2023 Bentley Bentayga Performance

All Bentaygas use an eight-speed ZF gearbox, transferring power to a permanent all-wheel-drive system. The Bentayga diesel was meant to be the "green" option in the range, but following the Volkswagen Group's scandal and its far-reaching effects, that particular model only lasted a year. Bentley now relies on hybridization for better fuel economy and emissions results. A 3.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged V6 powers the new Bentayga Hybrid. Combined with the 94kW electric motor, the total system output is 443 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Bentley claims it will get to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, but that's hardly important in the frugally-minded model.

Next in line is the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, which we sampled in our tester, producing 542 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. This is a brilliant engine, providing a rich baritone soundtrack. The V8 can get to 60 mph in a claimed 4.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 180 mph. Bentley expects most customers to opt for the V8, and we doubt those owners will find much to complain about with the performance. For those who enjoy excess, a 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 tops the Bentayga range. The V8 sounds throatier, but you can't argue with the W12's 626 hp and 664 lb-ft output and unique whooshing character. This enormous amount of grunt gets the Bentayga to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, and it will press on to 190 mph.

Three engines make up the range of power plants here, starting with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 developing 542 hp and 568 lb-ft, followed by a 6.0-liter W12 with two turbos, 626 hp, and 664 lb-ft, and lastly, a hybrid turbo V6 with a 3.0-liter displacement and outputs of 443 hp and 516 lb-ft when combined with a 94kW electric motor.

The W12 and V8 are relatively straightforward, using the tried and tested internal combustion method. Both use a ZF eight-speed transmission, sending the power to a permanent all-wheel-drive system. As in most iterations, the ZF eight-speed is an industry benchmark, offering delightfully smooth shifts and crisp changes when called upon by the Bentaya's knurled metal paddle shifters.

Bentley's hybrid model uses a 17.3 kWh lithium battery, supplying power to a 94 kW E Motor, which produces 258 lb-ft of torque by itself. This motor is housed within the transmission, nestled neatly between the gearbox and the 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 up front. You can drive in electric-only mode for around 30 miles, at speeds of up to 84 mph. Fortunately, it's not all about efficiency. The electric motor also plays a torque-filling role, providing instant power between the gaps in internal combustion engines.

The twin-turbo V8 is the "volume" model, offering near-silent acceleration with a hint of exhaust rumble when the driver gets naughty with the accelerator. Bentley says its V8 is the driver's choice because it sounds throatier and frees up weight over the front. We still prefer the unmatched smoothness found in the W12 engine, though, which delivers nuclear thrust at the slightest hint of throttle application.

Weighing as much as it does, and with a cylinder count that ranges from six to twelve, don't expect the Bentley to be frugal. We'll start at the top with the destroyer of fossil fuels, the W12. According to the EPA, its consumption figures are 12/19/14 mpg city/highway/combined. The V8 is better, but only just with a rating of 14/21/17 mpg - we managed 17.5 mpg combined in our tester. The EPA currently only provides combined fuel consumption figures for the hybrid. With the battery fully charged, the hybrid can do 46 MPGe, which is a significant improvement over its siblings. However, once the battery is drained and the car has to rely solely on the turbocharged V6, that figure drops to 19 mpg - just one mpg better than the V8.