For the first time, Crewe’s most extravagant offering is an SUV. Does it stack up?
The Bentley Bentayga EWB – all 5.3m, 2.6 tonnes and, in top-billing Mulliner specification tested here, almost £260,000 of it – represents not only a good deal of steel, leather and knurled aluminium, but also a car that’s a good deal more significant for the brand than the somewhat prosaic Extended Wheelbase denomination might suggest.Outwardly, this is little more than an elongated version of Bentley’s best-seller. It features back doors that are 18cm longer than those on the normal Bentayga, as well as comfort-enhancing additions such as ‘postural adjustment technology’ and push-button door closures, à la Rolls-Royce. There are also some meaningful dynamic evolutions to a luxury SUV that first appeared almost a decade ago but, in the main, there’s nothing you would label transformative.However, in dialling up the opulence and expansiveness of the rear portion of the Bentayga’s cabin, the EWB also becomes the spiritual successor to the 6.75-litre Mulsanne. The limousine, whose cabin famously required 16 hides to upholster, was retired in 2020, but it was the definitive modern Bentley flagship. Its absence hasn’t adversely affected the bottom line but the range has perhaps lacked the aura of a truly talismanic model.   The EWB plugs that hole and, in doing so, seeks to cater for the interested driver and the demanding VIP passenger alike. Factor in off-road ability and, on paper, we have here arguably one of the most complete cars money can buy. But in reality? Let’s find out.Range at a glanceVersionpowerBentley Bentayga Hybrid456bhp4.0 V8542bhp4.0 V8 EWB542bhpWith Bentley retiring the W12, the Bentayga now comes fitted with either the 4.0-litre V8 tested here or a 3.0-litre V6 hybrid set-up. In trim terms, a new ‘A’ derivative sits between the entry-level model and the comfort-focused Azure. There also remains an S option for those who want a sportier-feeling SUV, not least by way of increased damper rates and a sports exhaust. Mulliner trim opens up a vast array of options for everything from the wheels to the inlay veneer and, of course, brings the airline-style seats.
