Bentley Bentayga Review

In the luxury SUV market, the competition among top-tier players has long gone beyond mere comfort to the dual extremes of performance and luxury. The 2025 Bentley Bentayga Speed enters the scene with the positioning of being "more powerful, more refined." This car not only achieves a maximum power output of 650 horsepower and accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 3.6 seconds, but also strengthens its exclusive identity through meticulous details. In this test drive, we aim to verify: how can a luxury SUV weighing over 3 tons deliver both racecar-level power response and a million-dollar comfort experience?

At first glance, the 2025 Bentayga Speed feels noticeably more aggressive compared to its predecessor. The overall dimensions of 5144mm×2222mm×1728mm, with a wheelbase of 2995mm, maintain the commanding presence of a large luxury SUV. However, the black matrix front grille paired with smoked LED headlights instantly sets it apart from the elegant look of the standard version. On the sides, 22-inch gloss alloy wheels and the "Speed" exclusive chrome side skirt beneath the doors make the body lines appear lower and more poised. At the rear, the dual round quad exhaust pipes (also finished in a smoked look) and dynamic LED taillights with their flowing illumination effect upon startup create a highly recognizable appearance. It's worth noting that the new car’s paintwork is more refined, revealing a layered metallic flake effect in sunlight, fully aligning with its luxury positioning.

Opening the car door, you’ll find a combination of leather and wood wherever you touch. The center console features Bentley’s iconic rotating display design (three analogue dials when closed, which switch to a 10.9-inch touchscreen when opened). The tactile resistance of the physical buttons and the cool metallic feel of the toggles convey the handcrafted precision. The front seats offer 16-way power adjustments as standard, along with heating and memory functions. In actual use, the seat padding has an ideal balance of firmness and softness, while the adjustments for lumbar support and thigh extension provide ample coverage for drivers of different body types. As for the rear seating, the 2995mm wheelbase ensures ample legroom. Even passengers 185cm tall will have about two fists of space between their knees and the front seat back. The nearly flat floor means the middle passenger’s foot space won't be cramped. The trunk offers a capacity of 484L, easily accommodating three carry-on suitcases for everyday needs. Folding the rear seats expands the space further, making its practicality above average among luxury SUVs. Standard features include four-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic electric sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, and a 360-degree panoramic camera with high definition, making parking in narrow spaces virtually blind-spot-free.

Sitting in the driver’s seat and starting the engine, the low growl of the 4.0T twin-turbo V8 engine is deeper than that of the regular V8 version. The figures of 650 horsepower and 850Nm of torque (reaching peak torque at 2250-4500rpm) are not just for show. Switch to Sport mode, and the shift logic of the 8-speed automatic transmission becomes instantly aggressive. A light tap on the accelerator engages the turbo, delivering a strong push-back effect. During 0-100km/h acceleration, the body remains very stable, with the air suspension automatically lowering by 15mm to reduce front-end lift. While overtaking at high speed, accelerating from 80km/h to 140km/h happens almost instantaneously, with the transmission downshifting two gears in less than a second. In everyday driving under Comfort mode, power delivery becomes linear, engine speed stays around 1500rpm, and you’d hardly notice you’re driving a 650-horsepower performance vehicle.

In terms of handling, the performance of the air suspension is a highlight. When going over speed bumps, the suspension can filter out most of the jolts, and the body doesn't experience excessive bouncing. When cornering at high speed, the chassis offers strong support, and body roll is controlled better than most SUVs in the same class—thanks to the newly tuned suspension damping and optimized torque distribution of the four-wheel drive system (with a front-to-rear torque ratio of 40:60 during normal driving, adjustable to 20:80 during cornering). The braking system is equally outstanding; the ventilated disc brakes provide linear pedal feedback, the body shows minimal nose-diving during hard braking, and there is no significant brake fade during continuous braking. In terms of noise control, at a high speed of 120km/h cruising, wind noise and tire noise are isolated outside the cabin, with only a slight engine sound audible inside, courtesy of the dual-layer soundproof glass and enhanced soundproof padding of the chassis.

Compared to models in the same class, the core advantages of the 2025 Bentayga Speed are clear: more pure combustion engine performance than the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid (0.2 seconds faster in acceleration), more aggressive sport tuning than the Range Rover SV, while still retaining Bentley's traditional luxury feel. However, its price has reached 2.8 million Malaysian Ringgit, nearly 2 million more expensive than the 2020 Bentayga V8 First Edition. But in return, you get stronger performance, more exclusive design, and finer craftsmanship.

Overall, the 2025 Bentley Bentayga Speed suits two types of users: one is performance enthusiasts who pursue a "wolf in sheep's clothing" experience—it can handle daily commutes and family outings, while occasionally delivering sports car-level acceleration on the highway; the other is high-net-worth individuals who are unsatisfied with typical luxury SUVs and desire a more personalized and distinctive vehicle. It's not an "all-rounder" car, but in the niche field of "luxury + performance," it has virtually no competition. If you need a large SUV that balances business receptions with driving pleasure, the Bentayga Speed is worth considering as a top choice.