The south of Russia is traditionally considered a wealthy region. Apart from Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Southern Federal District boasts a significant number of premium and luxury vehicles. Automotive brands periodically hold presentations of their expensive cars here. The editor of the “Southern Automobile” portal took a Bentley Bentayga V8 Diesel SUV for a drive around the Azov region.
Several years ago, premium and luxury brands decided to expand their model lines with SUVs. Porsche was the first to take this path, introducing the Cayenne SUV, after which sales of this German brand skyrocketed. The British company Bentley was no exception, demonstrating its idea of what a luxury SUV should look like. But from the very beginning, Bentley set the bar too high with its Bentley Bentayaga. Under the hood of the first models was a W12 gasoline engine producing 605 horsepower. Before the Lamborghini Urus, it was the most powerful and fastest petrol SUV in the world. However, the cunning British had another ace up their sleeve – the diesel Bentayga V8. It currently holds the title of the most powerful diesel SUV in the world. While the diesel is inferior to the petrol Bentayga in terms of power, it is in no way inferior in torque. But first things first.
Fuel efficiency in the luxury segment
Some might think that the words Bentley and fuel efficiency don’t go together. Pomp, kitsch, and luxury should cost a lot of money, so fuel costs shouldn’t be a concern for the owner of such a car. However, this is not entirely true. The fact is that the petrol Bentayga turned out to be too gluttonous. Average fuel consumption is 18 liters per 100 kilometers. This means the respected individual will have to waste precious time filling up and travel half as far on a full tank. A diesel version of the Bentayga was created specifically for them, offering significantly better range and performance comparable to the gasoline version. Under the hood of our Bentayga is a 435-horsepower V8 diesel engine. With this power, it consumes just 10.5 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers. We’ll be driving this powertrain around the villages and towns of the Azovsky District of the Rostov Region. Visually, it’s virtually impossible to distinguish a regular Bentayga from a diesel version until you see the badges on the fenders. You can also distinguish a diesel by the design of the exhaust tips: while the petrol versions have classic oval shapes, this one has a more sophisticated, angular design.
Before we hit the road, it’s worth telling you a little about the crossover itself and what it’s really like. Today, the Bentayga (pronounced “Бэнтейга” in Russian) is one of the most powerful, most expensive, and fastest production SUVs. It got its unusual name in honor of a mountain in the Canary Islands, although the crossover was previously considered for the name Falcon.
The decision is quite understandable: in appearance, the Bentayga looks more like a mountain stuffed with electronics, valuable wood species, and a few calfskins than a bird soaring through the clouds. And the car weighs over two tons, so it’s definitely a mountain, not a soaring falcon. But this mountain can accelerate to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds.
Luxury in every detail
When you get into the car, the first impression you get is that you’re getting into some kind of luxurious safe with money. The driver’s door is as heavy as a safe’s. Open the massive door and you find yourself in a realm of luxury and the embrace of a Bentayga leather seat. The high-quality leather trim and the choice of one of 15 interior colors are just as impressive, as is the ability to adjust the seats in at least nine ways. Due to the huge number of color options, each Bentley is practically unique. By the way, the seats are equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable journey – heating, massage, and ventilation. Yes, there is luxury to spare here. The most expensive wood is rosewood.
It is used for the interior trim of the stylish SUV, Karelian birch and some types of African mahogany are also popular. There is even a wood you have never heard of, like kevazingo and makore. Polished wooden panels are complemented by chrome moldings that run along the entire perimeter of the interior; carbon fiber inserts or even stone can be ordered individually. The Bentayga interior, like any other Bentley model, is completely hand-upholstered: from the steering wheel and dashboard to the ceiling and seat bases.
There are a lot of expensive things here. For example, the ashtrays in the rear armrests cost 450 euros. And if you really want to be surrounded by luxury, Breitling offers a tourbillon for your Bentayga, featuring a mother-of-pearl dial with Arabic numerals and eight diamond hour markers. The dial, without the tourbillon, is coated in black lacquer. The price of this exclusive timepiece is a mere 150,000 euros. A mere pittance for the owner of a new Bentayga.
Go!
We start the engine with a button. The diesel engine under the hood of the Bentayga can only be recognized from the outside – inside the cabin, all you can hear is the pleasant low bass of the powerful V8. The diesel version appeared in Russia only six months ago, when the first customers began receiving production cars. Essentially, the diesel Bentayga was equipped with an engine from an Audi SQ7. However, the diesel engine in the Bentley Bentayga has a different character than its counterpart in the Audi crossover. It’s noisier in the German brand’s car, and the British model has no electronic speed limit of 250 km/h. For those who want to hear the engine’s roar, there’s an exclusive Bentayga Black Edition. Instead of chrome, the body is covered in gloss black and features a stylish aerodynamic body kit made of black carbon fiber. But the most important thing is the tuning exhaust system from Akrapovič, which gives the engine a completely different sound.
From the first press of the gas pedal, you feel the full power of the 435-horsepower engine. If you press the gas pedal to the floor on a straight line, you truly feel the engine’s locomotive thrust. While the Bentayga can certainly drive fast, it’s far more enjoyable to cruise leisurely, gazing out the windows at the steppe expanses of the Rostov region. On broken rural pavement, the Bentayga feels just as confident as on the highway. The standard air suspension can raise the body 245 mm above ground level—enough to negotiate a half-meter ford, for example. Furthermore, the electronically controlled anti-roll bars do more than just dampen body roll at high speeds. On rough terrain, they increase suspension articulation to keep the wheels in contact with the road for as long as possible. However, all these qualities can now be found in other cars. The Bentayga’s uniqueness lies in its incorporation not only of modern engineering, stunning handling, and blistering dynamics, but also of a stunning level of luxury. In terms of its combination of qualities, the Bentley Bentayga remains unrivaled. If you don’t take into account the more premium Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV.
How much does all this cost?
Our test car wasn’t the base model, but one with exclusive interior trim elements. Its price is around 20 million rubles. The minimum price of the Bentley Bentayga Diesel in Russia is 12 million rubles, which is four million rubles cheaper than the petrol version with a W12 engine. Therefore, the diesel Bentayga has every chance of increasing sales of the British brand in Russia and becoming the most affordable SUV in the luxury segment. According to last year’s results, the petrol Bentayga SUV accounted for more than 60% of all Bentley vehicle sales, equivalent to 182 units. So, those who decide to buy a diesel Bentayga have a reason to save four million rubles.
