The Bentayga, once frowned upon by Bentley purists, is the British automaker’s most popular model. Historically, Bentley has produced cars with a key focus that combines luxury with engaging driving dynamics, a nod to their racing heritage. The idea that an iconic British brand – celebrated for its sumptuous limousines and lavish grand tourers – was creating a luxury SUV seemed ghastly to some. The introduction of the Bentayga in 2015, much like the first Continental GT in 2003, caused much controversy. Was there even a demand for a high-end luxury SUV?
Today, we live in a very different world: Bentley’s flagship limousine – the Mulsanne, is no longer, as is the renowned 6.75L V8 that powered it. The Bentley 6.0L W12 is also a part of history, and the demand for luxury SUVs is at its peak. The product range is now streamlined to five models: the Bentayga, Bentayga EWB (extended wheelbase), new Continental GT, GTC and new Flying Spur. Whilst the latest Continental GT and Flying Spur models received visual updates, the most significant change to these models was undoubtedly the Ultra Performance Hybrid V8, a change that I predict the Bentayga will see this year.
Bentley’s flagship model, the Bentayga EWB, was unveiled in May 2022. Its wheelbase is a whopping 209″ long – 7″ longer than the standard Bentayga. In addition to the longer wheelbase, larger rear doors, and more legroom, the Bentayga EWB gets a model-specific seating option, the ‘Airline Seat Specification’. This option removes the central rear seat for more comfort, providing a first-class travel experience.
The rear seats are heated, cooled and massaging with 22-way adjustment. The prime passenger seat has access to a footrest and can move the front passenger seat to recline up to forty degrees for ultimate comfort. These are the world’s first seats to feature thermal surface sensing, which constantly monitors the passenger’s contact temperature every 25 milliseconds to ensure an optimal cabin climate. The Bentayga EWB was also the first model to feature Bentley Diamond Illumination, an option when fitted to illuminate the perforated leather door cards in a diamond pattern.
The Bentayga EWB comes in three variants: the EWB, the Azure and the range-topping Mulliner. Mulliner – Bentley’s bespoke coachbuilding division – is dedicated to ensuring the highest levels of personalisation and will even make you a unique vehicle for the right price. Of course, when discussing which Bentayga EWB variant I wanted, I would always choose the Mulliner.
The Bentayga EWB Mulliner is described as the pinnacle of Bentley, offering incredible levels of personalisation, well-being and dynamic capabilities. Since you wouldn’t want your car to be mistaken for a common Bentayga, there’s an array of aesthetic enhancements exclusive to this variant. They include a diamond-in-diamond Mulliner grille and side vents, 22″ Mulliner directional wheels and animated Mulliner welcome lighting underneath the doors. Inside, you can see Mulliner branding across the dashboard, embroidery on the seats, and an exclusive tri-colour split across the hides used in the cabin. If you don’t like anything in Bentley’s standard or extended catalogue, the team at Mulliner will be more than happy to create a truly bespoke interior.
The example I was custodian of came finished in Light Sapphire with the optional Bentayga Styling and Mulliner Blackline Specification. The Styling Specification adds a carbon fibre spoiler to the rear and carbon fibre splitters to the front and sides. The Blackline specification, which is non-negotiable when opting for the Styling Specification, favours black trim instead of chrome, including the grilles, skid plate, and exhaust tips. These two options give the Bentayga a more pronounced sporty look whilst toning down the shine of this opulent SUV, ideal for the younger Bentley buyer who prefers to fly under the radar. I don’t mind lashings of chrome on a Bentayga EWB, especially when its sole purpose is to get me from A to B whilst reclined.
Back in the driver’s seat, everything is where you’d expect it to be. Bentley is one of the few who implement good old-fashioned physical buttons with premium touchpoints throughout the cabin. I can access the intuitive infotainment system via the 10.9″ touchscreen on the dashboard, which also supports wireless Apple CarPlay. This example is also equipped with the optional twenty-speaker Naim for Bentley premium audio system, a firm favourite of mine and a must-have option in any Bentley. The clarity of sound paired with the Active Bass in the seats make any song an experience.
Measuring 17.4 ft, the Bentayga EWB dwarfs most things on the streets of London outside of a bus lane, but driving it around town is less daunting than one would expect. All variants of the Bentayga fitted with the V8 engine, including the EWB, come with Bentley Dynamic Ride and All-Wheel steering as standard. This stiffens the suspension when cornering, improving stability. It is ideal for navigating the winding country roads of Hampshire. In the crowded streets of Soho, the All-Wheel steering reduces the turning circle significantly, enabling ease of movement. Be warned; this useful feature also makes it far easier to kerb your 22″ alloys, a lesson I thankfully never learned.
Parallel parking aside, I never had an instance where the additional length impacted the driving experience. I’m grateful to be well acquainted with Bentley’s current lineup and can say that despite the extra 100kg, the Bentayga EWB doesn’t sacrifice driving dynamics compared to a standard Bentayga. On longer journeys, the dynamic cruise control and Active Lane Assist allow you to watch the miles disappear. Even from a driver’s perspective, a four-hour drive while having your back heated, cooled and massaged is nothing short of relaxing. On the other hand, my passengers fell into a deep slumber as we wafted down the motorway.
One of the best party tricks of the Bentley 4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 powertrain is its ability to adapt to any situation. This engine is fitted to all variants of the Bentayga EWB and produces 542 bhp, will see 60 mph from a standstill in 4.5 seconds and tops out at 180 mph. All in a car that weighs 2.6 tons and can even tow 3.5 tons. This powertrain allows the Bentayga EWB to have a muted V8 grumble along the motorway in comfort with the ability to roar when you turn the dial up to Sport. If you tick the box for the All Terrain Specification, like on this model, you’ll receive four additional driving modes corresponding to different off-road environments. I had to use this a couple of times since Storm Bert and I had decided to have a staycation in Dorset simultaneously. Was I being dramatic? The man in the van behind me probably thought so, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.
You can relax comfortably in the prime captain’s chair, surrounded by leather and ambient lighting. This example is fitted with the Mulliner Console Bottle Cooler, which is ideal for a chilled glass of vintage Dom for an authentic first-class experience. Do note that if this is specified, it will eat into the already compromised boot space due to the airline seats. When fully reclined, you can access the footrest; however, if you’re vertically gifted like me, this becomes more of a hindrance to prime legroom. It’s a non-issue if you’re under six feet. The feedback I received from the wide selection of professional passengers I chauffeured around Dorset was that the rear was incredibly luxurious and comfortable. The comfort was undeniable for some who knew who Mulliner was, but the ride was not as smooth as expected, especially when going down country lanes.
The Bentayga EWB Mulliner provides a unique luxury cabin experience that transports you to the skies as you glide effortlessly along the road. The cabin experience is elevated from a standard Bentayga to ensure the comfort and well-being of the passengers are prioritised. Like any other Bentley, it balances driving dynamics, pure luxury, and passenger comfort. While the cabin is nothing short of spectacular, it doesn’t come without sacrifice, most notably the rear trunk space and perhaps firmer-than-desired suspension when going over bumps.
Most in the market for an extended-wheelbase car tend to think about being driven instead of behind the wheel. Luckily, the Bentayga EWB Mulliner offers the duality of both. There’s no visible difference between the EWB and standard wheelbase from the outside unless you had them side by side. Parking aside, driving the Bentayga EWB felt no different to a standard Bentayga on the roads.
What is the cost of this first-class driving experience? As tested, this Bentley Bentayga EWB Mulliner costs £254,000, a pretty penny for an extra seven inches. Although I enjoy the luxury of more rear legroom, I am a big advocate for the standard wheelbase Bentayga, especially the ‘sportier’ Bentayga S. If you wish to read Automotive Editor Aaron Edgeworth’s thoughts on the current Bentayga, you can do so here.
To answer the age-old question of ‘Does size matter?’ Well, it does, depending on how often you’re in the back seat of your car. This could be your prime option if you’re a well-to-do business person or someone who demands first-class travel but would never entertain being driven around in a van.
The Bentayga EWB Mulliner perfectly blends luxury and passenger comfort without sacrificing driver engagement. Much like flying first class, you may experience some bumps along your journey, but at least you’ll be reclined, massaged, and have access to champagne.
