Bentley is electrifying its lineup, with the hybrid Bentayga leading the way into a more sustainable future.
Bentley's stated intention to become a "world leader in sustainable luxury mobility" before the end of the decade seems a particularly difficult goal given that its cars have, traditionally, been powered by powerful, thirsty petrol engines.
But by 2026, it promises the full lineup will be either a plug-in hybrid or all-electric, making this battery-assisted version of the updated Bentayga a very important car for the brand.
Combining all the luxury and prestige you could wish for in a Bentley, the plug-in hybrid can also cruise on electric power alone for around 25 miles or cover great distances with a combination of that and a powerful petrol engine for what is theoretically the best of both worlds.
Bentley Bentayga operating costs
- "In daily driving, being able to go about 25 miles without ever running the petrol engine will help keep costs down."
- Any Bentley is, of course, a great indulgence, but the Bentayga Hybrid lets you at least own one with a clear conscience or, at the very least, a significantly reduced tax bill.
- Based on previous Bentayga Hybrid usage patterns, Bentley confirms that the majority of journeys have been taken in EV mode, and 90% of owners travel less than 30 miles a day, so it can be considered an electric car with bonus.
- Onboard petrol engine for longer trips. Be aware that if you take a quick eco dive, on a 220-mile highway trip, we only saw 28 mpg.
- Horses for courses but where a hybrid is better suited for city or suburban driving If you're racking up big miles regularly, it might actually be best to stick with the petrol V8.
Bentley Bentayga reliability
Much of the Bentayga is shared across VW Group brands such as Audi and Porsche.
You don't get a lot of comments on public forums from Bentley owners but a lot of the Bentayga, including the engines, transmissions and the 48-volt electrics that power the active roll prevention system—as well as the infotainment system—is shared across Volkswagen Group brands like Audi and Porsche.
As such, everything is tried and tested across many different different models, and not many issues were reported, except for one recall on the fuel lines and another on the third-row seat belts on the previous version.