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:

• 

  Great All Around Car - 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
  By mikemgm - March 31 - 6:36 pm

  The windshield cracked and the console display system went out in the first few months I had it. Other then that, its a great all around car. It has excellent power (though there is some turbo lag at the bottom), a smooth ride, it corners very well for a 5,500 lb. car, the AWD is great in the rain, and it is far more of a head turner then a MB or BMW. The interior is luxurious. If money is no option then what the heck, you cant take it with you!

• 

  Disappointed in Bentley - 2006 Bentley Continental GT
  By Let down by Bentley - March 23 - 9:30 pm

  This is a great car with one major exception. Using the phone, after you dial a primary phone number there is no way to dial an extension while driving. I cant use the car for business calls. The car sits in the garage. If you need to use this car phone to dial an extension after you dial your office, forget it. Make sure to check it out for yourself before purchasing this car. I would like to get a Flying Spur but with the phone the way it is, Im getting a MBZ S600 or S65. Also, if you are tall the seat belt pulls down on your shoulder. Last, the air conditioning is weak. All this being said, this car is a GREAT drive.

• 

  I Am Disappointed - 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
  By Parple Lossh - March 3 - 7:46 am

  Never a Bentley Again! Ive had it for a while now, and I think its awful. It is so uncomfortable and heavy. I could have saved $40,000 and gotten a 2007 Mercedes Benz S600 and have been happier than I am with the vehicle that I purchased. For those who are looking for a luxury vehicle, look at the S600 or the Audi A8 W12 L more carefully. Everyone has their own opinion, though.

• 

  Best Luxury Sports Car on the Market - 2013 Bentley Continental GTC
  By mww824804 - February 17 - 11:36 pm

  Very few cars that cost upwards of 200k make sense to purchase. However, with the Bentley GTC you definitely see where the money goes. With custom interiors, hand-crafted seats, and an exterior unmatched by anything else, Bentley really does know how to build a car. After driving mine for about a year now, all I can say is how timeless of a car it really is and will continue to be.

• 

  Its great, but... - 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
  By Treo - February 15 - 11:13 pm

  The cars performance rocks, it is just that now they have the Chrysler 300 with the exact same front grille (am I the only one that notices it?). The garage door opener is a disgrace, since its not standard. The radio and navigation are great, and the comfort is great as well. Its a gas guzzler, alright (how does the 760Li get 22 mpg and S65 AMG 18 mpg?) Even though I love my Bentley a lot and probably would recommend this car, Id recommend a Mercedes-Benz S600 or S65 more.

• 

  Time in Motion - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
  By R. Olander - February 12 - 10:16 am

  Wow! The Bentley Continental GT is a new benchmark. The interior workmanship is excellent and the exterior looks great from the front and side views. Its rear legroom is a liitle skimpy, but Bentley delivers on the 1952 Continental R concept. This vehicle will be a real classic. It was worth the wait.

• 

  Great car, love it - 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
  By Libra_2009 - February 7 - 4:16 am

  This is my third Bentley and this one has to be my favorite! It has amazing handling as it should. The headrests dvd systems make the car more lovable! I will definitely be keeping this one for a while.

• 

  Goodbye S-Class! - 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
  By icecofe - January 4 - 6:00 am

  I have owned a Merecedes-Benz S-Class for 15 years. In the Continental Flying Spur, I have finally found a car that looks, drives, and sounds as good as the hype. It is heaven to drive and the quality is unbelievable. It was worth the wait. There is nothing like it on the road. Its a sports car and a family sedan with class.

• 

  Disappointed - 2007 Bentley Continental GTC
  By Travis - December 31 - 2:53 am

  I just decided to treat myself, and while shopping came across an 07 with 15k miles on it, beautiful car, but the transmission was bothering me by the way it shifted on the test drive. The sales rep swore it was normal, but after driving for the last 33 years, I know what a transmission should feel like. Decided not to get this one, but will continue to look.

• 

  Terrible electronics - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
  By 05bntly - December 23 - 4:33 am

  This car is absolutely gorgeous, is a blast to drive, but it is the worst quality new car I have ever owned. The electronics in the car fail in one way or another about every three weeks. One fourth of the miles on the car have been put on going back to the dealer for repairs. It is so bad, the car now qualifies for a buyback under my state Lemon Law. I am very disappointed with the quality of the electronics. Also, the customer service is very much below my expectaions for a car in this price range. My advice to anyone considering buying one is to wait till they get all the bugs worked out of the electonics in the car.