2022 Bentley Continental GT Review: Effortlessly Cool
Luxury, elegance, and style are never in short supply when you're sitting in a Bentley Continental GT, a car that blends the sporting intentions of something like a Maserati Gran Turismo with the luxury of a Rolls-Royce Wraith. It's available in two configurations and they both boast a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 542 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. Both come with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic and all-wheel-drive. The 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 model with 626 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque has been discontinued and replaced by an even more powerful 650-hp GT Speed. In a world where top-speed records and Nürburgring lap times dominate the headlines, is there still a place for the sporty but heavy Bentley? And if these performance benchmarks mean little to you, should those obsessed with luxury rather stick with a Rolls?
2022 Continental GT Exterior
Dimensions
Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Front Width | Rear Width | Curb Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
190.9 in | 112.2 in | 55.3 in | 76.9 in | 65.8 in | 65.5 in | 4,773.0 lbs |
2022 Continental GT Performance
Handling and Driving Impressions
Despite what we've just said about how the Continental is best enjoyed as a grand tourer that you simply relax in, it's come a long way and is considerably more agile than it used to be. See, Bentley for a long time would just accept that it is a brand more focused on luxury than anything else, but in recent times, the British automaker has started to properly focus on its racing pedigree and has tried - to good effect - to make the Continental a spiritual successor to its early-20th-century race cars without compromising on the luxury that has made it immensely popular with rappers and A-list celebs. This shift in focus has paid off, although there's no getting away from the sheer mass of the Conti.
Thanks to adaptive suspension that works to actively minimize body roll and lean through fast bends, the Continental GT stays remarkably flat. Brake-based torque vectoring helps with tightening your line too, and the steering is both accurate and surprisingly willing to give you feedback, but the one area in which you need to be careful is slowing down. Obviously, the brakes are massive, but they're calibrated to be easy to use when you're trying to come to a smooth stop in traffic. What this means is that you have to apply a little more pressure than you may expect to stop from higher speeds. Nevertheless, the Continental GT handles spirited driving well, while still giving you a remarkably supple drive.
2022 Continental GT Interior
2022 Continental GT Trunk and Cargo Space
Warranty
Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance |
---|---|---|---|
3 Years / Unlimited Miles | 3 Years / 500,000 Miles | 3 Years / Unlimited Miles | 3 Years / Unlimited Miles |
Verdict: Is the 2022 Bentley Continental GT A Good Car?
The Bentley Continental GT, like Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Maseratis, trades on its name more than on its substance as a car. It could be terribly slow, with horrendous fuel economy and a total lack of driver aids and it would still sell. Cars at this level are all about their luxury and the status that driving one brings, but the Continental GT has been continuously evolving anyway. Much like the Porsche 911, it's about the small changes each year that slowly make it better and better, and while the 911 is the ultimate sports car, the Continental GT is the ultimate grand touring luxury coupe. It's serenely quiet and lavishly appointed, but when you bury your right foot, it comes alive in ways that cars weighing almost 5,000 lbs should have no right to. Is it a good car? Sure. Is it a great grand tourer? Absolutely. Our review of the Bentley Continental GT V8 has been as enjoyable as you can imagine, and that smile on our faces makes it worth every penny.
2022 Bentley Continental GT vs BMW 8 Series Coupe
The BMW M8 Coupe is something you may be interested in if you want comfort, power, and a beautiful interior. What the M8 lacks in sheer opulence and outright ride quality, it makes up for by being ridiculously quick and loaded with tech. The BMW has a less exotic badge, but that also means it costs less, and even with options, it would be tricky to get close to the Bentley's base price. With a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine under the hood in two states of tune, each of which provides at least 600 hp, the M8 can get from 0-60 in as little as 3.0 seconds and will top out at 190 mph if it's equipped with the M Driver's Package. The BMW technically has rear seats, but they're extremely cramped and unsuitable for adults over long journeys. Nevertheless, without the prestige of a name like Bentley, those looking for the ultimate in luxury sports car opulence will be better catered to in the Continental. If you want a fast and fun GT, the M8 is ideal, but if you want to feel like an English lord, nothing quite does the trick like a Bentley.
2022 Bentley Continental GT vs Rolls-Royce Wraith
The most obvious and direct rival to Bentley is Rolls-Royce, although the two British marques are actually very different. While Bentley focuses on seamlessly merging luxury and sporting prowess, the Rolls-Royce Wraith - arguably the sportiest Rolls there is - is far more interested in providing the most comfortable and exquisite driving experience possible. This car cares little for hitting apexes but can alter its throttle inputs and damper rebound to ensure that the road feels silkily smooth. However, this kind of luxury isn't cheap, and the Wraith makes the Continental look affordable thanks to an asking price of well over $300,000 - before any options. Rolls-Royce is also arguably more prestigious a brand, but the choice will come down to this: if you like driving, get the Conti. If you want ultimate luxury, get the Rolls. Or, if you can afford one, you can probably afford to have both.