Now that even the most gargantuan SUVs are being quietly wired for plug-in power, the new Bentley Bentayga Speed stands out for what it doesn’t have: a battery.
This is the British marque doubling down on combustion’s last hurrah, along with only a small handful of its ultra-luxe competitors. It’s a straight-up gas-powered V8, twin-turbocharged to deliver 650 hp and 850 Nm of torque, in an era of hybrid boosters and complex electric trickery. So, for anyone wanting full-size luxury with proper 4×4 credentials, is this the purist’s play?
Since its debut nearly a decade ago, the Bentayga has been Bentley’s unlikely hero. It’s responsible for around 40% of the brand’s global sales and widely credited with launching the ultraluxe SUV into the mainstream. Since then, rivals have emerged. Lamborghini’s Urus SE now hits well over 700 hp (with hybrid help); Aston Martin’s DBX S edges it with 717 hp (on a fairly severe carbon fiber diet); and then there’s Ferrari’s Purosangue, turning heads with a naturally aspirated V12. So where does this leave the newest Speed?
On paper, its numbers are perfectly respectable. The new V8 only delivers a fraction more horsepower than the outgoing W12 it replaces, but benefits from less nose weight and sharper balance. The sprint to 60mph now happens in just 3.4 seconds, with a top speed of 193 mph, which was enough to make it the fastest Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)-powered SUV up this year’s hill climb at Goodwood — an iconic British motorsport showcase known for record-setting sprints — on a slightly damp track, no less. (For the record, Aston Martin was quick to share a video of its new DBX S unofficially beating that time in the dry — a healthy rivalry between the Brits.)
On paper, its numbers are perfectly respectable. The new V8 only delivers a fraction more horsepower than the outgoing W12 it replaces, but benefits from less nose weight and sharper balance. The sprint to 60mph now happens in just 3.4 seconds, with a top speed of 193 mph, which was enough to make it the fastest Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)-powered SUV up this year’s hill climb at Goodwood — an iconic British motorsport showcase known for record-setting sprints — on a slightly damp track, no less. (For the record, Aston Martin was quick to share a video of its new DBX S unofficially beating that time in the dry — a healthy rivalry between the Brits.)
On paper, its numbers are perfectly respectable. The new V8 only delivers a fraction more horsepower than the outgoing W12 it replaces, but benefits from less nose weight and sharper balance. The sprint to 60mph now happens in just 3.4 seconds, with a top speed of 193 mph, which was enough to make it the fastest Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)-powered SUV up this year’s hill climb at Goodwood — an iconic British motorsport showcase known for record-setting sprints — on a slightly damp track, no less. (For the record, Aston Martin was quick to share a video of its new DBX S unofficially beating that time in the dry — a healthy rivalry between the Brits.)
The Drive
Out in Montana, on sweeping mountain highways, high altitude passes and dirt-road tracks, the Speed felt every bit as pacey as it looked at Goodwood. Still, the headline here is less about raw power than the Speed’s newfound agility.
A four-wheel steering system, ESC Dynamic mode, Launch Control and brake torque vectoring come together to make this the most athletic Bentayga yet. Optional carbon-ceramic brakes, the largest fitted to any production SUV (according to Bentley), mean it can scrub off that velocity as confidently as it builds it, whether you’re flicking through switchbacks or letting it off the leash on a gravel ranch loop.
With that sharper focus, though, comes a slight trade-off. On the optional 23-in wheels, and in Sport mode with dampers stiffened by 15%, the Bentayga trades some of its signature float for a more connected, occasionally fidgety drive. It’s not uncomfortable — some like a more rugged experience — but those seeking a magic carpet ride may find the base V8 or the EWB models better suited to the long haul.
Speed
Zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 193 mph.
Power
Fastest ICE-powered SUV up this year's Goodwood hill climb.
Agility
Four-wheel steeling, Launch Control and toque vectoring make it the most athletic Bentayga yet.
Control
Optional carbon-ceramic brakes – the largest ever fitted to a production SUV.
One of the Speed’s more polarizing elements is its soundtrack. The W12’s dignified rumble is gone; in its place, the V8’s snarl is brasher, especially with the Akrapovič titanium exhaust fitted. On full throttle the pops and crackles are catnip for a gearhead, but will feel borderline crass to others. That tension, however, is part of this car’s charm: a suave 16.9-ft, 2.76-ton luxury SUV with a hooligan streak.
Much of that character shows up when you loosen the reins. The same tech that pins the chassis flat on fast corners lets it rotate into real slip angles on looser surfaces. On dusty off-road tracks, the Speed’s playful side reveals itself in ways you wouldn’t expect from something with this much quilted leather inside. It never hides its weight, but there’s a new sense of mischief here — the sort of rear-axle freedom you might not expect from a Bentley.
The interior remains every bit a sanctuary, with plush seating, real-wood veneers and tactile switchgear, a resolute holdout in a world determined to replace buttons with screens. The digital instrument panel now carries subtle ‘Made in Britain’ flourishes, a reminder of the hand-finishing prowess that still reigns in Crewe.
But the Bentayga’s age shows through in places. The infotainment system, while easy to use, feels dated next to the Purosangue’s or the Urus’s more dramatic interfaces. Some of the everyday controls, like indicator stalks, feel decidedly VW. But once you sit back, adjust the massaging seats, and flick on the Naim audio, everything else melts away.
For existing Bentayga owners, even those holding onto the previous W12 Speed, does the new one warrant an upgrade? That depends. The sharper chassis, lighter nose and potential for controlled drifting in the newly improved ESC Dynamic mode deliver a more engaging drive. But those who spend more time in the back seat might still prefer the softer ride of the standard V8 or the cavernous calm of the EWB variant.
Against the competition, the Speed holds its own on craftsmanship and cachet. The DBX S has the edge for headline power and a slightly racier attitude, the Urus SE plays the supercar card harder, and the Purosangue’s V12 is in a class of its own for theatrics. Yet the Bentley remains unique in its balancing act: elegant but unafraid to get its paws dirty, wildly opulent yet more mischievous than you’d ever expect from something so grand.
With Bentley’s Beyond100+ strategy aiming for an all-electric lineup by 2035, the Bentayga Speed feels like something of a finale for gas purists — an encore for an unabashedly indulgent ICE flagship. It won’t make sense to everyone. But then, no one really needs a 193 mph luxury SUV; that’s precisely the point.
For those who want their family car to roar as well as glide, the Speed reminds us what Bentley still does best: Stretch possibility, spoil its driver and deliver power with presence.
