2022 Bentley Continental GT

The 2022 Bentley Continental GT Coupe gets two build options, namely the Coupe and Convertible. Under both build structures, there are three trims on offer, the Continental GT V8, Continental GT W12, and the Continental GT Speed. As the names suggest, the first one packs a V8 engine while the second trim has the massive W12 engine which comprises two V6 engines put together. The GT speed is a further tuned version of the W12. In this review, we only talk about the Bentley Continental GT Coupe with the V8 engine.

Which trim should you buy?

Since we are only discussing the V8 coupe trim of the Continental GT, there isn’t much comparison to do. However, the V8 Coupe seems to be the most value for money you can get. The W12 Coupe might have a bigger, more powerful engine, but you really can’t feel the power surge until you are cruising at super high speeds. Convertibles are desirable, but we all know that a convertible just takes off the aura from a luxury Coupe. Also, pricing goes up drastically as we got higher up the trim ladder. 

2022 Bentley Continental GT V8 Coupe release date

The 2022 Bentley Continental GT has already been released and can be bought at a dealership.

The Bentley Continental GT V8 Coupe gets a premium 4.0 L Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded V-8 engine that churns out 542 horsepower and a beasty 568 lb-ft of torque. In comparison to the W12 Coupe, the horsepower figures are just short of 80 horsepower, but since peak power kicks in at 6,000 RPM, you won’t feel the power deficit for a major part of your driving time in this Bentley. 

The GT Speed too has just 10 horsepower more but is a good performer due to tweaks like rear-axle steering and good suspension. With a curb weight of 5,056 lbs, the Continental GT is one of the heaviest GT Coupes out there but still handles like a dream because of the massive torque. Bentley has made an immense investment in research and development while developing this coupe and it really shows. They have employed a drifting champion to develop the traction control and that makes the Continental GT a capable drifter despite being an All wheel drive. 

Even with all that weight but due to the engine being mounted further into the middle and with the front tires positioned really forward, the Bentley almost achieves a 50-50 weight distribution, hence making it very agile. There is a lot of trickery employed like torque vectoring, active diffs, and one of the biggest brakes in any production car which add to the performance figures. However, due to its stature and bulk, most people are highly demotivated to push it to its limits.

The above figures are proof of how the Bentley Continental GT keeps up with the competition despite all the weight. It almost manages to keep up with the McLaren GT Coupe which has 70 more horsepower and is one of the lightest Coupes out there. The Aston Martin is the poor performer of the lot but it still puts out a very competitive front and is very fun to drive since it is rear-wheel drive. The Ferrari Roma also packs in some real punchy performance but comes at a hefty premium of $10,000 in comparison to all the other cars in the competition.

Opting for the V8 engine means you will definitely be saving big on fuel. One of the most important parts of Grand Touring cars is fuel economy and having a huge fuel tank so that you don’t have to stop regularly for fill-ups on your long GT journey. To ensure the same, the Bentley promises a mileage of 16 mpg on city roads. Yes, that definitely was not what we expected but highway mileage figures come up to a decent 26 mpg and a combined range of 19 mpg. These are not amazing figures but do get the job done.

When we put the mileage numbers of the Bentley in comparison to the other Coupes, we find out that the figures that we called “decent” are still way better than the Ferrari, McLaren, and the Aston Martin. It is quite a surprise since the V8 engine has to propel such a heavy body. Not only is the Bentley GT Coupe the most fuel-efficient amongst the competition, but also the one with the biggest fuel tank and that means there is a greater range on offer. Opting for the W12 engine on the Bentley Continental brings down the mileage figures to 12mpg on city roads and 20 mpg on highways.

The 2022 Bentley Continental GT Coupe has some mesmerizing interiors to boast of. However, the interiors across all Bentley cars look very similar and that is kind of boring. There is a generous amount of leather, wood, and metal used throughout the cabin and Bentley has offered you the power to customize each aspect of the interior, even at places you won’t want to bend your back to take a nice look at. 

The area on the dashboard is very neatly done in wood trim with the three signature dials in the center which rotate to the inside to reveal the infotainment system. In the V8 Coupe, you get 12 way electrically adjustable bucket seats in the front with a heating function. The seats as well as steering get Nappa leather treatment whereas the headliner is done in Alcantara. The interiors are customizable to one’s taste and you can choose your pick for the hide leathers, veneers, and stitching details with a variety of options under each. 

Then you can opt for some additional tweaks like Diamond knurling which lends a diamond pattern to the chrome grilles of the AC vents. Even the leather on the seat has beautiful diamond cut stitching. The whole vibe of the British Bentley is like the Buckingham Palace on wheels and in the age of people wanting cars like Teslas with nothing but just two screens and a steering wheel as an interior, the insides like that of the Continental GT may soon be outdated.

It’s difficult to find the dimensions of these GT cars as they have swooping tailgates and only one row of actually usable seats. The Continental GT along with the Roma and DB11 might identify as 4 seaters but the rear row is practically just good enough to stuff your laptop bag and other small luggage. The McLaren GT has a very deep trunk in the front which surprisingly, according to the data here, is the roomiest cargo space amongst the competition but the Bentley doesn’t lag much behind. Some of the key interior features are:

• 2-Way Electric Heated Front Bucket Seats with 2 memory functions
• Bucket Front Facing Heated Rear Seat
• Power Rear Windows
• Valet Function
• Illuminated Entry
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
• Leather Door Trim Insert
• Leather/Chrome Gear Shifter Material
• Refrigerated/Cooled Box Located In The Glovebox

How intuitive is the infotainment system on the 2022 Bentley Continental GT Coupe

The center of the dash on the Bentley is a 3 side rotating console with plain matching wood trim as the rest of the dash on one side. The other side contains the three analog dials for exterior air temperature, time, and compass heading. This further rotates to disclose the massive 12.3-inch infotainment system that employs one of the best color schemes in its graphics while displaying the data. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are standard. 

There is a digital gauge display that allows the driver to manage most of the Continental GT's functions using controls on the steering wheel. The Continental GT offers two optional audio systems: a Bang & Olufsen arrangement and a spectacular Naim system. The former gets a 1,500 Watt system that features 16 speakers, 16 channel amplifiers, and four DSP modes. The latter, as stated in Bentley’s own words, creates a virtual ‘listening room’, creating a superior overall sound like a ‘concert hall’ experience. The 2,200 Watt system features 18 speakers and two shakers, 20 channel amplifiers, eight DSP sound modes, and active bass. Some key features of the infotainment system are:

• 650 watts, 10 speakers system
• 12.3" high-resolution capacitive touchscreen display
• Digital radio
• HDD Navigation
• Concealed Diversity Antenna
• Audio Theft Deterrent
• Digital Signal Processor
• Speed Compensated Volume Control
• Aux Audio Input Jack

Luckily, the exteriors of the Bentley Continental GT Coupe don’t extend the traditionality of the inside to the outsides. The exteriors look modern and bulked, somewhat resembling a merciless bully. The most intriguing feature is the headlamps which are so simple but yet have become a legend in themselves since they have been around for so long. Like honestly, the headlamps are just a pair of round circles and the tail lamps are just shaped in some triangular-oval geometry. However, take a peep into the lamps and you will see some delicate diamond cut LEDs that throw light to lit up the entire road in front.

The swooping roofline integrates nicely into an aerodynamic spoiler and below that is the rear bumper with dual stainless steel exhausts. The side fenders of the rear tires have a hunky bump which makes it look like some luxury “muscle” car. The Grille on the front is a simple shaped one with nice Chrome detailing which you can upgrade to a Matrix Grille as an optional extra. You also have the option to opt for red brake calipers. The wheels are a 21inch 5 Tri-Spoke painted alloy that comes in a neat silvery-chrome finish. A very notable optional extra is the Styling Specification which consists of a front splitter, rear diffuser, boot lip spoiler, and side sills branded with the Bentley wings. Each piece features a unique weave pattern, mirror-matched like the internal veneer in the car.

The Bentley is definitely the heaviest of the lot and may lose on maneuverability over the others. The Bentley still handles in a disciplined manner, but people refrain from pushing it to its limits whereas the McLaren and Ferrari, and even the Aston are notorious handlers. The Bentley has one of the longest wheelbases which means rear-seat space would definitely be better than the competition. Some of the key exterior features are:

• 21" 5 Tri-Spoke Painted Alloy
• Metallic Paint
• Chrome Bodyside Moldings and Side Windows Trims
• Body-Colored Power Side mirrors with Tilt Down Heated Auto Dimming and Power Folding and Turn Signal Indicator
• Speed Sensitive Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers
• Power Open And Close Trunk Rear Cargo Access
• Front And Rear Fog Lamps
• LED Brakelights
• Power Spoiler

The Bentley Continental GT Coupe has a hoard of safety features but still keeps some for optional extras, which is a bit disappointing at this price point. You get ABS with Traction control and ESP as standard. There are airbags for the front passengers on the front, near the knee and also mounted on the seat with curtain airbags for both rows. You get a HD camera integrated to the Infotainment system. However if you need superior driver assistance features, then it makes sense to add on the Touring Specification which provides a Night vision software, Bentley Safeguard Plus and Lane Assist. Some of the key safety features are:

• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Park Assist Automated Parking Sensors
• Forward Collision Mitigation and Rear Collision Warning
• Aerial View Camera System
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Blind Spot Monitoring

2022 Bentley Continental GT V8 Coupe vs. the McLaren GT Coupe

The McLaren GT Coupe is one of the most desirable GT cars.The Bentley Continental upholds all the features of a traditional GT like plush homely interiors, superior suspension for utmost comfort, spacious interiors and good fuel economy. The McLaren on the other hand does all of this but misses out on good fuel economy and completely gets rid of a second seating row. The McLaren is a very practical GT car, the styling is futuristic and the main focus is on speed, which is why this one is the fastest accelerating GT Coupe. They both sit at the same price point, but have two different personalities. While the Bentley screams of tradition the McLaren’s styling will be relevant in many more years to come.

2022 Bentley Continental GT V8 Coupe vs. the Ferrari Roma

The Ferrari Roma is a beautiful looking GT Coupe whose styling is the perfect blend of classic yet modern. The Ferrari has bigger power figures but that comes at a $10,000 premium. There is a distinct Italian character to the car which is amazing since all the other cars here are technically from British manufacturers. The engine tone of the Ferrari is vaguely deafening and soothing at the same time. If your pocket allows you to splurge, then the Ferrari Roma is a very good buy.

2022 Bentley Continental GT vs. the Aston Martin DB11

The competition between the Bentley Continental GT Coupe and the Aston Martin DB11 is the perfect British showdown. Both exude strong personalities and a sense of styling which has been carried over generation after generation. If one has to put it into words, the design of the Aston Martin has a gracious feminine presence whereas the Bentley is like a bulked-up gent. Now it all comes down to what kind of styling you prefer because in other aspects like performance and price they tend to have the same numbers. Also, the Aston Martin is rear-wheel drive which is definitely more lively while the Bentley is more composed.

The Bentley Continental GT Coupe has a dual character. It is the perfect, poised silent driving machine for your long grand tours, but can also double up as a track monster. However, for the kind of styling and luxury treatment that it receives, the people driving one of these are filled with a sense of royalty and they hardly break out from that experience and care to open the power taps. If you need a simple GT car that would never disappoint, then the Bentley Continental GT is a perfect choice.