Bentley Bentayga S

Can a driver-focused V8 version of this luxury SUV fill the shoes of the old 12-cylinder model? On sale Now Price from £182,300

- Neil Winn

LATE LAST YEAR, Bentley announced that British buyers would no longer be able to specify its Bentayga luxury SUV with the manufacturer’s iconic 6.0-litre W12 petrol engine. Dwindling demand and tightening emissions legislation had proved that you really can have too much of a good thing. And yet, here at What Car?, we didn’t shed a tear.

You see, the lighter V8 model, introduced in 2018, has always been the better all-rounder, striking a chord with those who prefer to drive, rather than be driven. So when we heard that Bentley would be replacing the range-topping W12 with a more driver-focused version of the V8, we were in full support. And it’s finally here.

Called the Bentayga S, it doesn’t get any more power than the regular car, but it does get a whole host of chassis tweaks, including stiffer air suspension and more dynamic stability control. It also comes as standard with Bentley’s Dynamic Ride system, which uses 48-volt motors to counter body lean.