2021 Bentley Bentayga V8 launched in Australia

A new top-shelf family-hauler has arrived in Australia bringing blistering performance and lots of pampering features.

Bentley’s new SUV brings the best of both worlds.

The British brand’s updated luxury Bentayga SUV comes with a booming V8 engine paired with a high-end fitout.

The Bentley uses a powerful V8 engine.

Power comes from a bruising twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine that makes 404kW and 770Nm matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels.

This is good enough to shift the more than 2400kg machine from zero to 100km/h in a rapid 4.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 290km/h.

Bentley says it can deactivate four cylinders during appropriate driving conditions – such as highway cruising – to improve fuel efficiency. Despite this the claimed fuel use is a very thirsty 13.3L/100km.

The Bentayga can hit 100km/h in 4.5 seconds.

The British luxury maker has gone all in on premium features – even its windscreen wipers are impressive. The windscreen wipers are heated and have 22 washer jets each to make sure your vision is never impaired.

A booming 590W, 12 speaker stereo is standard or you can option a 1780W, 20 speaker unit.

Passengers in all five seats are pampered with supple leather wrapped seats with heating and cooling functions.

And for those that like to be driven the rear seats now have up 100mm more legroom.

A big 10.9-inch central display is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Back seat passengers get a large tablet to control these functions.

Luxury is the name of the game inside the Bentayga.

But power and luxury don‘t come cheap, prices start at $364,800 (plus on-road costs) for the new Bentayga V8.

There is also a limited run First Edition available that is priced from $448,219.

The jump of about $80,000 brings you giant 22-inch black alloy wheels, active roll technology that improves the car’s handling through corners, upgraded tyres, sports pedals, night visions and Bentley safeguard plus features.