Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Bentley Continental GT review

The Continental GT is unmatched in the world of grand tourers; imperious and eloquent in equal measure, it hits the brief like no other

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.5 out of 5

Price
£186,255 to £273,455
  • Incredible performance
  • Luxurious cabin
  • Impressive refinement
  • Expensive to buy
  • Expensive to run
  • Cramped rear seats
Find your Bentley Continental GT
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Hassle-free way to a brand new car
Or are you looking to sell your car?
9/10 sellers got the price they expected
Advertisement

Few cars hit the ‘grand tourer’ brief quite as well as the Bentley Continental GT. Since it was first introduced in 2003, the large and luxurious coupe has been a sales hit, reinvigorating the Bentley brand by opening it up to a more contemporary customer. Twenty years and three generations later the Continental GT has only become more impressive, with an even wider breadth of ability and even more sumptuous luxury. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The current Continental GT was first introduced in 2018, and the range has since expanded to include two powertrain options, two body styles and five variants spread between the sportier and luxurious ends of the GT market. Yet the Continental GT’s brilliance perpetuates across the range, bringing together luxury and high performance motoring like few other cars can. 

About the Bentley Continental GT

The Continental GT’s grandiose styling is perhaps first to grab the eye, while the fabulously luxurious and lavishly equipped interior feels a cut above anything else you can buy for the money. Throw in a thoroughly reworked driving experience that – courtesy of a chassis shared with the Porsche Panamera – brings a new ­­­level of responsiveness and control to what’s classically been more of a luxury than sports car. 

The Continental GT is powered by either a brutish 4.0-litre V8 or effortless 6.0-litre W12 engine, each paired to a sophisticated all-wheel drive system. Together with the latest high-end chassis hardware, Bentley’s recipe for its GT car is formidable, and extremely successful.

The range is now split into no less than five individual models, most featuring a specific powertrain. At the entry-point is the V8-powered GT, then you have the Azure and V8 S models sharing the same powertrain, but coming with more kit and a bias towards luxury and a more dynamic drive, respectively. Above these sits the W12-powered Speed, leaving the Mulliner at the top of the range, which can be specified with either powertrain option. 

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Apart from trim changes and different wheel designs, all Continental GTs generally look similar, with the S and Speed models both offering a sportier aesthetic on account of their darker-coloured details. Mulliner models feature their own elaborate grille and wheel designs, with Bentley also recently introducing a slightly more subtle Blackline finish for its flagship trim. 

Alongside the coupe is the full-four seater GT Convertible which swaps the fastback metal roof for a folding fabric item. As well as being compact enough to easily fit under a sleek tonneau, the fabric roof can also be specified in one of six different colours including a distinctive tweed finish. Of course, if you expand your idea of a GT from just being a two-door, Bentley’s Flying Spur saloon shares many of the Continental GT’s fundamentals, packaged into a sleek four-seater body. 

The luxury GT coupe market currently offers an array of drool-worthy exotics, but the Continental GT remains closest to the mantra. Its rivals include the Ferrari Roma and Aston Martin DB11; look further afield and you’ll find the slightly smaller Lexus LC500 and Porsche 911. Maserati’s new GranTurismo is another consideration, and if you’re after a GT with a three-pointed star on the front your only option for now is the drop-top SL.  

For an alternative review of the Bentley Continental GT, visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    4.0 V8 2dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £157,900

Most Economical

  • Name
    4.0 V8 2dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £157,900

Fastest

  • Name
    6.0 W12 Speed 2dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £230,500
Senior staff writer

Senior staff writer at Auto Express, Jordan joined the team after six years at evo magazine where he specialised in news and reviews of cars at the high performance end of the car market. 

Skip advert
Advertisement

More on Continental GT

Best convertibles and cabriolets to buy 2024
Best convertibles - header image
Best cars & vans
19 Feb 2024

Best convertibles and cabriolets to buy 2024

Love the feeling of the wind in your hair while driving? These are the best convertible cars for the job
Top 10 best luxury cars to buy 2024
Best luxury cars - header image
Best cars & vans
2 Feb 2024

Top 10 best luxury cars to buy 2024

Indulge yourself with our list of the most luxurious cars on sale today
New Bentley Continental GT Speed Le Mans Collection review: a near flawless motorsport homage
Bentley Continental GT Speed Le Mans Collection - front tracking
Road tests
1 Dec 2023

New Bentley Continental GT Speed Le Mans Collection review: a near flawless motorsport homage

The latest special edition of Bentley’s Continental GT reminds us why we’ll miss its iconic W12 engine when it’s gone
Skip advert
Advertisement
Bentley Speed Edition 12 range revealed in celebration of the W12 engine
Bentley Speed Edition 12 range - group photo
News
9 May 2023

Bentley Speed Edition 12 range revealed in celebration of the W12 engine

Only 120 examples each of the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga Speed Edition 12s will be built
Bentley Continental and Flying Spur receive 2023 updates
Updated 2023 Bentley Flying Spur, Continental GT and Continental GTC
News
27 Apr 2023

Bentley Continental and Flying Spur receive 2023 updates

New exterior and interior tweaks revealed for Bentley’s luxury saloon and grand tourer
Bentley Continental GT Le Mans Collection revealed
Bentley Continental GT Le Mans Collection
News
12 Apr 2023

Bentley Continental GT Le Mans Collection revealed

Bentley’s glittering record at Le Mans is to be celebrated by these limited edition W12 GTs
Top 10 best automatic cars
Best automatic cars - header image
Best cars & vans
1 Mar 2023

Top 10 best automatic cars

Today’s best automatic cars are slick-shifting, relaxing and in some cases, brilliant fun - we’ve listed 10 of our favourites below
Bentley Continental GT S gets Bathurst special edition
Bentley Continental GT S Bathurst - side by side front tracking
News
24 Jan 2023

Bentley Continental GT S gets Bathurst special edition

Bentley celebrates its Bathurst win with two commemorative Continental GT S models
New Bentley Continental GT to receive facelift this year
Bentley Continental GT facelift - front cornering
News
17 Jan 2023

New Bentley Continental GT to receive facelift this year

Bentley is giving its luxury grand tourer a mid-life refresh and we’ve spied it testing
Skip advert
Advertisement
Bentley Continental Mulliner Riviera Collection revealed
Bentley Continental Mulliner Riviera Collection - three cars by a Marina in Monaco
News
28 Oct 2022

Bentley Continental Mulliner Riviera Collection revealed

The Continental GT-based Mulliner Riviera Collection cars will only be available through the firm’s Monaco hub
Used Bentley Continental GT (Mk3, 2018-date) review
Used Bentley Continental GT Mk3 - front
Used car tests
12 Jul 2022

Used Bentley Continental GT (Mk3, 2018-date) review

A full used buyer’s guide on the Bentley Continental GT covering the Continental GT Mk3 that has been on sale since 2018
Skip advert
Advertisement
New Bentley Continental GT Mulliner flagship model joins the range
Bentley Continental GT Mulliner - front tracking
News
21 Jun 2022

New Bentley Continental GT Mulliner flagship model joins the range

The Mulliner version of Bentley’s Continental GT sits at the top of the luxury car’s range
New driver-focused Bentley Continental GT S revealed
Bentley Continental GTC S - front
News
6 Jun 2022

New driver-focused Bentley Continental GT S revealed

The new S is based on the V8 model and is available on the Bentley Continental GT and GTC
Used Bentley Continental GT (Mk2, 2010-2018) review
Bentley Continental GT
Used car tests
3 Feb 2022

Used Bentley Continental GT (Mk2, 2010-2018) review

The long-established Bentley Continental GT has matured gracefully in cruising trim – or disgracefully in 700bhp Supersports guise!
New Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible 2021 review
Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible - front
Road tests
14 Sep 2021

New Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible 2021 review

With an outstanding chassis and a blistering engine, the new Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible provides plenty of open-top thrills
Skip advert
Advertisement
Bentley launches new steering wheel for both real and sim racers
Bentley Fanatec wheel
News
21 Jun 2021

Bentley launches new steering wheel for both real and sim racers

The wheel was designed for the Bentley Continental Pikes Peak GT3 racer, but also works with Fanatec sim racing hardware
New Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak racer packs over 750bhp
Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak
News
7 Jun 2021

New Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak racer packs over 750bhp

New e-fuelled Bentley Continental GT3 has a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 with more than 750bhp and 1,000Nm of torque
New Bentley Continental GT Speed 2021 review
Bentley Continental GT Speed - front
Road tests
4 May 2021

New Bentley Continental GT Speed 2021 review

We hit the track in the new range-topping Bentley Continental GT Speed
New Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible unveiled
Bentley Continental GT Speed convertible
News
13 Apr 2021

New Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible unveiled

New flagship version of the Bentley Continental GT Convertible launched, powered by a 650bhp 6.0-litre W12
New Bentley Bacalar 2021 review
Bentley Bacalar
Road tests
9 Apr 2021

New Bentley Bacalar 2021 review

We find out if the new Bentley Bacalar is as special as its price tag suggests
New 2021 Bentley Continental GT Speed unveiled with 650bhp
Bentley Continental GT Speed - front
News
23 Mar 2021

New 2021 Bentley Continental GT Speed unveiled with 650bhp

The new Bentley Continental GT Speed is the most capable, performance-focused Bentley ever, but won’t compromise comfort and luxury
Skip advert
Advertisement
New Bentley Continental GT Convertible V8 2020 review
Road tests
20 Apr 2020

New Bentley Continental GT Convertible V8 2020 review

The Bentley Continental GT Convertible is one of the British brand’s finest efforts yet in V8 form
Bentley’s built a horse-themed Continental GT Convertible
News
9 Mar 2020

Bentley’s built a horse-themed Continental GT Convertible

The bespoke Continental GT Convertible Equestrian Edition features tweed door panels, a walnut dash and gold “horse and rider” emblems