Bentley Bentayga review - MPG, CO2 and running costs

If you’re already considering forking out well over £180,000 on an SUV, it’s unlikely you’ll be put off by the Bentayga’s high running costs. The hefty 2.5-tonne kerbweight and mammoth 6.0-litre engine of the W12 Speed model result in hefty 325g/km CO2 emissions, placing the car in the top tax bracket – which is just what buyers will expect.

On test, our Bentayga W12 managed only 17.5mpg, so if you reckon you may get annoyed by making regular visits to the filling station, then the Hybrid model is the best choice. Bentley claim a combined a fuel economy figure of 83.1mpg, with an all-electric range of up to 24.8 miles.

Regardless of which model you choose, the Bentley’s high list price makes it a pretty costly company vehicle, so limo and private hire firms will probably prefer the Audi Q7. 

Insurance groups

With its staggering performance, and a breath-taking price, you won’t be surprised to learn the Bentayga falls into the top Group 50 insurance category regardless of engine.

16

Depreciation

Initial strong demand and a long waiting list meant nearly new cars were selling at a premium, with First Edition versions advertised for nearly £300,000. The Bentayga V8 models are expected to hold onto around 57-60 per cent of their original value over three years and 36,000 miles, although the four-seat variants take more of a hit, retaining about 51 per cent on average. 

Whatever model you choose you will see a significant drop in value over the three year period, but again that’s nothing out of the ordinary in the luxury sector. However, the bespoke nature of the Bentley brand means those owners lured into shelling out small fortunes for special interior trims, finishes and accessories could be faced with actual residual values far below those predicted for the standard model.