Hybrid the new height of luxury

Jack Evans finds out what the electrified big Bentley Bentayga is like to drive

Though large, luxurious SUVs are proving everpopular, they aren’t often seen as the most efficient of vehicles. It’s why many are turning to electrification, and Bentley is no different.

The Crewe-based car-maker has recently introduced the Bentayga Hybrid – electrifying its big, opulent four-wheel-drive machine – designed for those who tend to spend a lot of time driving through towns and cities, where more stringent emissions controls are making it harder for traditional SUVs exist.

WHAT’S NEW?

Obviously the biggest change here is the powertrain, based around a turbocharged V6 engine. Elsewhere, it’s business as usual. High-quality materials meet a spacious cabin, while the looks remain in-your-face to say the least. How to distinguish a hybrid against other Bentaygas? Look to the flanks for Hybridspecific badges, as well as on the boot. Apart from that, one of the best things about the hybrid is that it looks, pretty much, like any other Bentayga. Set off and the Bentayga

Hybrid moves away with serene quietness. The ride is a touch firm but we’d likely attribute this more to the 22-inch alloys our car was riding on. Press on and the V6 quietly chirps into life. There’s performance there, for sure; the Bentayga is brisk enough to dispatch almost all traffic, and the eight-speed gearbox serenely sifts through the cogs. The cabin is a sumptuous place to be. Metal air vents dominate the forward area, and the whole front end feels spacious and airy. There are storage areas aplenty with big door pockets and a large central cubby. Bentley has managed to keep the boot space the same, despite the inclusion of the batteries. It means there’s still 431 litres to play with, extendable by folding down the back seats. The infotainment offering is built around an eight-inch touchscreen. There are also a range of displays unique to the hybrid showing charge levels and the amount of energy being regenerated by the brakes. The standard audio system is a six-speaker system, however the upgraded version in my test car had 18 speakers and a huge 1800W of power, it’s highly impressive. The Bentayga Hybrid is a good move for Bentley. It shows that the firm is acknowledging the need for electrification in its cars, while giving those who want to keep around-town emissions and fuel consumption down an option. It also takes the place as the cheapest car in Bentley’s range, and as an entry into the line-up, it’s no bad thing whatsoever.

Bentley Bentayga Hybrid

Price as tested: £130,500 Engine: 3.0-litre V6 linked to electric motor

Power (bhp): 443

Torque (Nm): 700

Max speed (mph): 158 0-60mph: 5.2 seconds

MPG: 50