THE PUKKA PLUG-IN
The Bentayga Hybrid is still a Bentley in so many ways
There’s a sense Bentley is reluctantly being dragged into electrification of its luxury cars. This new Bentayga Hybrid is the Brit brand’s tentative first step; the tree-hugging black sheep beside the monstrous power and thirst from its twin-turbo W12 and V8 stablemates.
As Bentley celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, it’s an apt time to usher in a new era. You’ll still be able to buy the high-powered heavy drinkers but the brand plans to have hybrid versions of all models by 2023, with a fully electric model by 2025.
Eco warriors rejoice, traditionalists can cry all the way to their daily servo visit.
Bean counters are still deciding whether Australia will receive the Bentayga Hybrid to join the petrol V8 ($334,700), diesel V8 ($335,000) and mad dog W12 ($427,300) versions, with the second quarter of 2020 the arrival date if green-lighted.
Will we want it? Judging by confirmed European prices it will be the cheapest — sorry, least expensive — Bentley on sale but not the most brag-worthy.
Picture the conversation outside one’s gentlemen’s club: “What’s under the hood? Twin-turbo W12?” “V6 actually. With 94kW electric motor and 17.3kWh battery pack.”
The Bentley Boys, the pukka racing chaps of the 1920s, would be turning in their family vaults.
Combined outputs of 330kW and 700Nm aren’t to be sniffed at, nor is the 0-100kmh sprint time of 5.5 seconds. For a 2600kg hybrid SUV, remember.
The eco Bentayga will do a mere 26km in electric mode before the V6 has to join in but running in hybrid mode gives the best balance of pace and thrift, quoting 4.7L/100km. Again, impressive return for a heavyweight.
The 168-cell lithium-ion battery takes about 2.5 hours to fill with a fast-charger but on a domestic socket will need to be plugged in overnight to ensure full boost by morning.
This vehicle makes most sense in urban America, so we tested it in California’s Silicon Valley, home to Apple, Facebook, Tesla and Atherton, the country’s most expensive postcode. This leafy suburb is also, by my reckoning, home to more red traffic lights, forced stops at junctions and slow-moving traffic than practically anywhere on earth.
Frustrating. However, the energy regeneration with all that braking, and continual low speeds, meant we covered better than 35km and still has charge in the battery.
The rest of the drive was as expected. The V6 doesn’t roar like its “proper” counterparts but has ample shove for city and highway tasks.
It handles better than any lardy SUV should. Tick the right options boxes and the salubrious cabin gets glorious appointments.
Outside are the ever-polarising Bentayga face, standard 21-inch alloys and almost apologetic “Hybrid” script on the boot.
Those with enough cash can pick from about 100 paint options, 15 seat hide types and a vast, pricey range of extras. It grates to pay extra for active safety kit, radar cruise control and hands-free tailgate.
Even with this very modern hybrid set-up, it remains a proper Bentley in so many ways.