Bentley Bentayga
2015–present (W12 2016–2024) · Bentley Bentayga — Super SUV, W12 Twin-Turbo, designed by Dirk van Braeckel.
The Story
Bentley building an SUV once sounded like heresy — and the 2012 EXP 9 F concept that previewed it was so divisively received that Crewe quietly redrew much of the car before production. The 2015 Bentayga that emerged had the last laugh: it became Bentley’s best-seller, at times more than 40% of everything the company sells, and underwrote the brand’s future.
It also arrived as the world’s fastest SUV — 187 mph from the twin-turbo W12 — a title it lost to its cousin the Lamborghini Urus and then snatched back with the 190-mph Bentayga Speed. Heresy, it turned out, paid the bills.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Super SUV class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Dirk van Braeckel
Belgian designer; joined Audi in 1984, then chosen by Ferdinand Piëch to head Škoda design (1993, the Octavia/Fabia), then Bentley Director of Design from 1999 — author of the modern Continental GT (2003) and the VW-era Bentley design language.
Studio Motors POV
The car that secured Bentley’s future — sneered at, then bought in droves. As the W12 era closes, the W12 Speed is the Bentayga to keep.
The Engine
Volkswagen Group 6.0 W12 (Twin-Turbo)
Lineage
Where it sits in the bloodline
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About Bentayga
Worth Knowing About the Bentayga
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1. The Bentayga grew from the 2012 EXP 9 F concept — so poorly received that Bentley substantially restyled the car before production.
- 2. It is Bentley's best-seller — at its peak around 42–44% of the company's entire global sales.
- 3. The 'world's fastest SUV' crown ping-ponged: Bentayga (187 mph) → Lamborghini Urus (190) → Bentayga Speed reclaimed it (190 mph) in 2019.
5 Fast Facts
- 1. Bentley's first SUV (late 2015), on the VW Group MLB platform.
- 2. W12 Speed: 626 hp, 190 mph — once the world's fastest SUV.
- 3. Offered as W12, 4.0 V8 and a V6 plug-in hybrid; later EWB and S.
- 4. Routinely ~42–44% of Bentley's total global sales.
- 5. The W12 was dropped in 2024; the Bentayga continues as V8/hybrid.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
David Beckham — owns a black Bentayga (regularly photographed; once charged with speeding in it), part of a long Bentley loyalty that began with an Arnage T he drove to Buckingham Palace for his 2003 OBE. (Documented; SlashGear / celebrity press.)
Studio Buyer’s Brief
The W12 Speed for the fastest-SUV cachet (and a now-retired engine), the V6 hybrid for running costs, EWB for rear-seat space. Budget for air suspension, vast brakes and W12 servicing; buy on history.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Bentley Bentayga
- Class
- Super SUV
- Production years
- 2015–present (W12 2016–2024)
- Units built
- high-volume best-seller; exact build not disclosed (tens of thousands)
- Variants
- V8 Twin-Turbo & Bentayga Hybrid (V6 Twin-Turbo PHEV); EWB (extended wheelbase, 2022); Speed; S; Mulliner
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- W12 Twin-Turbo
- Engine family
- Volkswagen Group 6.0 W12 (Twin-Turbo)
- Displacement
- 5,998 cc (6.0 L)
- Power
- 626 hp
- Torque
- 664 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 3.8 s
- Top speed
- 190 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 257 hp/tonne · 8.6 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 8-speed ZF automatic
- Drivetrain
- AWD · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 5379 lb
Questions
Bentayga FAQ
What is the top speed of the Bentley Bentayga W12 Speed?
The Bentayga W12 Speed delivers 626 hp and reaches 190 mph (306 km/h), covering 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds. Bentley launched it in 2019 as the world’s fastest production SUV.
When did the Bentley Bentayga go on sale, and why was it significant?
The Bentayga went on sale in late 2015 as Bentley’s first-ever SUV. It became the brand’s best-seller, at times accounting for over 40 percent of Bentley’s annual global deliveries.
Is the Bentley Bentayga available as a hybrid?
Yes. The Bentayga Hybrid pairs a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine with an electric motor as a plug-in hybrid. It is offered alongside the V8 variant; the W12 engine was discontinued in 2024.
How much does a used Bentley Bentayga cost?
Pre-owned W12 Bentaygas (2016-2024) trade across a broad range — older/high-mileage W12s often well below $110,000, with 2023-2024 examples reaching the upper end. Current-production V8 and Hybrid models start in the low $200,000s before options.
Can I lease or finance a Bentley Bentayga?
Yes, specialty lenders structure leases and finance packages on both new and pre-owned Bentaygas.
The Bentley Lineup
Explore every Bentley
3 Litre ’216½ Litre / Speed Six ’264½ Litre ’27Blower 4½ Litre ’29
R-Type Continental ’52S1 Continental ’55S-Type Saloon (S1/S2/S3) ’55S2/S3 Continental ’59
Mulsanne (1980) ’80Turbo R ’85
Continental R ’91Azure ’95Arnage ’98
Continental GT (1st gen) ’03Continental Flying Spur ’05Azure (2nd gen) ’06Brooklands (Coupé) ’08
Mulsanne (2010) ’10Continental GT (2nd gen) ’11Flying Spur (2nd gen) ’13Bentayga ’15Continental GT (3rd gen) ’18Flying Spur (3rd gen) ’19
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