It promises a stunning mix of luxury and pace, but can the
new Bentley Bentayga knock out the ultimate Range Rover?
With the surge in popularity of SUVs,
it was only a matter of time before the world’s luxury brands stepped into the
fray with plush offerings for the monied elite. And the first company to hit
the market is Bentley with
the new Bentayga.
The British firm’s first SUV aims to mix the luxury of
Bentley’s high-end saloons with the pace to make it the world’s fastest
off-roader. And with a handcrafted interior and colossal 6.0-litre W12 engine,
the Bentayga should set new benchmarks in both fields.
It’s the first of a fresh breed of luxury SUVs, but here it
faces an existing model that’s been given a high-end update to take on this new
wave. The Range
Rover has set the standard for SUV luxury for over 40 years, and
now Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle
Operations division takes this to another level with the bespoke SVAutobiography.
So, can the Range Rover remain at the pinnacle of the luxury
SUV class? Or does the Bentayga move the sector to a new level of luxury,
performance and exclusivity?
Head-to-head
Buyers can really go to town with the Bentayga’s appearance.
Bentley offers 15 standard metallics and 90 special shades for extra cost. If
you have a specific colour in mind, the company will match the car to it, and
there’s a similar level of personalisation for the leather and veneers in the
cabin, too.
There are eight wheel options in 20 and 21-inch sizes, while
you can colour code the lower bodywork, remove the roof rails, add extra chrome
trim or upgrade to different Specification packages, all for extra cost.
There are two wheel options on the Range Rover
SVAutobiography – a 21-inch polished design or the 22-inch dark grey rims –
plus fixed or sliding panoramic roof options. These can all be had at no extra
cost, while Land Rover offers 42 body colours.
Again, standard metallics are included, but Spectral paint,
which changes colour according to the light, costs £8,285. Also, you can get
Dual Tone colours for £9,315; these feature black paint from the beltline up
and a choice of nine colours for the lower half of the car. These options are
exclusive to the SVAutobiography model.
Verdict
First place: Range
Rover
Verdicts don’t come much closer, but the Range Rover takes
victory here. In the world of luxury SUVs, the SVAutobiography still sets the
standard. Interior quality
is on par with the Bentley, plus there are far more
surprise and delight details. It’s not as fast and agile as its rival, but it’s
still searingly quick and composed, plus it’s refined and peerless off-road.
It’s the ultimate luxury all-rounder.
Second place: Bentley
Bentayga
The Bentayga represents a strong first SUV effort for
Bentley. Explosive performance, agile handling and strong refinement are major
strengths, as is the ability to tailor the car’s looks and interior. It just
doesn't have the Range Rover’s sense of occasion or kit count. The Bentayga is
hugely polished, but it drives too much like a top-spec Audi Q7, which costs £90,000
less.
source: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bentley/bentayga/95490/bentley-bentayga-vs-range-rover
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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