The Bentley Continental GT is one of the very best prestige cars you can choose to buy used. It has been a huge and deserved success for the Bentley brand, combining big power and performance with comfort and everyday usability.
Despite this being the expensive end of the marketplace, the Bentley Continental GT is still not short of competitors. The Aston Martin DB11 offers a similar GT experience, albeit with more sporting manners. Cars such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe and BMW M8 can offer much the same refinement when it comes to long-range cruising, but without the bespoke interior feel. Then there's the Porsche 911 for performance.
With plenty of technology, effortless speed and a luxurious cabin, the Bentley Continental GT isn’t short on appeal.
For those lucky enough to be in the market for a high-end coupe or convertible, the Bentley Continental GT is a superb car to consider. With two powerful engine options, the security of all-wheel drive and a luxurious interior, it has much to offer.
Both of the engines available for the Bentley Continental GT are effortless in their ability to gather speed. The 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 makes the biggest numbers, but the 4.0-litre V8 comes close to matching it. No one will feel short changed by the smaller engine, especially as both use the same excellent eight-speed automatic gearbox.
What makes the Bentley Continental GT’s performance so remarkable is how accessible it is. The standard all-wheel-drive system ensures putting all the power to the ground is never an issue, providing extra confidence when behind the wheel. Air suspension also helps the big GT feel alert on country roads, but comfortable when the tarmac becomes broken.
Ensuring the Bentley Continental GT meets the qualifications for being a grand tourer is a spacious interior. With four seats, the cabin offers plenty of room for those in the front. Shorter adults will be able to use the rear pair of seats, but these are best reserved for children on longer journeys. The boot is larger than you will find in a family hatchback.
All of this is topped-off by a cabin that feels as expensive as the price tag would suggest, with gorgeous materials used throughout.
Compared to rivals from Ferrari and Aston Martin, the Bentley Continental GT offers a greater sense of cosseting sophistication. Other GT cars may be marginally faster around a racetrack, but the Bentley will be the one to pick for the drive home. Both engines have endless power, with the sure-footed all-wheel-drive system ensuring you can make use of all the performance. The Bentley Continental GT is everything you need from a Grand Tourer, and would be a wonderful option to buy.
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There are two engines and two body styles – ignoring that Bacalar – to pick from, either the coupe, or the GTC with its folding canvas roof, powered by the choice of a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with 550PS and 770Nm of torque, or a 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 with 635PS and 900Nm. Both drive all four-wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
If you measure best by pure numbers, then that flagship W12 coupe is the one. It able to reach 62mph in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 207mph. The V8’s only marginally slower though, with 62mph reached in 4.0 seconds and trails its 12-cylinder relation’s top speed, if you happen to be passing through Germany, by just 9mph.
Buying the GTC has no impact on the performance figures. Which you’ll buy is likely down to your location, the coupe more popular in the UK, with the GTC selling in greater numbers in markets like the USA. You could just buy a different one for each of your houses, but, being rational, a V8 coupe is all you really need.
The Bentley Continental GT is offered with just two engine choices, but both are hugely powerful. An eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox is standard with either engine, as is Bentley’s all-wheel-drive system.
Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8: Calling a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine ‘entry-level’ seems a little unfair. It produces a huge 550hp, and can accelerate the Bentley Continental GT from 0-62mph in four seconds. A top speed of 198mph is possible, too. Average fuel consumption of 23.3mpg reflects the performance on offer.
Bentley Continental GT 6.0 W12: For the ultimate Bentley Continental GT experience, the turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 engine is offered for the Speed and Mulliner models. Developing a magnificent 650hp, it offers effortless performance, with 0-62mph taking less than four seconds. Where possible, it can reach a top speed of 208mph. Average fuel economy of 20.6mpg is unlikely to be a worry for most buyers.
There are a good number of used Bentley Continental GT models to pick from on the used market. The 6.0-litre W12 model is the most common on dealer forecourts, substantially outnumbering the V8 version. The coupe version of the Bentley Continental GT also outsells the convertible.
The Bentley Continental GT is available with a choice of two engines and five different trim levels. Being a high-end luxury car means there were almost endless personalisation options available when it was new.
Bentley Continental GT: The ‘standard’ Bentley Continental GT is comprehensively equipped, featuring all the technology you would expect. From air suspension to matrix LED headlights, the Bentley Continental GT even features an air ioniser as standard. Buyers are able to pick from seven standard paint colours.
Bentley Continental GT Azure: Designed to bring additional luxury to the Bentley Continental GT, the Azure adds extra chrome trim for the exterior, plus a set of 22-inch alloy wheels. A panoramic glass sunroof helps fill the cabin with light, with plenty of Azure badging inside and out to remind people which version you plumped for.
Bentley Continental GT S: A newer addition to the Bentley Continental GT range, the S pays homage to the Speed model. It includes dark-tinted trim for the headlights, along with gloss-black for the 22-inch alloy wheels and other exterior details. Piano-Black wood trim continues the theme on the inside.
Bentley Continental GT Speed: As the name suggests, the Bentley Continental GT Speed is all about performance. It can only be ordered with the epic 6.0-litre W12 engine, with plenty of styling tweaks to act as a reminder of the immense power on offer. It includes all-wheel steering for enhanced agility, along with bespoke interior finishes.
Bentley Continental GT Mulliner: Topping the Bentley Continental GT range is the Mulliner model. Available with either the V8 or W12 engines, it boasts unique exterior styling and an even more luxurious interior. Along with quilted leather upholstery and a head-up display, it even gains a bespoke interior clock.
The Bentley Continental GT’s exterior dimensions are:
Length: 4,850mm
Width: 2,187mm
Height: 1,405mm
Ground clearance: 142mm
The Bentley Continental GT’s boot space is:
358 litres
Given all the other high running costs of owning a Bentley Continental GT, the road tax bill is one of the easiest to bear. On top of the standard £180 rate, cars up to five-years old will pay a £390 surcharge due to their original price that was above £40,000. Still, this shouldn't trouble anyone in the market for a Continental GT.
As a powerful and luxurious grand tourer, the Bentley Continental GT is, unsurprisingly, not going to be cheap to insure. All versions are classified in the maximum insurance group 50. It should be noted that the car comes with a standard alarm and immobiliser, plus Bentley’s own GPS tracking system for peace of mind.
Read our full Bentley Continental GT review
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