bentley bentayga first drive: sportiness refined by british luxury

the 2021 bentley bentayga is a show-stopper – and no, not just because of its optional orange flame suit. the ever-popular first edition, which was launched in 2015, has been revised with a sharper and more athletic facelift, bolder body, and a multitude of even more capable performance technologies. but whereas the first bentayga was as much a pioneer for the brand as it was for the new luxury SUV segment, the second edition is a case for continued refinement. relentless craftsmanship and care for details take center stage. for the driver and passengers alike, the cabin experience embraces you with a sense of elegance whilst, at the same time, the car carries you anywhere.

after our reveal of the new design in june, designboom takes one of the first drives of the 2021 bentley bentayga.

the bentayga aspires to be a luxury limousine, performance grand tourer, spacious family car and off-roader all in one – and you can immediately tell, especially for the foremost. the redesign includes an increase of 22mm in its rear wheel track, totalling 2,001mm wide and 5,141mm long and 1,742mm tall. its bold, physical presence is instantly noticed by onlookers, and instantly felt by the comfortable passengers and the more hesitant driver.

the new exterior design accentuates this significant road stance with a more aggressive, modern and eye-catching aesthetic. matrix headlights fashioned as intricate spectacles sit on either side of its more upright, blacked-out grille. the dominant front lends to a slowly rising and slowly fading shoulder line on the side, which starts above the front wheels and their winged ‘B’ logo air vent. a muscular emphasis is embellished towards the rear with amplified wheel arches, a dynamic spoiler, and an undulating clamshell rear door. the design is set with an equally as glassware-like oval taillights and mirroring split tailpipes.

as you would expect from its size, the SUV’s interior is naturally incredibly expansive but feels even larger thanks to its plentiful greenhouse. the space benefits from a completely new architecture. to start, an extra 100mm of legroom has been added for passengers in the rear. in the front, the driver and passenger sills drop dramatically from the dashboard to the seats, creating a heightened sense of sportiness despite the highly luxurious fittings that surround you. the highlight is a sculptural clock wrapped by wing-styled air vents, which feels as luxurious as it adds to the cabin’s dynamism. the piece highlights how an elegant analog touch can still dictate an experience full of modern technologies.

this union of heritage and innovation continues to resonate with passengers throughout. the space is dominated by rich leather – black with bright orange trims in our model – interrupted by moments of dark tint diamond aluminum finish on surface panels, which are also available in koa or crown cut walnut wood veneers. the care of these finishing touches, from trims to tints, grows impressively as the drive goes on and you notice more and more details around you. a speckled imprint embellishes the outer surfaces of the dials and controls across the cabin. it is tactile to control, highly sculptural to view, and pleasurable to touch.

when immersed in the all-encompassing luxury of the car, there’s a moment where you – the passenger at least – forget about the power of the 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 engine. it effortlessly glides you across any terrain, but with an easy press on the throttle, 572 bhp and 780 Nm of torque are instantly unleashed. despite its size, the speed is immediate. it slaloms around corners and races to the line, but all in a superior fashion. there never seemed to be a limit. and there’s eight driving modes to help – four off-road, four on.

‘luxury doesn’t end where the road does,’ was phrased coined at the reveal of the design in june 2020. from the more aggressive styling of the exterior to the dynamic sculptural work within the interior, the 2021 bentley bentayga pairs the pinnacle of luxury equally with sportiness. the car is fast, powerful, all-conquering yet, at the same time, it seems effortless as it achieves all challenges in grandeur. the second edition’s refinement might not be the icon pioneer like the first but it has taken the SUV to the next level again.

product info:

brand: bentley

model: bentayga

year: 2021

generation: second