2023 Bentley Bentayga EWB

These days we’re all looking to get a little more for our money. However, when you’re talking Bentley, you’re not exactly bargain hunting. But the folks at Bentley are now offering their Bentayga utility with something extra. So, let’s see exactly what this Bentayga EWB can add to our desire for the brand’s already over the top SUV.

Botanists will tell you that the fastest growing plant in the world is Bamboo; and if you’ve ever dealt with it, you probably know that already. Growing seemingly as fast, is the ultra-luxury SUV market, of which Bentley is a major player. A big part of their recent record-breaking sales numbers has been the Bentayga SUV, which itself is also growing with an Extended WheelBase version.

The EWB stretches the Bentayga platform by 180mm, or 7.1-inches for us non-metric system folks. That added length helps the Bentayga look even more like a super sleek wagon rather than a traditional boxy utility vehicle, in other words, silky and sweet yet just as classy as ever.

And it’s not just about more space, rather creating the ultimate rear cabin experience according to Bentley; and while we’d normally opt for the front seat for road trips, this is a place we’d definitely love to fly cross country in, just remember to stow your footrests and tray tables as you make your final approach into the rest stop.

Seats are first class accommodations for sure, with 22-way adjustment, auto climate sensing system, and postural adjustment technology that Bentley claims makes them the most advanced seats ever installed in a vehicle, all controlled through a touchscreen remote. There are actually 3 configurations available, 4-passenger, 5-passenger, and one that Bentley calls 4+1, with an “occasional” center seat. Material quality is, as expected, exquisite, with new Diamond Illumination projecting light through tiny perforations in many of the fabrics.

Dynamic Ride active roll control is standard on the EWB as is new rear wheel steering, which actually gives it a tighter turning circle than the standard Bentayga. Same 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 under the hood, outputting 542-horsepower and 568 lb-ft. of torque, but a quieter exhaust system has been fitted to better soothe rear seat passengers. Rear cargo capacity varies with interior configurations but maxes out at the same 17.1 cubic-ft.

Supposedly there are 2,500 updated or new parts in the EWB Bentayga, yet it only weighs about 200-lbs. more. So, acceleration runs were sure to be a blast at Mason Dixon Dragway.

There was indeed big torque off the line, and lots of weight transfer to the rear which seemed to stay there the whole way down the track, giving a very light feel to the front end. A bracket racers dream, as no matter what we did, every run ended at 3.5-seconds from 0 to 60, with the ¼-mile at 12.0 seconds flat and 114 miles-per-hour. Shifts from the 8-speed automatic transmission were lightning quick, accompanied by a pleasant subtle bark of exhaust note.

All-wheel drive is standard, giving us plenty of grip and stability in our handling course, but it was the new rear-wheel steering that enabled cutting through the cones much quicker than we would have imagined. Only minor understeer at its limits, easily managed with the very light steering; body roll impressively held well in check. Even more remarkable, huge brakes behind the 22-inch wheels of our Azure-labeled tester brought this hefty luxo-liner to a halt from 60 in just 95-feet.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 14-City, 21-Highway, and 17-Combined, we averaged a good 19.2 miles-per-gallon of Premium. But that’s a much worse than average Energy Impact Score with consumption of 17.5-barrels of oil yearly and 8.7-tons of CO2 emissions.

Bentley expects this extended wheelbase version to quickly make up almost half of Bentayga sales, despite prices starting about $30,000 more at $229,625.

But after spending time in the 2023 Bentley Bentayga EWB, we totally get it. It’s not just more space, it’s more of everything, making it not a matter of whether we would want one or not, just wishing we could actually afford it. Those that can will get one of the most luxurious SUVs ever imagined, let alone already on the road, with oodles of room to spare.