the Bentayga remains all the things we love about the Bentley: beautiful pairings of leather, wood and metal, all assembled with the eye of an artisan. Quilted leather with contrast stitching, piping and suede crafted to cradle you as you drive; a gear shifter that feels like a scepter in your hand; gleaming, or brooding, chrome, depending on the specification.
The panoramic sunroof floods the cabin with beautiful natural light; thick wool carpets comfort your feet. Massaging seats comfort your back.
Updated electronics give the Bentayga a very modern, intuitive feel. And if you still feel the need for a little more personal attention, just say “Hey Bentley,” and the system hops to attention to serve you: change the cabin temperature, find something better to listen to, suggest a coffee shop. It an do all that.
Add the option of Mulliner finishes to the Speed and it’s an even more beautiful package.
Related: Is the Best Luxury SUV From the VW Group a Bentley, Porsche or Lambo?
Driving the Bentley Bentayga Speed
The driving experience is what really puts the Bentayga Speed over the top. You’ll forget you’re in an SUV, and that’s pretty magical: to have command over the highway, feel and hear the rumble of the engine, pop it into sport mode and feel the entire system tighten up in anticipation of a spirited drive. This is what a true performance car is all about. And it does all that.
I got to spend several hours behind the wheel of the Bentayga Speed and can say, you feel the soul of this car, and how it differs from others in the Bentayga lineup, instantly. Its compact size and agile drive system put all the power and control in your hands. Tap the accelerator and it’s anxious to get going; floor the accelerator and it takes off instantly. Not quite as fast as the plug-in hybrid systems in the Continental and the Flying Spur, but almost; the difference is a split second.
It was lovely to take the Bentayga Speed out on long, open roads, but once those roads became curvy it was even better. Floor the accelerator and it really throws you back in your seat.
But the real test is to pass a slow truck. We found ourselves in that mode more than a couple of times and the Bentayga Speed soared by effortlessly, issuing no complaints at all.
The Bentley Bentayga Speed Is Still An SUV At Its Heart
Of course, the Bentley team didn’t want us to forget that the Bentayga is capable of more than just a thrilling ride on the road. It’s also a rough-and-ready SUV with the ground clearance and all wheel drive capability that also puts it at home on the range.
So they took us out on a 10-mile loop around a ranch that had us climbing hills, traversing gullies and cruising grass trails. It was a bumpy ride, but the ride in the Bentley Bentayga might have been the most comfortable off-road trail ride ever. The suspension added a soft cushion that kept the rougher edges of the trail at bay; even at higher speeds the Bentayga was competent and comfortable on the trail. And, it was still fun.
Related: 11 Surprising Things That’ll Make You Dream of the Bentley Flying Spur
Taste is Personal and So Is Customizing Your Bentley Bentayga
I’ll just say this: I’m picky. I can be adventurous and am always up for suggestions, but I know what I like. I often find some of the artful combinations of car interiors to be too much for me. Bentley offered a number of these for our test drive and I looked carefully at each to pick the one that the felt most elegant and elevated.
I chose this Aegean Blue paint accented with bright chrome; inside it was finished in Brunel gray leather and suede, Ice leather accents and Galaxy Stone veneer (yes, stone!) on the dash and door panels; a muted gray gloss surrounded the electronics and covered the center console. The monotone gray-on-gray accented with cool white trim, stitching and the gray and white striations of the stone created a chic haven. It felt hushed and refined. When I wanted to feel the road, it let me concentrate, not fighting for my attention. When I wanted to relax, its hushed tones shut out any distractions.
Other models were more pronounced in their designs, often in color combinations I find jarring: gray leather with red accents; Orange Flame paint with a blue-accented interior; a Snow Quartz exterior with racing green leather inside. They all spoke to me—loudly, eliciting a please, no.
All that is to say the reason to choose Bentley, to plan, to dream, to endeavor with the company’s designers, is to craft the perfect interior for you. The colors, textures and assemblage that is your haven.
What We Loved About the Bentley Bentayga Speed
Where to start? The Bentayga speed is tight, toned and beautiful. Beyond that, here’s what I loved most:
- The drive experience and instant acceleration
- The new V8 engine delivers more power than the W12
- Driving the Bentley Speed off road—this was pure delight
- The smaller wheel base feels and drives more like a sports car and less like an SUV
- Our Aegean and Brunel model—the ultimate in chic
- Bentley’s multimedia system and “Hey Bentley” voice assistance
- The sueded-wrapped steering wheel on our test model
- The gurgling, crackling V8 engine
- Mulliner options can really personalize the Bentayga
- The classic Bentley crystal headlights and oval crystal tail lights
- The Bentley Flying B badge that also acts as a trunk release
What You Need to Know
There are caveats of course:
- The rear seat is comfortable and roomy but if that’s the goal, opt for an EWB model
- Mulliner options can really drive up the price of this car
- The “B” drive mode is a mid-range between comfort and Sport
- Sport is the best mode for driving the Bentley Bentayga Speed
- In Sport, this car is loud
- USB ports and the wireless charge pad are in a rather tight cubby under the center console; those with larger hands may find the USB ports hard to reach
What This Car Costs
Pricing is really a function of the additions and options a buyer adds, but here’s a guide:
- The Bentley Bentayga Speed starts at about $259,000
- Our test model, with custom paint, rear seat center console, Naim premium audio, stone veneer, animated welcome lighting and a black roof added $88,000 in options
- Destination and handling, a white-glove experience, adds $4,150
- Price for our test model, about $351,000
- Bentley is freezing prices through the end of June, 2025 and working to address tariffs and other pricing issues as they arise
Oh, The Choices You’ll Have, All But One
I love that Bentley added the Speed to the lineup and that they did it right: The engine, the wheel base, the not-all-things-for-all-buyers was the right approach. If you want Speed, your choices are unlimited in look and finish but not in powertrain, and that’s just how it should be.
We test drove these cars in Montana, and if I lived there and were buying a Bentley Bentayga for my ranch, I’d go with the Orange Flame exterior and the Brunel and Ice interior that our test model was outfitted with. Orange, in my opinion, was the best looking color for the landscape, shows well on the sleek Bentayga silhouette and adds a bit of eternal Fall color and summer heat all year long. It’ll stand out beautifully against the winter backdrop, too.
All the choices aside though, one thing is clear: if driving a performance car is what sets your heart on fire, the Bentayga Speed is the one to get. At least until Bentley adds the more powerful PHEV to the line up, and even then, for purists who love the full-throttle feel of an authentic V8, the Speed will still be the one at the top of your wish list.
More About:Car Reviews