What is it?

Bentley isn’t opposed to introducing a little extra performance to its cars. After all, this British manufacturer’s heritage lies in racing, while its road-going cars have always aimed to bring together a blend of comfort and performance. The latest example of this ethos is this car – the Bentayga Speed.

It’s not the first time that we’ve seen the Speed badge on the brand’s ultra-luxury SUV, either, but given that the last time you could get a Bentayga Speed was in 2023, the arrival of a new one marks a big point for the brand. We’ve been trying it out.

What’s new?

The ‘Speed’ recipe is pretty straightforward. Take your standard – and rather pleasant – Bentayga and tweak, hone and refine various elements to help make it a little sharper to drive. The suspension, for instance, is 15% stiffer in Sport mode than the standard car, and you can also option in an exciting Akrapovic titanium exhaust for a more characterful sound.

Credits: PA;

You can also add in huge carbon ceramic brakes to help bring this 2.4-tonne monster to a stop more effectively. On the outside, there’s a broad use of carbon fibre and, of course, small ‘Speed’ logos on the sides help to differentiate this from your ‘regular’ Bentayga.

What’s under the bonnet?

While the previous Bentayga speed had a huge W12 engine under the bonnet, this latest model uses a smaller – but no less potent – 4.0-litre turbocharged V8. It’s the same unit that you’ll find in some other Volkswagen Group products – including the Lamborghini Urus – with Bentley’s version bringing 641bhp and 850Nm of torque to the table.

All in, that means a 0-60mph time of just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 193mph. As you might expect, efficiency isn’t the best – fuel economy of 21.6mpg and CO2 emissions at 298g/km mean that the Bentayga Speed isn’t the ‘greenest’ of cars around today.

What’s it like to drive?

The best part of the Bentayga Speed is its ability to change character whenever you need. When you’re in the mood to drive a relaxing, sumptuous and refined SUV it’s there for you with its quiet cabin and smooth, effortless engine. In fact, the V8 under the bonnet fades away into the background when you’re cruising along and there’s very little wind or road noise to disrupt things.

But switch into Sport or dedicated Bentley drive modes and the Speed transforms. It’s controlled and remarkably direct, driving through bends with surprising agility. There’s no disguising the Bentayga’s weight, mind you, and even though that suspension system is stiffer, you can still sense the car’s mass when you’re cornering.

How does it look?

When the original Bentayga was launched in 2015, it caused an upset. Fast forward to the present day, and the Bentayga remains one of the brand’s most popular options and easily the best choice from its line-up if you’re after day-to-day usability. A lot of this popularity comes from the Bentayga’s looks, too, which have evolved over time to become even more handsome – in our eyes, at least.

The Speed certainly stands out from the crowd with its larger splitters and extended spoiler. It also sits on gargantuan 23-inch alloy wheels, which are some of the largest we’ve ever seen fitted to a regular production car.

Credits: PA;

What’s it like inside?

Head into the cabin of the Bentayga Speed and you’ll struggle to find an area which hasn’t been finished in the very best of materials. In our test car, there was an eye-catching combination of Cumbrian Green leather with bright Signal Yellow accents, which made the whole interior a proper spectacle. The good news is that with well-sized cupholders and decent side pockets, the Bentayga remains a practical option as well as a well-finished one.

Boot space stands at a usable 484 litres and it’s square and easy to access, too. There’s also the option of either five- or luxurious four-seater layouts, while an Extended Wheelbase, or EWB, version of the Speed is available for those who want even more legroom.

Credits: PA;

What’s the spec like?

The choice is yours with a car like the Bentley Bentayga Speed. From different leather choices, a nearly endless variety of exterior paint colours and any number of wood or carbon finishers, you’re free to make your Bentayga look however you’d like. Naturally, this comes at a price, and our test car’s whopping £219,000 price tag is an example of this.

Fortunately, you do still get plenty of standard features – including an infotainment screen which is starting to feel a little outdated by modern standards – but in reality, we expect most buyers to peruse the options list when buying their own Bentayga Speed.

Verdict

The Bentayga Speed really is a do-it-all performance SUV. It’s comfortable when you need it to be, but wicked fast when you want a more exciting driving experience. In typical Bentley fashion, it’s executed with a lot of finesse, and the interior of the Speed is one of the nicest we’ve experienced.

It’s expensive, yes, but given how special the Bentayga Speed feels from outside and in, we’d expect most buyers to see that price tag as justified.

Model as tested: Bentley Bentayga Speed

Price: £219,000

Engine: 4.0-litre turbocharged V8

Power: 641bhp

Torque: 850Nm

Max speed: 193mph

0-60mph: 3.4 seconds

MPG: 21.6

Emissions: 298g/km