Bentley’s new Bentayga: Has the world gone super SUV mad?

Are super SUV’s getting a bit out of hand?

As is, customers looking for a good quality SUV have many choices to choose from. So much so, you don’t have to be a member of a political party to own one, as there are SUV’s priced for people looking for something not too expensive as well. The world of premium SUV’s is one that is the most interesting though. In this segment, there seems to be an internal war going on which I think is rather pointless to be honest. This is the war for power, power and more power. The new Bentlely Bentayga is going to join that war in the very near future. The car will feature a 450 kW, 900 Nm  W12 engine, capable of doing 0-100 km/h in 4.0 seconds.

Isn’t it a little bit strange to know that a large two ton SUV can keep up with super saloons and even beat some sports cars? Don’t get me wrong, power is great and it’s a thrill to drive a super SUV because the concept of it defies physics. Experiencing the power of such a car is something special but living with such a car is a different thing. I can’t help but ask myself, does it really matter if my SUV can beat your sports car?

What’s the point of a super SUV?

Large cars such as the BMW X5, Mercedes GLC, Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, Volkswagen Touareg, Volvo XC90 (The list goes on) are all aimed at families. Even the marketing material of these cars shows the cars in picturesque surroundings, Billy and Sandy at the back and maybe even a dog in the mix. Then you get the “hot” versions of these cars, namely the BMW, Porsche and Mercedes. The brochures of these cars are different, the backdrop is something that resembles a circuit and the tag lines are all similar, something alluding to the fact that it’s “The world’s fastest SUV”. Why is that important? I’m really baffled. The new Bentley Bentayga is in the same boat. It’s already one thing that one group makes three of the most popular SUV’s and are adding a fourth in the mix. It’s another thing to market the car as the fastest SUV made, even if it is.

When I think Bentley, I think luxury, comfort and prestige. I don’t think apex, tyre screeches and lap times. I think this whole fast SUV thing is getting taken to a whole new unnecessary level. If I want to go drive on a race track and I have over R1,8 million to spend, I don’t think my first choice will be an SUV. I don’t think many people’s first choice will be a super SUV. It’s all marketing rubbish really. In my opinion, there’s nothing better than driving a meaty diesel SUV with great torque and a decent fuel economy. With the savings I will have for opting for that version instead of the super version, I could even sneak in a quick sports car for weekends.

There is no doubt in my mind that the new Bentley Bentayga will be a great car. It certainly looks striking and sharing the same DNA as the Touareg, Cayenne and Q7, it has a good gene pool too. The interior of the car is exquisite as well, it’s exactly what Bentley represents, opulence. I just find it strange that it seems like Bentley are focusing a great deal on speed. There is more to an SUV than speed, especially for the majority of SUV buyers. Call me crazy but when I’m on a road trip with my family in an SUV, my biggest worry is not how fast I’m going to get there, it’s how comfortable the trip will be. Happy Thought Thursday Motorists.