Overview & Reviews

Abundance. Wretched excess. More than adequate. If any of these phrases gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling, then you'll probably fall in love with the Bentley Continental GT. And we mean this in the best possible way. For those with deep enough pockets, this is one indulgence we wholeheartedly endorse.

The Bentley Continental GT luxury coupe owes its name and heritage to the glory days of Bentley, when cars such as the R Type Continental coupe of the early '50s offered the wealthy a fast, stylish and comfortable way to traverse Europe or North America. Sadly, the next three decades saw Bentley become nothing more than a clone of Rolls-Royce (which had purchased Bentley in the early 1930s).

Sometime in the 1980s, the company decided it wanted a distinct identity and returned to its performance roots with cars such as the Turbo R. After being bought out by Volkswagen in the late 1990s and benefiting from that company's vast resources, Bentley began turning out ever more irresistible luxury sedans, coupes and convertibles.

The first of these models was, in fact, the Bentley Continental GT. Though some of its components are shared with other VW products, the Continental GT boasts a number of key attributes for well-heeled car enthusiasts, including blistering performance courtesy of a twin-turbo 12-cylinder engine, the all-weather confidence of all-wheel drive, a sumptuous cabin that typifies the marque and, of course, the prestige factor. And at far less than $200,000, we dare say it even strikes us as a good value for those with warm fuzzies in their hearts.

Current Bentley Continental GT
The current Bentley Continental represents the second-generation model, which debuted in the 2011 model year. This new model is not a major departure from the previous GT, amounting to more of a light refresh. Bodywork has been sharpened slightly, with a more upright grille, LED running lights and a more prominent trunk bustle. Improvements were also made in regards to handling, power output, rear-seat comfort and the previously outdated infotainment interface.

With twin-turbocharged W12 power, the finest materials furnishing the cabin and a powerful, bulldog-like presence, the Bentley Continental GT and higher-performance GT Speed and near track-ready Supersports have few peers. Combining effortless performance with an interior that is the epitome of the coachbuilder's art, the Continental GT is a prime example of a grand touring-oriented exotic luxury coupe.

The Continental's standard engine is a 6.0-liter, twin-turbo W12 that pumps out 567 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque and sends its power to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. With a 0-60 time of just 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 198 mph, the Continental GT is a supercar in every sense. The Continental GT Speed gets the twin-turbo W12 boosted up to 600 and torque is upped to a whopping 553 lb-ft. The GT Speed was the most powerful automobile Bentley ever produced until the introduction of the Continental Supersports, which is covered in a separate review.

As one might expect, the Bentley Continental GT comes loaded with features. Highlights include 20-inch wheels, parking sensors, four-zone climate control, xenon headlights, adjustable suspension damping, 10-way power front seats, a navigation system and an eight-speaker audio system. In addition to its more powerful engine, the GT Speed gains 20-inch wheels with 13 dual spokes, darkened chrome mesh grilles (upper and lower), diamond-stitch leather upholstery, three-spoke steering wheel and other upgraded interior trim. The Supersports sacrifices some of these features for the sake of weight savings.

Options include a wide array of wheel choices, adaptive cruise control, a rearview camera, carbon-ceramic brake rotors, ventilated front seats with massage functions, a wood-trimmed steering wheel, an 11-speaker Naim audio system and a six-CD/DVD changer. The Mulliner Driving Specification package includes special 21-inch wheels and unique leather and interior trim.

Should a potential buyer wish to further set his Continental GT apart from all the others littering Rodeo Drive, he may choose custom colors and interior trim not offered in the Bentley catalog.

Used Bentley Continental GT Models
The first-generation Bentley Continental GT debuted in 2004 with only one style available. Until 2008, the Continental was available in a Diamond Series trim package that was essentially replaced by the GT Speed for '09. Audiophiles should note that the available iPod adapter available in the Continental GT prior to '09 was poorly designed, treating the iPod as if it were a six-CD changer. The infotainment interface remained woefully out of date until the arrival of the second-generation GT. The Supersports and Series 51 dawned for 2010.

The Continental's standard engine produced 552 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque and the six-speed automatic transmission was slightly slower to shift than the current model, but performance was still comparable. A more powerful Continental GT Speed arrived for the 2008 model year with power output increased to 600 hp 553 lb-ft of torque.

User Reviews:

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  2005 Bentley Continental GT - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
  By St. James Red - November 2 - 2:53 pm

  I am a 60 year old maried businesman. We also own a 2006 Jaguar VP and 2004 Mercedes S500. I cannot drive this vehicle without someone giving me the thumbs up. This vehicle is the ultimate driving experience.

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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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  Bentley Cont GT - 2004 Bentley Continental GT
  By Bentley Auto Fanatic - May 18 - 10:00 am

  Although the styling is very attractive, I am disappointed with the interior finishes as there is rattling and squeaking from the interior. The knobs/switches are rather cheesy considering the Bentley name and price of the car. Also the car has too much of a heavy feel on turns.

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  2005 Bentley Continental GT - Love it - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
  By perrie - March 30 - 11:46 am

  The 2005 Bentley Continental GT is the greast ca in the world. Its fun to drive, superior to my Mercedes-Benz S55 and almost as much fun as my Ferrari 360. It has excellent build quality, pickup, and styling. Iave already ordered a Bently Flying Spur. This car is a real head turner.

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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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  Best Car Ive ever owned - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
  By tom wartenberg - August 7 - 11:56 am

  Im a car junkie. Ive owned every exotic and luxury car you can think of over the last 30 years, including a prior Bentkley Turbo R, which was a trash can that I dumped in 6 months. This, however is the finest car Ive ever deriven . Puts the big BMW, Mercedes as well as the Porsches and Jaguars of this world to shame.

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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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  Outstanding car - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
  By S Stein - April 29 - 11:23 am

  Fun, to drive, well built and very luxurious. Great sound of motor. While I love my S55 prefer this for everyday use. Turns heads all the time

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  Bentley Continental GT - 2004 Bentley Continental GT
  By Larry W - February 5 - 1:23 pm

  Fantastic and reliable car. Fun to drive. Very fast with excellent handling. It is beautiful inside and out. An every day car with class. In almost 3 years of daily driving, no problems.