2019 Bentley Bentayga Diesel Review

In the luxury mid-to-large SUV market, consumers often look for a balance between ultimate comfort and robust performance – it needs to match the sophistication of a business setting while also catering to the practicality required for long family trips. The 2019 Bentley Bentayga Diesel, as the brand's first diesel-powered SUV, has its core selling point in "luxury and efficiency coexisting": it carries Bentley’s signature luxurious texture while achieving lower fuel consumption and extended range with its diesel engine. During this test drive, we focused on verifying whether it could find the optimal balance between "top-tier luxury" and "everyday practicality."

From the exterior, the 2019 Bentayga Diesel continues Bentley's family design language, showcasing a style that is both majestic and refined. The front features the iconic rectangular matrix grille, paired with sharp LED headlights on both sides, creating high recognizability; the flowing lines of the car's side profile, coupled with 21-inch alloy wheels (with 285/45 R21 tire specifications for both front and rear) and dimensions of 5140mm×1998mm×1742mm, strike a perfect balance between avoiding bulkiness and projecting the presence of a luxury SUV. At the rear, the rounded lines echo a dual chrome exhaust layout, and the LED taillights present a unique “B”-shaped light pattern when illuminated, highlighting the brand's identity in the details.

Sitting inside, the luxurious ambiance of the interior is overwhelming. The center console is extensively wrapped in genuine leather and combined with wood trim, offering a delicate and warm touch; the 8-inch touchscreen display sits at the center of the console, featuring a clean and user-friendly interface, and combined with a 10-speaker sound system, it satisfies daily audio-visual needs. In terms of configuration, the front seats are height adjustable, the rear seats support multi-way adjustments, and both the front and rear rows come standard with automatic air conditioning systems. The rear also features independent air vents, ensuring comfort for all passengers. In addition, standard features like the single sunroof and rain-sensing wipers enhance daily convenience.

In terms of space, the 2995mm wheelbase provides ample legroom for both front and rear passengers – a passenger standing at 175cm will still have over two fists of legroom when seated in the rear. The headroom is also quite spacious, avoiding any sense of confinement. For storage capacity, the trunk offers a regular volume of 484L, which can be further expanded by folding down the rear seats. This is sufficient to accommodate luggage for family trips or outdoor equipment. Additionally, details like door panel storage compartments and a central armrest box are designed reasonably, maximizing practicality.

For dynamic driving, the car is equipped with a 4.0L twin-turbocharged diesel V8 engine, delivering a maximum of 550PS and a peak torque that kicks in at 4500rpm, paired with an AT transmission. The official 0-100km/h acceleration takes only 4.5 seconds, with a top speed reaching 290km/h – such performance is rare in diesel SUVs. During actual driving, the power response is brisk at the start, with a strong pushback feeling available with light pedal pressure; mid-to-high-speed acceleration remains robust, allowing overtaking to be accomplished without hard pressure on the gas pedal. Even when switched to an economic mode, the power output does not feel sluggish, ensuring smooth performance for daily commutes.

The handling and chassis performance are equally outstanding. The combination of independent front double-wishbone suspension and independent rear multi-link suspension effectively filters out vibrations when driving on bumpy roads, and passengers inside the car can hardly feel any noticeable bumps; when cornering, the body roll is well-controlled, the steering wheel is precise and moderately damped, giving the driver ample confidence. It is worth mentioning that although the car weighs 2395kg, it does not feel cumbersome to drive, but rather exhibits an agility of "driving a big car like a small one".

In terms of fuel consumption, the officially reported combined fuel consumption is 11.4L/100km. During the actual test drive (60% city roads, 40% highways), the fuel consumption was about 12.5L/100km. Considering its weight and performance, this result is already quite good. With an 85L fuel tank capacity, the full tank range is approximately 680km, making it suitable for long-distance travel.

As for ride comfort details, the vehicle's noise control is exceptionally well-executed—wind and tire noise are well suppressed during high-speed driving, and the noise from the diesel engine is almost undetectable inside the cabin. Paired with soft and comfortable seats, long rides are not tiring.

In summary, the core advantage of the 2019 Bentley Bentayga Diesel lies in its "balance of luxury and practicality": Compared to luxury SUVs with petrol engines in the same class, it has lower fuel consumption and longer range; compared to ordinary diesel SUVs, it boasts Bentley-level interior quality and configurations. Compared to the Range Rover SVAutobiography Diesel in the same class, the Bentayga Diesel has advantages in acceleration performance and brand value; and compared to the Porsche Cayenne Turbo Diesel, it offers superior space and luxury features.

This car is suitable for two types of users: First, families who value a "combination of luxury and practicality"—it meets the economic needs of daily commuting while providing a comfortable ride for family trips. Second, elite professionals who need to balance business use—the refined exterior and interior match business reception needs, while the strong performance handles various road conditions.

All things considered, the 2019 Bentley Bentayga Diesel is a luxury SUV with "no obvious shortcomings." It uses the efficiency of diesel power to address the high fuel consumption issue of traditional luxury SUVs while preserving all the core advantages of the Bentley brand. It is a highly recommended choice in the luxury midsize-to-large SUV market.