When Bentley entered the SUV market with the Bentayga in 2015, critics questioned whether a marque built on grand tourers and limousines could translate its identity into a high-riding utility vehicle. By 2018, the answer was clear: the Bentayga hadn’t just succeeded — it had become the benchmark against which every other ultra-luxury SUV, from the Range Rover to the Cullinan, was measured.

Engine and Performance

The 2018 Bentayga’s headline act is its 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 engine, producing 600 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and full-time all-wheel drive. That output moves a vehicle weighing over 2.4 tonnes from 0-100 km/h in roughly 4.1 seconds, with a top speed north of 300 km/h — figures that would embarrass most sports sedans, let alone a seven-seat SUV.Bentley also introduced a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 variant during the 2018 model year, delivering 542 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. It’s the more sensible choice for buyers who want the Bentayga experience without the W12’s fuel appetite — official combined consumption on the W12 sits around 15 mpg (roughly 19L/100km), which matters when you’re the one paying for premium fuel in Nairobi traffic.

Design and Interior

The Bentayga’s cabin is where the car earns its price tag. Quilted leather upholstery, hand-finished burr walnut or piano black veneer, and a diamond-knurled dashboard finish define the interior — all assembled by hand at Bentley’s Crewe factory. The 2018 model offers seating for up to seven, with 17.1 cubic feet of cargo space in the five-seat configuration, making it one of the few vehicles in this segment that’s genuinely usable as a family car rather than just a status symbol.Standard tech includes an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a night vision system, and a Bentley Rotating Display option that flips between the touchscreen, a wood veneer panel, and three analogue dials. Optional Mulliner packages add jewel-effect fuel caps, alternative wheel designs, and even deeper customisation for buyers who want their Bentayga to be genuinely one-of-one.

Safety and Technology

For 2018, the Bentayga comes equipped with adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, a surround-view camera system, and Bentley’s Safeguard system. It’s worth noting that NHTSA issued a recall affecting roughly 280 units from the 2018-2020 model years over a third-row seatbelt attachment issue — a detail any serious buyer or importer should check against a specific unit’s VIN before purchase.

Pricing: Global and Kenyan Market Context

New, the 2018 Bentayga ranged from around $195,000 for the Onyx Edition up to $298,000 for the Mulliner trim. On the US used market today, well-kept examples with moderate mileage trade in the $70,000–$90,000 range.In Kenya, the picture looks different once import duty enters the equation. Estimated import taxes (duty, VAT, excise, IDF, and RDL combined) on a Bentayga typically run between KSh 2.5 million and KSh 4.4 million depending on year and trim — on top of the vehicle’s purchase cost. Locally, used 2017-2018 Bentaygas currently list anywhere from roughly KSh 14 million to KSh 32 million depending on trim, mileage, and whether the unit is locally-registered or freshly imported. The W12 First Edition and Mulliner trims sit at the top of that range; V8 diesel variants tend to be more attainable.Running costs are the part buyers often underestimate. Servicing a Bentayga in Kenya isn’t like servicing a Land Cruiser — parts are flown in, specialist labour is scarce, and a basic service can run into six figures. It shares some underpinnings with the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne (both part of the same VW Group MLB platform), which helps with certain mechanical components, but body, trim, and cabin electronics remain Bentley-specific and correspondingly expensive to source.

Who the Bentayga Is For

This isn’t a car for someone comparing spec sheets to save money — it’s for a buyer who wants the comfort and craftsmanship of a Bentley with the ride height and practicality of an SUV, and who has budgeted for what ownership actually costs beyond the purchase price. Competitors worth cross-shopping include the Range Rover Autobiography, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, and Rolls-Royce Cullinan — though the Cullinan sits at roughly double the Bentayga’s price point.For buyers in the Kenyan market specifically, sourcing through a verified dealer with clear import documentation and full service history is non-negotiable at this price tier. A Bentayga with an unclear ownership trail or deferred maintenance can turn from a status purchase into a very expensive liability.

The bottom line: the 2018 Bentley Bentayga remains one of the most complete ultra-luxury SUVs ever built — genuinely fast, genuinely comfortable, and genuinely handcrafted. Just go in with clear eyes on what it costs to keep one running.