Bentley Continental GT review
Luxury Bentley Continental GT is a hugely accomplished grand tourer, especially in V8 guise
The second-generation Bentley Continental GT sticks to the popular formula established by the original. The hand-built two-door four-seater coupe is built to the highest standards, with a luxury cabin that offers superb comfort. Two engines are offered: the 6.0-litre W12 from the original Conti GT and a new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. We’d go for the latter, as it offers similar performance, has better handling and fuel economy, plus a great V8 soundtrack. If you want a supreme luxury grand tourer that can carry four in ultimate luxury, and still be an entertaining driver’s car, the Continental GT is a great choice.
Our choice: Continental GT V8
Styling
The second Bentley Continental GT is an evolution of the original, with a low and wide stance and a big mesh grille up front, leaving no doubt about this car’s origins. Inside, Bentley’s usual high standards have been maintained, with luxurious leather trim, deep pile carpets and a distinctive dashboard finished with leather and turned aluminium. The range-topping GT Speed is identified by its 21-inch alloys, black radiator grille and rifled exhausts.
Driving
The Bentley Continental GT is a big car, and it shows in corners. Four-wheel drive means there’s lots of grip, but the Conti GT rolls in bends – it’s better as a long-distance cruiser. In terms of performance, the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is nearly as fast as the more expensive W12, offering huge acceleration and fantastic mid-range overtaking pace. The GT Speed is the fastest Bentley yet, boasting a top speed of 205mph and a firmer suspension set-up, but the lighter V8 feels more nimble.
Reliability
The Continental GT is new, but it uses tried and tested parts from the VW Group. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is all-new, but is going to be used in top-of-the-range cars from Audi and Porsche, too, so has been tested thoroughly before its introduction. Bentley offers a unlimited mileage, three-year warranty, while pre-paid servicing packs are also available through dealers.
Practicality
There’s plenty of room for two up front in the Continental GT, but those in the back seats will find there’s not much legroom - which is a surprise considering how big the Conti GT is on the outside. The low roofline and small rear windows don’t help matters, either. At least the 358-litre boot is well-shaped. And while the rear bench doesn’t fold flat, few people will buy a Conti for its practicality.
Running Costs
You don’t buy a Bentley if you’re worried about running costs. Even so, we’d still choose the V8 version over the W12. Cylinder-deactivation technology and an eight-speed gearbox helps it return 26.9mpg - compared to 19.5mpg for the W12 - but it’s only three-tenths of a second slower from 0-62mph and it still has an incredible 188mph top speed, so you’re not missing out on much in the way of performance.
