Overview & Reviews

The Bentley brand is to luxury cars what Everest is to mountains. Those with wallets deep enough to meet the six-figure price tags of the company's vehicles are treated to towering levels of refinement and prestige. Bentley coupes and sedans are mostly hand-assembled in Great Britain at the manufacturer's state-of-the-art Crewe factory. This fusion of old-world craftsmanship with new-world technology is what the Bentley marque is all about.

Founded by Walter Owen Bentley, Bentley Motors was born in England in 1919. Two years later, the first model debuted, the rapid "3-litre" Bentley. Larger cars followed, and racing success at Le Mans earned the Bentley motorcars status among British sports car enthusiasts. Financial woes (brought on in part by the Wall Street Crash of 1929) triggered the brand's sale to Rolls-Royce in 1931. The first new Bentley after this event was the "3 1/2-litre," introduced in 1933 and based on a Rolls chassis that never saw production.

In subsequent decades, Bentley slowly slid into anonymity with vehicles that, at times, were little more than rebadged Rolls-Royces. The company's fortunes finally took an upturn in the 1980s. A new company policy dictated a more distinctive brand image, and it yielded the Mulsanne Turbo sedan, named after the famous corner on the Le Mans circuit. Most other Bentley models of this time, however, such as the Continental coupe and convertible, were still Rolls-Royces with different grilles.

The '90s brought more distinctive models into the fold, such as the redesigned Continental coupe, new Azure convertible and the new Arnage sedan, the latter replacing the dated Mulsanne. In 1998 BMW began supplying engines to both the Bentley and Rolls-Royce brands. Later that year this relationship created a conflict when Volkswagen acquired both marques, but the two German automakers reached an agreement that saw VW handing over control of Rolls to BMW in 2003, while keeping Bentley and the Crewe factory.

During the 2000s, that VW ownership allowed Bentley to further expand its model range and improve overall quality. The Continental coupe was again redesigned and quickly became a sales success, spawning a convertible version. Soon a four-door version of the Continental, the Flying Spur, debuted, followed in 2011 by the Mulsanne flagship sedan.

As one would expect, modern Bentley coupes and sedans are powered by a series of surprisingly muscular engines. The most potent models are motivated by a turbocharged 12-cylinder engine that generates more than 600 horsepower, though a new V8 promises similar acceleration but with much better fuel economy. No matter the engine, Bentley's traditional qualities remain, with all models benefiting from a cabin exquisitely finished in a variety of leather and wood trim.

There are high-dollar ultraluxury cruisers, and then there are Bentleys. Whether it's the Arnage sedan or the Brooklands coupe, these cars make an impressive statement and are sumptuous enough to make even the most jaded tycoon purr with delight.

User Reviews:

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  Luxury and Power - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
  By Greg Bradford - September 9 - 11:40 pm

  The feel of being pinned to back of your seat while you accellerate this 5300 lbs. of luxurious automobile is unbelievable. Every one of my friends that get in this automobile exit with a smile. It trully is the an amazing car on the long and the short trip.

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  Nothing Else Quite Like It - 2006 Bentley Continental GT
  By bob - January 24 - 4:43 pm

  Having been the owner of Merdedes, BMWs, Porsches, and quite a few others, the Bentley Continental GT is far superior in all aspects. Its power can only be understood by being in the drivers seat. This car is ell worth the dollars. I give applause to the Bentley design team.

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  Bentley GT - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
  By anthony p browne - December 1 - 7:30 am

  Get used to all the looks and whistles on the road. The 2005 Bentley Continental GT is an eye catcher! Its performance is fantastic, and the roar from the exhaust tell you so. The old fashioned smell of leather and wood brings back memories. Im 63" and 210 pounda and this car isnt made for people my size but its like shoes, if I like them Ill squeeze in. Nothing in this world is perfect, but this Bentley sure is close.

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  A Fine Car - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
  By Herodotous - July 23 - 8:30 am

  The 2005 Bentley Continental GT is a fine car to drive even though the electronics seem to act up once in a while. It joins my other fine cars: Lamborghini Murcielago, Ferrari 360, Aston Martin Vanquish, Porche Carrera GT, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Maybach 57 (custom made), and Mercedes SLR, with the last been the best but at $600,000 it is hardly the car to go shopping with! The Continental could probably lose some pounds as it detracts from its performance. Overall, its not bad for a VW.

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  Not Quite As Good As The... - 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
  By CaliforniaCarsOrg - June 29 - 1:33 pm

  Mercedes Benz S600 or the BMW 760Li. The handling was fine, but we were a bit suprised to find out that the garage door opener is optional. This luxury car is beautiful, but if you want to buy an exotic luxury car, look at the S600 or the 760Li or the Audi A8 W12 L as well. The car is a bit heavy, so it didnt perform as well as it could. Its also uncomfortable in the rear seats, compared to the BMW 760Li. In some cases, its better than the S600 and the 760Li, but overall, its not quite as good.

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  The most fun you can have with a 4 door - 2007 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
  By cuircaleche - May 9 - 5:36 am

  Having owned a variety of high performance sedans over the years, and tired of being nickled and dimed to death by my 600SEL, I thought Id try something FAST with AWD. For not so much more than its Audi sibling, the Bentley fit the bill. While it does have some electrical issues, none have been disabling. The ride is a bit noisy due to the high tire pressures and high performance tires. That said, the car is fairly quiet on the road. The 2009 models will be quieter. Acceleration is amazing, the interior is a wonderful place to be, and the car is quite easy to drive. The bluetooth is useless for Verizon customers.

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  My take on the Bentley Continental GT. - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
  By David - October 20 - 4:30 pm

  I enjoy the Bentley Continental GT very much. It may not be the fastest in acceleration or handle the best but it is an all around solid car that performs very well in all catagories. The fuel mileage is not very good but that is to be expected from a 5,300 lb. car with a twin turbo 6.0 liter engine.

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  Sheer Luxury, Built to Last - 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
  By BobS - September 20 - 7:50 am

  Having owned quite an array of luxury vehicles over the past 30+ years I thought Id become quite jaded. I loved my Jaguar XJs but then moved on to the Mercedes S-class, owning 4 over the years (including a new 2007 for my wife). The time had come for something different--something which looks and feels superior. The Flying Spur is IT! No Mercedes sedan can compare with the WOW factor of this Bentley. And, the beauty, quality and craftsmanship of the interior places this car head and shoulders all others. While I have no doubt the 2007 S-class is the true standard of the world, there is a certain satisfaction in driving the much more exclusive Flying Spur. It is a JOY!

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  Bentley Good, but Not Great - 2006 Bentley Continental GT
  By Roger Marchs - February 3 - 10:23 pm

  The Bentley Continental GT is comfortable and darn fast. However too its console contains too many shared Volkswagen/Audi parts. Come on, for $165,000 I dont want the Audi controller, nor do I want two paired Volkswagen 6 cylinder engines bolter together for a total of 12. This is a pretty car and its very comfortable. Its almost great, but not quite there.

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  Supersport - 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports
  By Jeremy - June 25 - 11:20 am

  I purchased this as a replacement to a 2008 GT Speed. Hard to believe that a few changes results in such a vastly improved vehicle. Handling is outstanding, transmission is much crisper. Drives like a Ferrari 599 with and auto transmission. Plus the iPod interface actually works. (finally!) Black wheels and trim looks good, but not all exterior colors work. Avoid browns and greens). This is a unique vehicle. Stunning performance, but with reliability and comfort that mean the car can be driven daily.