Bentley Continental
New from £218,355
Is the Bentley Continental Coupe a good car?
Read our expert review
"The Continental GT has been key to Bentley’s modern rebirth, this fourth-generation model sticking withthe traditions of incredible luxury and performance but with a nod to social responsibility with a switch to plug-in hybrid power. Bentley being Bentley this is less going green than going British Racing Green, the ‘Ultra Performance Hybrid’ system capable of limited running on electric power but more about making this GT faster and more capable than ever. Any nostalgia for the previous V12 engine that was such a signature of previous GTs will soon be blown out of the water by the increased power, pace and also – whisper it – efficiency!"
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Running costs for a Bentley Continental
The previous version of the Continental GT got one solitary star here, mainly for the fact running costs were at least as extravagant as the purchase price. The latter is still as hefty as ever, especially in the upgraded Mulliner version you see here. But even the super-rich target audience will appreciate the hybrid’s impact on running costs, for the fact nobody ever got wealthy by wasting money. Incredibly we actually exceeded Bentley’s official fuel efficiency figures as well, scoring over 30mpg on an extended drive from the factory in Crewe to the Scottish Highlands. With a fully charged battery it’ll do up to 50 miles and, potentially, more than the motorway speed limit on electric power alone. But not both! For relaxed cruising it’s a gift, though, and if your town house has a charger you’ll be able to be able to cruise the city streets without firing up the petrol engine at all. In the unlikely event your company car list includes the Continental GT as an option it’s also good on Benefit In Kind, which could save literally thousands!
Reliability of a Bentley Continental
Bentley is part of the elite group of luxury brands within the wider Volkswagen family, and shares its technology with the likes of Porsche and Audi. As such you’d have to hope the quality is up there with expectations of the price. Which made the slightly odd judder from the electric motor in low-speed manoeuvring surprising and something we’d hope would be sorted out for customer cars.
Safety for a Bentley Continental
Speed and comfort remain the Continental GT’s primary goals but it doesn’t forget to look after its occupants as well, with tons of tech to keep you on the straight and narrow. You’ll be relieved to hear that awesome power is put to the road via all four wheels for confidence in all weathers, the many and various electronic systems keeping you safe also switchable as required. Mithering speed limit alerts are usually the first thing we turn off in a test car but such is the Continental GT’s effortless performance it might be advisable to leave these on, given you’ll often find yourself going <i>a lot faster</i> than you thought you were.
How comfortable is the Bentley Continental
As a luxe brand Bentley is all about wellness, meaning those armchair-like front seats can warm you on cold days, cool you on hot ones and massage you as you drive to help you relax or stay alert as required. The gentle waft of leather adds to the luxurious ambience as well, our Mulliner car further upgraded with even higher quality hide than usual. Those not into animal-based materials can at least take some heart that Bentley has committed to sourcing its upholstery from sustainable suppliers as part of the circular economh and using organic processes to treat it, meaning you can enjoy the country club aroma with a (relatively) clean conscience. Suffice to say, the cabin is a stylistic and tactile delight with a cunning blend of modernity and tradition in one. Under it all is a hugely sophisticated suspension system designed to combine sportiness and refinement in one, with various settings to calibrate it to your mood or the road you’re driving on. Sport felt a little harsh to us, and less refined than we recall in previous GTs. Comfort delivered more of the waft we’d have hoped for, the catch-all Bentley setting perhaps the best balance of all, though there’s still a bit of tyre roar on poor surfaces to upset the tranquility.
Features of the Bentley Continental
Nearly 70 per cent of this Continental GT is new or improved over the last one, though you wouldn’t necessarily realise at first glance. Especially on the inside. No bad thing, given the interior was already one of the highlights, the nifty revolving centrepiece meaning you can switch between a screen, integrated wood trim piece or trio of chrome-ringed analogue dials at the push of a button. A novelty, perhaps, but a very Bentley one. And also very cool, as are the expensive feeling metal ventilation controls and more. The system powering that screen has, meanwhile, been updated with expanded connectivity and a new store from where you can add third-party apps. Or run them through your phone and CarPlay or Android Auto as you prefer. There’s no such thing as a basic Bentley, of course, but if money really is no object the options for customisation go as far as your imagination (or wallet) can take you, especially on the Mulliner version we tried. And if you fancy all this but in the open air there’s a convertible GTC version as well.
Power for a Bentley Continental
Traditionalists may flinch at the idea but electrification really suits Bentley, given it simply enhances and amplifies the signature attributes of huge horsepower and effortless torque. Without getting too technical the latter is what makes Bentleys so lovely to drive, and helps the Continental shrug off its 2.5 tonnes and feel way sportier than a luxurious coupe has any right to. With a combined 782 horsepower there is immense power at your command but it’s actually as fun just tickling the throttle whether in silent electric mode or with the petrol-powered side burbling away with its suitably muscular sounding exhaust note. In short, this is the best of both worlds and the Continental GT is as comfortable cruising as it is monstering supposedly more athletic supercars with its proven 200mph-plus top speed. Or if you plug it in and keep it charged ability to mooch about on electric power alone for up to 50 miles. Fresh from driving this Speed version Bentley has also announced a (relatively) more restrained version of the same with a ‘mere’ 680 horsepower, which is still more powerful than the old 12-cylinder petrol and only half a second slower 0-62mph than the Speed.
Lease deals
These deals are based on terms of 8,000 miles, for a 36 month lease with a 6 months initial payment.
Standard equipment
Expect the following equipment on your Bentley Continental Coupe. This may vary between trim levels.
- 12V Power Socket in Boot
- 4G LTE Telephone Module
- 60 GB Solid-State Drive - 10GB Available User Space
- Bentley Rotating Display
- Bentley Signature Audio
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Audio Streaming
- Connected Car Services
- Emergency Assist
- Front Screen Infotainment System with 12.3in High Resolution Capacitive Touchscreen Display
- Navigation - Featuring Text-To-Speak - Voice Destination Entry and 3D Building Display
- Wireless Android Auto
- Wireless Apple CarPlay
- 21in Alloy Wheels - Ten Twin Spoke - Painted
- 21in Summer Tyres with Pirelli Noise Cancellation System
- Acoustic Heat-Insulating Front Screen
- Acoustic Side Glass with IR Barrier
- Bentley B Badges to Wheel Centres
- Black Lower Bumper Grille
- Black Matrix Grille with Chrome Surround and Centre Bar
- Body Coloured Door Mirror Caps
- Chrome BENTLEY Lettering on the Boot
- Chrome Bentley Wing Badges to Bonnet and Boot
- Chrome Exterior Brightware
- Chrome Slashed Oval Exhaust Finishers
- Electrically Adjustable Door Mirrors with Heating - Power Fold - Auto-Dimming - Memory and Dip On Reverse Functions
- Exterior Mirror Housings - Body Coloured
- Front Vented 420 x 40 mm Disc Brakes with Bentley Branded Black Brake Callipers
- Gloss Black Front Splitter
- Heated Rear Screen
- Illuminated BENTLEY Sill and Stainless Steel Treadplates with HANDCRAFTED IN CREWE - ENGLAND
- Rear Vented 380 x 30 mm Disc Brakes with Black Brake Callipers
- Standard Brakes with Black Calipers
- Tyre Inflation Kit
- 3D Surround View
- Adaptive Cruise Assist
- Bentley Analogue Clock with Plain Bezel
- Blind Spot Warning
- Brake Pad Wear Indicator
- Drive Dynamics Control
- Driver Assist Environmental Display
- Front and Rear Park Distance Control
- Intelligent Park Assist
- Lane Assist
- Reversing Camera with Graphic Screen Representation
- TPMS - Electronic Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
- ABS - Anti Lock Braking System
- Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System - AVAS
- Adaptive Brake Lights
- Alarm and Immobiliser
- Bentley GPS Tracking System
- Bentley Safeguard Plus
- Bentley Safeguard Rear
- Black Seat Belt Buckles
- Child Seat Anchor for Child Seat System ISOFIX in the Rear
- City Assist
- Drag Torque Control - MSR
- Driver and Front Passenger Airbag with Front Passenger Airbag Deactivation
- EBD - Electronic Brake Force Distribution
- Electronic Parking Brake with Drive Away Assist
- Electronic Stability Control - ESC with Traction Control - TCS
- Exit Warning
- Extended and Crash-Active Pedestrian Protection
- HBA - Hydraulic Brake Assistance
- Keyless Entry and Ignition
- Manoeuvre Assist
- Multi-Collision Brake
- Pedestrian Warning
- Power Latches to the Doors and Boot
- Reverse Traffic Warning
- Side Airbags
- Torque Vectoring by Electronic Differential - eLSD
- Active All Wheel Drive
- Bentley Active Chassis with Comfort Steering and Comfort Damper Calibration
- Bentley Dynamic Ride System
- Dynamic Ride-Height Control -Auto Adjust at Speed and Ground Clearance Function
- Eight Speed Dual Clutch Transmission
- Electronic All Wheel Steering
- Swerve Assist
- Turn Assist
- Two Chamber - Two Valve Air Suspension - with Continuous Damping Control - CDC
- Advanced Air Filtration and Display with Particle Matter Sensor
- Air Ionisers
- Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror
- Boot Carpet in Beluga
- Boot Lid Down Lighters
- City Specification
- Deep Pile Cabin Carpets
- Diamond Knurling to Rotary Switches and Column Stalks
- Dinamica Pillars and Headliner - Five Colours
- Electric Tilt and Reach Adjustment Steering Column with Memory and Easy Entry Functions
- Footwell Illumination and Ambient Lighting
- Four Occupant Seating Positions
- Front Seats - Electric 12-Way Adjustment with Heating and Two Memory Functions
- Hands Free Boot
- Hidden Antenna
- Hide Trimmed - Straight Fluted Style Seat Design
- Key Box - Matched to Colour Split
- Leather-Trimmed Gear Lever
- Lockable Glove Box
- Metal Bulls-Eye Vents with Organ Stops
- Monotone Interior Colour Combination
- Multi-zone Automatic Climate Control System
- Rain Sensing Windscreen Wipers
- Single Front Armrest - Fore-Aft Slide - with Stowage Inc. Wireless Phone Charging - 12V Sockets and Two USB-C Charging Points
- Standard Carpet Overmats to Front
- Standard Foot Pedals
- Steering Wheel - 3 Spoke Single Tone Hide Trimmed - Heated
- Steering Wheel Mounted Gearshift Paddles
- Stowage to Front Doors - Centre Console and Under Centre Armrest
- Sun Visors with Illuminated Vanity Mirrors
- Touring Specification
- Two Cup Holders to the Front Centre Console
- Two Rear Seats with Centre Stowage inc 12V Socket and Two USB-C Charging Points
- Veneer - Single Finish - Crown Cut Walnut
- Full LED Matrix Headlamps with High-Beam Assist and Welcome and Coming Home Animation
- Full LED Tail Lamps with Red Lens and WELLNESS Welcome and Coming Home Animation
Other vehicles in the Continental family
Continental Convertible
Beautifully built
Ultra-refined
Game-changing plug-in hybrid system
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